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Wildlife Permits
Available permits
Bear: non-resident dog use for hunting
This application and permit is required and authorizes non-residents to use dogs for hunting black bear.
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.
Commercial hunting guides
Hunting guides in Michigan are required to obtain a license in order to provide hunting guiding services.
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.
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.
Dog training
Information regarding various permits for training hunting dogs on public and private land.
Falconry
Passing the Department of Natural Resources Falconry Exam is required to to become a permitted falconer in the State of Michigan.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Permit to hold wildlife in captivity
Permits to authorize the possession of wild game reared in captivity only.
Privately owned cervidae
Cervidae include caribou, fallow deer, sika deer, white-tailed deer, elk, moose, reindeer and others.
Project control permit
A permit for use of pesticides outside of buildings in Michigan to control the depredations of pigeons, starlings or English sparrows.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.