Proposed rules would limit turtle trapping to six a day

Iowa's commercial turtle trappers are facing stricter daily catch limits but a longer harvesting season than previously proposed under rules moved forward by a state committee.

An Iowa Department of Natural Resources commission moved forward revised restrictions on the state's turtle trapping rules Thursday. The new rules would only allow trappers to catch six turtles a day and would create a six-week period where turtle trapping is not allowed.

It's the latest step as the DNR works to implement rules that would more strictly regulate commercial turtle trapping without eliminating the business altogether. The process has been controversial, with trappers arguing they could lose their way of making a living and conservationists arguing Iowa is losing its turtle population.

Currently, Iowa is one of a small number of states that allows trappers to take unlimited numbers of certain turtles throughout the year. Roughly 50 Iowans are licensed in Iowa to trap turtles.

Few speaking about the proposed rules Thursday appeared to leave the meeting satisfied.

"I believe the DNR doesn’t like to see people making a living from harvesting wild animals and I think this bag limit is a way for them to have their cake and eat it too," said Matt O'Hearn, a trapper from Northboro. "It’s a way for them to say they’re working with us, but at the same time ... they’re setting us up for failure."

PREVIOUSLY:

• Proposed turtle trapping restrictions delayed
• Proposed turtle trapping restrictions sent to governor
• Iowa seeks to save turtles, but trappers fear cultural loss

​Conservation groups, meanwhile, said the proposed rules didn't go far enough to protect the state's turtle population. Members of the Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club called the rules inadequate.

"This rule has no scientific basis and is simply, apparently, the whim of the governor based on pressure from the turtle harvesters," Wally Taylor, the chair of the chapter, told the commission.

Molly Hanson, executive director of Iowa Rivers Revival, called the rules "disappointing."

"It will not suffice to protect and sustain populations, and I fear we’re doomed to a future where our kids and grandkids will not see turtles on riverbanks or sunning themselves on logs," she said.

The rules are not final or implemented yet. They have to go through a series of public hearings and administrative steps. If they pass all of those, the rules are expected to be in place by early February 2017.

The DNR commission approved the rules with only one dissenting vote from Commissioner Marcus Branstad, who is Gov. Terry Branstad's son. Another commissioner initially said he would vote against the rules, but changed his vote after being told the commission could alter the proposal after more public hearings are held.

Iowa lawmakers passed a bill earlier this year that requires the state department to establish a harvest season and daily catch limits on turtles.

In August, the Department of Natural Resources proposed prohibiting commercial trapping to a six-month period that matched turtles' nesting season from July 1 through Dec. 31. The initial proposal would have also limited the number of turtles trappers could take each day to 14 snapping turtles, one softshell turtle and three painted turtles.

That rule was sent to the governor's office, which delayed moving it forward and asked the DNR to hold additional stakeholder meetings. At the time, the governor's office said it wanted to make sure all stakeholders, including trappers, were being heard.

On Thursday, the DNR commission approved a rule that would restrict trappers to catching four snapping turtles, one painted turtle, and one softshell or spiny softshell turtle each day. Turtle harvesting would be allowed from July 16 through May 14, with the six week period in between serving as a closed season.

David Sells, a turtle harvester from southeast Iowa, said he caught more than 1,900 softshell turtles over 69 days this year. The proposed rules would lower his catch to less than 50, he told the commission.

"One softshell per day does not even cover the fuel expense to leave my driveway," Sells said.