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Wildlife Permits

A black bear standing on all fours in the woods on a sunny day.

Bear: non-resident dog use for hunting

This application and permit is required and authorizes non-residents to use dogs for hunting black bear.

A pair of Canada geese

Canada goose permits

The program has been developed to give private landowners (including businesses and other commercial entities) options to address goose-human conflicts on their sites.

male and female hunter in forest with harvested turkey

Commercial hunting guides

Hunting guides in Michigan are required to obtain a license in order to provide hunting guiding services.

packages of ground venison in freezer

Commercial meat processing

This permit will be issued in order for the DNR to properly administer and oversee commercial processors who accept wild animals (for example, deer, elk, and bear) for processing and storage.

Two antlerless deer stand in the woods.

Deer management assistance permits

Permits may be issued statewide to owners or authorized designee of land located in areas where current antlerless harvest methods are insufficient to achieve department deer management objectives.

Peregrine falcon

Falconry

Passing the Department of Natural Resources Falconry Exam is required to to become a permitted falconer in the State of Michigan.

a brown dog points in a field

Field dog trials

This application and permit is required prior to conducting a field dog trial during the closed season on private land in Michigan.

A ring-necked pheasant in flight.

Game bird release permits

This permit allows for the possession of native game birds for up to six months where you can either eat them or release them.

Hunter aims firearm at pheasant in flight while mentor looks on

Game bird hunting preserves

Pheasants, bobwhite quail, Hungarian partridge, mallard ducks and exotic game birds may be raised and released for hunting for an extended season on hunting preserves licensed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

A mute swan taking off from the water.

Mute swan removal permits

If you have mute swans on your property and wish to remove them or their nests and eggs, you must request a permit from your local DNR office.

A cute looking skunk rests its face and paw on a piece of wood.

Permit to hold wildlife in captivity

Permits to authorize the possession of wild game reared in captivity only.

Cervidae behind a high fence.

Privately owned cervidae

Cervidae include caribou, fallow deer, sika deer, white-tailed deer, elk, moose, reindeer and others.

A starling atop a fence.

Project control permit

A permit for use of pesticides outside of buildings in Michigan to control the depredations of pigeons, starlings or English sparrows.

A road kill deer along the side of the road at night.

Roadkill salvage permit

You can obtain a free salvage permit to possess wildlife killed in vehicular collisions. The permit cannot be used to possess badger, bobcat, brant, coot, crow, bear cub, duck, elk, fisher, Florida gallinule, goose, marten, moose, otter, snipe, sora rail, spotted fawn deer, Virginia rail, wild turkey, wolf, or woodcock.

Massasauga rattlesnake in the weeds.

Scientific collectors permit

A permit for the collection, possession/handling, transportation, or disposing of wild birds or wild mammals (living or dead or parts thereof) or the nests or eggs of wild birds, for scientific or educational purposes in the state of Michigan.

Taxidermized ducks of various types.

Taxidermy

A taxidermy permit is required to conduct a taxidermy business or to engage in preparing or mounting the skins, plumage or parts from any regulated birds or mammals for a fee.

Karner blue butterfly on a blade of grass

Threatened and endangered species

All specimens authorized for collection under the permit shall be deposited in the collection of an approved public educational or research institution prior to permit expiration.

A raccoon in a live trap is transported by a person.

Wildlife damage and nuisance control permits

This permit allows nuisance wild animals and wild animals causing damage to property to be taken during times of the year and by methods not normally allowed under the regular hunting and trapping rules.

An injured Cooper's hawk is bandaged by two people.

Wildlife rehabilitation permit

This permit allows sick, injured, or orphaned wild animals to be captured and cared for by qualified individuals with the purpose of releasing the wild animals back into their natural habitat.