Fur Buyer License

Minnesota Fur Buyer
License 2026

Complete guide to fur buyer and dealer licensing in Minnesota - resident and nonresident fees, record-keeping requirements, CITES compliance, pelt tagging, annual reporting deadlines, and bonding rules. Minnesota requires all commercial fur buyers to hold a resident or nonresident fur buyer license. The state has a comprehensive record-keeping and annual reporting program tied to the CITES bobcat and otter export quota system.

License Required CITES Compliance Required Record Keeping Required Annual Report Required

2026 Fur Buyer License Quick Facts Verified 2026

Resident Fee

$25.00

Annual license

Nonresident Fee

$75.00

Annual license

Record Retention

3yr

Records must be kept on file

CITES Required

Yes

For regulated species export

License Details

Minnesota Fur Buyer License Requirements

All commercial fur purchases in Minnesota are regulated. Review all requirements before purchasing furs from trappers.

Requirement	Details
License Required	Yes - required
License Type	Fur Buyer License
Resident Fee	$25.00 / year
Nonresident Fee	$75.00 / year
Record Keeping Required	Yes
Record Retention Period	3 years minimum
Pelt Tagging Required	Not required
CITES Compliance Required	Yes - CITES compliance required
Annual Report Required	Yes - Due: April 1
Report Due Date	April 1
Bonding Required	Not required

Regulated Species

Species Requiring Special Handling in Minnesota

The following species are subject to special fur buyer rules in Minnesota - which may include tagging, harvest reporting, or CITES permits for export.

bobcat otter fisher lynx

CITES Note: Bobcat and otter pelts from Minnesota that are destined for international commercial export require CITES export permits from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Minnesota participates in annual harvest reporting to support the national CITES export quota program.

Record Keeping

Minnesota Fur Buyer Record Requirements

Licensed fur buyers in Minnesota must maintain detailed purchase records available for inspection by wildlife officers at any time.

For each purchase: species, quantity of pelts, seller name and trapping license number

Date of transaction and purchase price or fair market value

County or general area of harvest (where required by species)

Records must be retained for 3 years

Records must be available for inspection by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wildlife officers without prior notice

Important Notes

Minnesota-Specific Fur Buyer Rules

Minnesota participates in the national CITES export quota for bobcat and otter. Fur buyers must record seller name, license number, species, quantity, and county of harvest for each transaction. Annual reports are due April 1. Canada lynx is federally threatened — purchase requires special documentation.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (www.dnr.state.mn.us). Requirements verified 2026. Always confirm current license fees and record-keeping rules directly with the agency before purchasing furs.

Minnesota