2019 Iowa Code
Title XI - NATURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 481A - WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
Section 481A.67 - Seasons and limits — turtle harvesting restrictions.

481A.67 Seasons and limits — turtle harvesting restrictions.

1. It is unlawful for a person, except as otherwise expressly provided, to take, capture, or kill fish, frogs, or turtles except during the open season established by the commission. It is unlawful during open season to take in any one day an amount in excess of the daily catch limit designated for each variety or each locality, or have in possession any variety of fish, frog, or turtle in excess of the possession limit, or have in possession any frog, fish, or turtle at any time under the minimum length or weight. The open season, possession limit, daily catch limit, and the minimum length or weight for each variety of fish, frog, or turtle shall be established by rule of the department or commission under the authority of sections 456A.24, 481A.38, 481A.39, and 482.1.

2. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the natural resource commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A establishing seasons and daily catch limits for the noncommercial harvest of turtles in any waters of the state pursuant to section 483A.28. Seasons established pursuant to this subsection shall not apply to the noncommercial harvest of snapping turtles.

3. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the natural resource commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A establishing seasons and daily catch limits for the commercial harvest of turtles in any waters of the state.

4. Beginning no later than January 1, 2017, and ending no earlier than January 1, 2021, the commission shall conduct a review of the status of the turtle population in the state by region, in cooperation with appropriate organizations and in accordance with sound fish and wildlife management principles, and shall report its recommendations to the general assembly on whether restrictions on noncommercial and commercial turtle harvesting in the state should be revised no later than June 30, 2021. This subsection is repealed effective July 1, 2021.

[C97, §2540; SS15, §2540; C24, 27, 31, §1731, 1732, 1733; C39, §1794.029; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §109.67]

86 Acts, ch 1245, §1854; 88 Acts, ch 1216, §24

C93, §481A.67

2016 Acts, ch 1024, §1, 2

Referred to in §805.8B(3)(i)

For applicable scheduled fines, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph i