In reading through here, there may be some misconceptions of how you can legally take turtles in TN. If you aren't using a commercial fishing license, here is what the sport fishing regulation says:
SECTION IX. TURTLES
A. Only the Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) may be legally taken.
1. Season: open year-round.
2. Daily creel limit: 5; possession limit is twice the daily creel limit. Only the daily creel
limit may be possessed while afield.
3. Minimum length limit: 12 inches. For purposes of this proclamation, the length of a
turtle is determined by measuring the carapace (upper shell) in a straight line from
the scute directly behind the turtle's head (nuchal scute) to the base of the notch
where the two most posterior scutes meet.
4. It shall be unlawful to possess while afield any turtle which has been altered to the
extent that its species and/or length cannot be determined.
5. Turtles may be taken by all legal sport fishing methods except archery and spear
guns. Additionally, sport fishermen may take turtles by the use of up to three hoop
nets having a minimum mesh size of three-inches (3") on the square in Benton,
Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin,
Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Houston, Humphreys, Lake, Lauderdale, McNairy,
Madison, Obion, Perry, Shelby, Stewart, Tipton, and Weakley counties. Each net
must be marked with the owner's name and address or TWRA Identification Number.
Each net must be set so that a portion of the catch area is above the water.
It doesn't look like turtle traps are a legal method on the sport fishing license. The hoop nets are only legal in certain waters.
