The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has developed a permit application for a temporary exemption to possess prohibited and restricted native turtles for personal use. Individuals in possession of prohibited turtles or exceeding the new possession limit for restricted turtles have until July 19, 2025 to register with LDWF and acquire a permit.
Rule changes to the LDWF Reptile and Amphibian regulations were approved by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) last year and subsequently published in the January 2025 State Register. These changes include a prohibition on commercial use and a recreational possession limit for native turtles.
Permits shall expire annually on Dec. 31 and must be renewed within 30 days of the expiration date. Anyone interested in relinquishing native turtles, please contact LDWF at LDWFHerps@wlf.la.gov.
To download and fill out the application, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/misc-licenses-and-permits. To see the final Rule for the LDWF Reptile and Amphibian regulations, go to Reptiles-and-Amphibians-Rule-State-Register-Jan-2025.pdf.
Completed applications and inquiries may be submitted to LDWF at LDWFHerps@wlf.la.gov.