Reptile & Amphibian Regulations

Any person 18 or older, while in the act of taking or attempting to take reptiles and amphibians or possessing reptiles or amphibians, must first possess:

1. Any resident or nonresident hunting license, unless otherwise exempt, for land-dwelling reptiles or amphibians, with the exception of (3) and (4) of this paragraph.
2. A resident or nonresident fishing license, unless otherwise exempt, for water-dwelling reptiles or amphibians, with the exception of (3) and (4) of this paragraph.
3. A commercial turtle harvester license for legal water-dwelling turtles if the taking or possession is for commercial purposes. Note: Not all bodies of water are open for commercial harvest.
4. A commercial resident or nonresident minnow dealers license for legal aquatic salamanders if the taking is for commercial purposes.

Bullfrogs may be taken with hook and line, gig, spear, bow and arrow or other methods except firearms under the resident or nonresident fishing license. Bullfrogs may be taken with firearms under the resident or nonresident hunting license.

Persons possessing a current resident or nonresident hunting license, unless otherwise exempt, may sell lawfully-taken rattlesnakes only to those individuals holding a commercial or noncommercial wildlife breeders license during open season. A commercial wildlife breeders license is required of all who buy and resell live rattlesnakes.

Any person 18 or older, hunting, pursuing, trapping, harassing, catching, killing, taking, or attempting to take in any manner any species of rattlesnake during an organized rattlesnake hunting event or festival must have a rattlesnake permit, unless exempt.

Persons with a valid hunting license (see License Exemptions) are exempt from the rattlesnake permit.

Permits are available online at GoOutdoorsOklahoma.com, by calling (405) 521-3852, or at any hunting or fishing license dealer.

Nothing prohibits the control of reptiles other than those listed as endangered or threatened, by landowners, lessees, or occupants of such land when such reptiles are creating a nuisance.

It is unlawful to introduce, deposit, place or drain any deleterious, noxious, toxic or petroleum based substance into or around any underground dens or rock crevices for the purpose of taking reptiles or amphibians.

The method of taking legal water turtles and aquatic salamanders for commercial purposes and the taking of bullfrogs is restricted to provisions in the current statutes and regulations. With the exception of water turtles and aquatic salamanders taken for commercial purposes (when licensed) and all legal species of frogs, all other reptiles and amphibians may only be taken by hand or any other legal means.

It shall be unlawful to engage in any commercial activities involving any species or subspecies, if more than one (1) exists, of reptiles or amphibians collected from the wild that are indigenous to or whose range extends into Oklahoma, except for provisions for rattlesnakes, water turtles and aquatic salamanders (Necturus and Ambystoma, except Ambystoma talpoideum) and Ambystoma annulatum.

All persons so licensed for captive breeding of reptiles and amphibians must keep detailed breeding and hatching records in addition to those records already required by law.

The Director may make exceptions for education or research purposes to holders of Oklahoma scientific collector’s permits for reptiles and amphibians.

It is unlawful to possess an American alligator.