Section 880.10  Prohibition of Commercial Use

 

It is unlawful to take, possess, buy, sell, offer to buy or sell or barter any reptile, amphibian or their eggs or resulting offspring or parts taken from the wild in Illinois for commercial purposes, unless otherwise authorized by statute.

 

(Source:  Amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 6757, effective May 1, 2013)

 

Section 880.20  Methods of Taking and Capture

 

a)         Only those persons who hold a valid sport fishing license or a valid Sportsmen's Combination License may take or attempt to take turtles and/or frogs (see 515 ILCS 5/20-5).

 

b)         Common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentia) may be taken only by hand, hook and line or bow and arrow (except in the counties listed in Section 880.60(b) where bowfishing for common snapping turtles is not allowed).  The alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) is protected and may not be taken by any method, including, but not limited to, any sport fishing method.

 

c)         Bullfrogs and common snapping turtles may be taken only June 15 through October 15. Bullfrogs may be taken only by hook and line, gig, pitchfork, spear, bow and arrow, hand or landing net.

 

d)         No person shall take common snapping turtles or bullfrogs by commercial fishing devices, including dip nets, hoop nets, traps or seines, or by the use of firearms, airguns or gas guns.

 

e)         No person shall take or possess any species of reptile or amphibian listed as endangered or threatened in Illinois (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1010), except as provided by 17 Ill. Adm. Code 1070.

 

f)         All other species of reptiles and amphibians may be captured by hand. This shall not restrict the use of legally taken reptiles or amphibians as bait by anglers.

 

g)         Any captured reptiles or amphibians that are not to be retained in the possession of the captor shall be immediately released at the site of capture, unless taken with a lethal method (such as bow and arrow, gig, spear or pitchfork) that does not permit "release with no harm".  All common snapping turtles and bullfrogs taken by this method must be kept and counted in the daily catch creel or bag.  No culling of these taken species is permitted.

 

(Source:  Amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 1141, effective December 31, 2014)

 

Section 880.30  Daily Catch and Possession Limits

 

a)         The daily catch limit for common snapping turtles is 2 and for bullfrogs is 8 of each species. The possession limit for common snapping turtles is 4 and for bullfrogs is 16.

 

b)         For indigenous Illinois amphibian and reptile taxa (excluding common snapping turtles and bullfrogs), the possession limit is 8 collectively with no more than 4 per taxa.

 

(Source:  Amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 6757, effective May 1, 2013)

 

Section 880.40  Captive Born Reptiles and Amphibians

 

Captive born offspring of a legally held reptile or amphibian, not intended for commercial purposes, is exempt from the possession limits of Section 880.30 for a period of ninety (90) days.

 

Section 880.50  Protection of Habitat

 

Habitat features which are disturbed in the course of a search for reptiles and amphibians shall be returned to as near their original position and condition as possible; e.g., overturned stones and logs shall be restored to their original locations.

 

Section 880.60  Areas Closed to the Taking of Reptiles and Amphibians

 

a)           Unless otherwise allowed by statute or administrative rule, the taking of reptiles and amphibians at any time and by any method is prohibited in the following area:  the LaRue-Pine Hills/Otter Pond Research Natural Area in Union County.  The closed area shall include the Research Natural Area as designated by the U.S. Forest Service and the right-of-way of Forest Road 345 from the intersection of Forest Road 345 with Forest Road 236 to the intersection of Forest Road 345 with the Missouri Pacific railroad tracks.

 

b)           Bowfishing for common snapping turtles is not permitted in the following Illinois counties:  Randolph, Perry, Franklin, Hamilton, White, Gallatin, Saline, Williamson, Jackson, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Massac, Pulaski and Alexander.

 

(Source:  Amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 6757, effective May 1, 2013)

 

Section 880.70  Additional Protective Regulations (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 39 Ill. Reg. 1141, effective December 31, 2014)