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Turtle Regulations

Turtle Regulations

Valid Permits

  • Daily Fishing Permit
  • Nonresident Fishing Permit
  • Resident Fishing Permit
  • Resident Hunting and Fishing Permit

Season & Limits

Turtle

Common Snapping Turtles
Season Open All Year
Daily Limit: 5
Possession Limit: 10

Soft-shelled Turtles
Primary Season: Mon, 07/01/2013 - Tue, 12/31/2013
Daily Limit: 5
Possession Limit: 10

Additional Information

Legal Methods

Common snapping turtles and soft-shelled turtles may be taken by hand, handnet, bow, crossbow, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, jug line, snagging, snaring, grabbing or pole and line. Shooting turtles with firearms is prohibited.

Season Notice

There is NO open season on the rare alligator snapping turtle.

Detailed Regulations: 
General Fishing Rules

Other Content You May Like

  • Common Snapping Turtles: Catching, Cleaning, Eating

    Common snapping turtles, like many kinds of fish, are good to eat.

  • Alligator Snapping Turtle

    Video of alligator snapping turtles in the wild.

  • Recycling Box Turtle

    In recent weeks, I’ve observed a few three-toed box turtles in my yard in Jefferson City. It’s normal to see several of them each summer, often when the mulberry fruits are on the ground.

  • Box Turtles and People

    Missouri's two box turtles may have thick shells, but they could use a little sensitivity.

  • Turtles

    Missouri has 17 kinds of turtles—all but three are protected. Get to know, appreciate and conserve Missouri's turtles.

  • Eastern Snapping Turtle (Common Snapping Turtle)

    Take care if you plan on handling large snapping turtles! With their strong jaws and long necks, the only safe way to carry one of these turtles is to grasp it at the base of the tail and keep it away from your legs.

  • Midland Smooth Softshell

    This aquatic species of turtle has a round, smooth upper shell without scutes, extensive webbing on front and hind limbs, and a long, tubular snout.

Content tagged with

Lookup Regulations
Check the Code

This is NOT a legal document. Regulations are subject to revision during the current year. Refer to the Wildlife Code.

Keep ATVs out of streams!

It’s illegal to drive ATVs in Missouri’s streams unless …

  • You’re a landowner or lessee on land you own or lease.
  • You’re a farm worker.

AND

  • You’re using your ATV on a crossing that is part of the highway system.

Violators could lose their fishing and hunting privileges!

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