Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Since I have a general hunting license it is my understanding that I can keep captive native wildlife in the state of Az. Since knowing that which will be backed up later down this page I was wondering if I could for istance purchase a NATIVE species to this state via a distributer in another state and have it delta shipped to me

This was taken from az game and fish website section

R12-4-401. Live Wildlife Definitions
15. "Restricted live wildlife" means wildlife that the Commission has determined is an actual or potentially-significant threat to indigenous wildlife by competition, disease or parasites, habitat degradation, predation, or impact on population management; or an actual or potentially significant threat to public safety by disease, physical threat, property damage, or nuisance.
R12-4-404. Possession of Live Wildlife Taken on an Arizona Hunting or Fishing License
A. Wildlife may be taken from the wild alive by authority of an appropriate Arizona hunting or fishing license only when a Commission order specifies a live bag and possession limit for that species. Wildlife taken pursuant to this subsection may be possessed, transported, placed on educational display, propagated, and killed for personal use, or disposed of pursuant to subsection (B), except that live baitfish may be possessed and transported only in accordance with R12-4-316.

R12-4-406. Restricted Live Wildlife
D. Reptiles listed below are "restricted live wildlife" as defined in R12-4-401.
1. All species of the order Crocodylia. Common names: gavials, caimans, crocodiles, and alligators.
2. The following species of the order Testudines. Common names: turtles and tortoises.
a. All species of the family Chelydridae. Common name: snapping turtles.
b. All species of the genera Gopherus and Xerobates of the family Testudinidae. Common name: gopher tortoises, including the desert tortoise.
3. All species of the following families or genera of the order Squamata.
a. The family Helodermatidae. Common names: Gila monster and Mexican beaded lizard.
b. The family Elapidae. Common names: cobras, mambas, coral snakes, kraits, and Australian elapids.
c. The family Hydrophiidae. Common name: sea snakes.
d. The family Viperidae. Common names: true vipers and pit vipers, including rattlesnakes.
e. The family Atractaspidae. Common name: burrowing asps.
f. The following species and genera of the family Colubridae:
i. Dispholidus typus. Common name: boomslang.
ii. Thelotornis kirtlandii. Common name: bird snake or twig snake.
iii. Rhabdophis. Common names: keelbacks.

Taken from
http://www.azsos.gov/public_services/title_12/12-04.htm

Now assuming that highlighted number 15 is actually talking about all captive hot reptiles why would they allow you to to keep live hots in the first place.. but instead you can..you just can't buy them from another person

Secondly what makes a native wild hot different then a native wild hot that was bought outside the state if it can't pose any other threat then what the native hot would already pose

Third.. Does this mean I can buy native hots through distributers

First, you don't need a hunting license to keep native reptiles and amphibians. You just need one to be in the field collecting them. This means if someone gives you a native herp you do not need a license to keep it, or if they were collected legally with a license by you last year, you don't need to purchase a license this year to still be able to keep them (I would still hang on to all expired licenses just for documentation).

Venomous reptiles are considered "prohibited wildlife". But, the articles providing the "open seasons" provide for one to be able to take/possess the listed native species within their respective bag limits. This means you may have the alloted bag limit of the native open season species, "native" meaning from within the political boundries of Az. So you may keep an atrox from within Az. but you cannot have one from New Mexico or Texas as they would still fall under "prohibited wildlife". It is illegal to buy, sell, barter or trade native Az. species so you may not purchase venomous at all. Non-venomous is a different story. For example you cannot buy or sell an Az. mountain kingsnake from Az. But if you legally aquire one from New Mexico you can sell it or it's offspring provided you have good documentation,ie: a reciept from a breeder or a valid hunting license or collecting permit from that state. Hope that helps some.

...& furthurmore...you need that license to (theoretically) drive your native wldlf to a new house/friends house or the vet (transport)!

The laws arent made to make sense really...mostly well intentioned but unfortunately...permeated w/ personal agendas.

AGFD is all about you owning an arsenal of weaponry... up to & including assault rifles...but like any good schitzo....shifts 180* over into "protect the public safety" mode when contemplating the social horrors of a liberty loving individual who wishes to maintain & enjoy a beaded lizard! Ha

Still...compared w/ the many police-states...we're pretty well served here.....lets see how long it lasts....

Beers / RxR