Page 8 - 2023MayJun

TAKING STATE’S REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS REQUIRES LICENSE

Oklahoma’s hunting and fishing licenses have been Collector’s Per-
around for generations. But it wasn’t until 1948 when mits are issued
the Wildlife Department’s Oklahoma Game and Fish based on col- JENA DONNELL/ODWC
News clarified that “the license also is required for lection purpose
hunting any kind of bird, animal or reptile and is not and the species
confined to game species alone.” sought, and have
As with other laws, regulations surrounding rep- an annual report-
tiles and amphibians have evolved through the years. ing requirement
Today, the license required for taking or attempting before the collec-
to take reptiles and amphibians depends on where tor can apply for
the animal is collected or harvested. the permit in the
Oklahoma residents 16 years or older must have a following year.
valid hunting license to collect or capture a land-dwell- In addition to
ing reptile or amphibian. A valid fishing license is the license require-
required for water-dwelling animals. Those younger ments, collectors
than 16 are exempted from either license. Landown- must also be aware
ers, lessees, or occupants of lands are also exempted of daily limits and
from a license when reptiles other than those listed any closed seasons
as endangered or threatened are creating a nuisance. or area closures.
Most reptiles and amphibians have a statewide, Most reptiles
year-round open season, but 12 reptile species and have a limit of six American toad captured at
13 amphibian species have a statewide closed sea- per day or in pos- Cookson WMA.
son and can only be collected with a valid Scientific session, while most amphibians have a limit of four
Collector’s Permit. This allows research teams to per day or in possession. One notable exception:
legally study rare or declining species such as the The American bullfrog, Oklahoma’s state amphibian,
Texas horned lizard, alligator snapping turtle, Okla- has a collection limit of 15 per day or in possession.
homa salamander, and grotto salamander. Scientific Other exceptions and reptile and amphibian laws
can be found in the current Oklahoma Fishing and
JENA DONNELL/ODWC at wildlifedepartment.com or through the Go Out-
Hunting Regulations.
A copy of the current regulations may be accessed

doors Oklahoma mobile app. Hunting or fishing
licenses and “A Field Guide to Oklahoma’s Amphib-
ians and Reptiles” are sold in the app’s “Shop” tab.
—By Jena Donnell, Communication and
Education Specialist
JENA DONNELL/ODWC

Hog-nosed snake captured on Beaver River WMA.
JENA DONNELL/ODWC

Texas horned lizard being measured at Cooper WMA.
These lizards have a statewide closed season and may not
Six-lined racerunner captured at Cimarron Hills WMA. be handled without a Scientific Collector’s Permit.

6 OFF THE BEATEN PATH