I'm looking to rescue some Box Turtles when they come out of hibernation but I'm trying to understand all the laws and restrictions. I know there are a few Texas folks on here, so I was wondering if anyone knows the current laws.
jaizei said:
emysemys said:The very first link I gave them tells exactly how many they can legally own. Each person in the household is allowed to have 6 of one species that is indigenous to Texas. So you can have 6 three-toed box turtles and 6 gulf coast box turtles. Because the other types of box turtles are NOT indigenous to Texas, you can have as many of them as you'd like. And each member of the household can have 6 as above.
ripper7777777 said:Well I was wanting to know all the laws pertaining to non game animals, turtles and tortoises specifically. Everything from Breeding and Selling to wild capture, exporting and importing. Of course I have no desire to export or wild capture, I would like to know what the Texas Laws are. I was just hoping someone on here new the current laws or had a link to find them, all I can find is where to get a permit and a FAQ about permits. I would like to buy some Ornate Box Turtles as well as rescue some three toed and I want to know all the rules and regulations before I purchase any out of state turtles.
You know every ad says know your state laws, well I thought, I don't. I can read through the lines or guess or even go by info from 2007, but I was hoping for the letter of the law.
Now my assumption is if the animal is on the black list it can not be sold in Texas or exported out of Texas, nor can it be wild captured. But what about import, it sounds like importation is fine since you can own 6 of each species per person. Now what if they breed, is that when I need a permit. We will be moving to a neighborhood with small acreage lots and I'd like to make it a sanctuary for Box Turtles since they are native here. It's a long term goal but something to keep me busy in the country while I grow old.
jaizei said:It can be a bit confusing. A rough summary.
An animal on the black list can be sold, imported, exported, etc as long as the person has the right permit. Black list animals can not be wild caught. A nongame dealer's permit would be required to breed them. To break down the different "levels":
Note: a valid hunting license is required in addition to any permit to take an animal from the wild, and they may only be taken from private lands.
- Anyone can possess up to 6 black list and 25 white list animals, as long as they don't engage in commercial activity
- A nongame permit allows one to:
- exceed above mentioned limits
- collect white list animals from wild
- purchase/acquire nongame animals, including black list, from someone with nongame dealer's permit or from out of state.
- can only sell to someone with nongame dealer's permit
- A nongame dealer's permit allows one to (in addition to above):
- sell nongame animals to anyone
- acquire nongame animals for commercial activity
- import nongame animals, including black list, for any purpose (additional conditions apply- documentation required)
- export nongame animals, including black list, for any purpose (additional conditions apply- documentation required)
- engage in captive breeding