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Game Breeder & Wildlife
Breeder Permits 2026

Game breeder permits authorize the propagation and sale of native and non-native game animals for hunting preserves, commercial meat production, and live sale. All 50 states regulate game breeding activities, though requirements vary widely. Common species include white-tailed deer, pheasant, quail, wild turkey, elk, and wild boar. Find your state's requirements, fees, and inspection process.

All 50 States Facility Inspection Info Covered Species Lists
50States Covered
39Facility Inspection Required
50Record Keeping Required
About Game Breeding

Understanding Game Breeder Permits

Game breeding is a commercial agricultural activity that intersects with wildlife management. State fish and wildlife agencies regulate game breeding to prevent disease transmission to wild populations, control genetic mixing, and ensure humane treatment of captive animals. A game breeder permit is typically required for anyone raising native game species commercially — whether for live sale, meat production, or stocking hunting preserves. Requirements range from simple registration to detailed facility inspections and disease testing programs.

Common Species
White-tailed deer, pheasant, bobwhite quail, wild turkey, elk, wild boar, and cottontail rabbits are the most commonly bred game species. Exotic species like red deer, fallow deer, and axis deer may require additional permits in some states.
Disease Testing
Most states require CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) testing for captive deer and elk. TB and brucellosis testing may be required for bison, elk, and wild boar. These programs protect wild deer herds from disease introduction from captive operations.
Record Keeping
Annual records of inventory, births, deaths, purchases, and sales are required in most states. These records are subject to inspection and help authorities track animal movement, detect disease spread, and verify permit compliance.
Annual Fees
Game breeder permit fees typically range from $25–$200 annually depending on the state and species. Some states charge flat fees; others use tiered fee structures based on the number of animals or facility size. Fees fund wildlife management programs.
Filter:
50 states
50 states shown
AL
Alabama
Annual Fee $51.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
AK
Alaska
Annual Fee $200.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
AZ
Arizona
Annual Fee $80.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
AR
Arkansas
Annual Fee $25.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
CA
California
Annual Fee $75.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
CO
Colorado
Annual Fee $75.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
CT
Connecticut
Annual Fee $50.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
DE
Delaware
Annual Fee $25.00
Permit details
FL
Florida
Annual Fee $50.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
GA
Georgia
Annual Fee $25.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
HI
Hawaii
Annual Fee $50.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
ID
Idaho
Annual Fee $75.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
IL
Illinois
Annual Fee $75.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
IN
Indiana
Annual Fee $25.00
Permit details
IA
Iowa
Annual Fee $50.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
KS
Kansas
Annual Fee $22.50
Permit details
KY
Kentucky
Annual Fee $30.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
LA
Louisiana
Annual Fee $25.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
ME
Maine
Annual Fee $50.00
Permit details
MD
Maryland
Annual Fee $30.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
MA
Massachusetts
Annual Fee $55.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
MI
Michigan
Annual Fee $100.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
MN
Minnesota
Annual Fee $75.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
MS
Mississippi
Annual Fee $25.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
MO
Missouri
Annual Fee $15.00
Permit details
MT
Montana
Annual Fee $150.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
NE
Nebraska
Annual Fee $50.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
NV
Nevada
Annual Fee $50.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
NH
New Hampshire
Annual Fee $10.00
Permit details
NJ
New Jersey
Annual Fee $50.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
NM
New Mexico
Annual Fee $50.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
NY
New York
Annual Fee $25.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
NC
North Carolina
Annual Fee $35.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
ND
North Dakota
Annual Fee $25.00
Permit details
OH
Ohio
Annual Fee $25.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
OK
Oklahoma
Annual Fee $50.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
OR
Oregon
Annual Fee $100.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
PA
Pennsylvania
Annual Fee $25.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
RI
Rhode Island
Annual Fee $10.00
Permit details
SC
South Carolina
Annual Fee $25.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
SD
South Dakota
Annual Fee $50.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
TN
Tennessee
Annual Fee $51.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
TX
Texas
Annual Fee $52.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
UT
Utah
Annual Fee $30.00
Permit details
VT
Vermont
Annual Fee $10.00
Permit details
VA
Virginia
Annual Fee $50.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
WA
Washington
Annual Fee $150.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
WV
West Virginia
Annual Fee $25.00
Permit details
WI
Wisconsin
Annual Fee $35.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
WY
Wyoming
Annual Fee $100.00
Permit details Facility inspection req.
FAQ

Game Breeder Permit Questions

In many states, a small-scale operation for personal use (such as raising a limited number of pheasants for your own hunting purposes) may not require a full game breeder permit, but usually requires at minimum registration with the state wildlife agency. Commercial operations — any sale of live birds, eggs, or meat — almost universally require a permit. Check your state's specific threshold for when a permit is required, as rules vary significantly from state to state on minimum flock sizes and sale thresholds.
Yes, in most states with game breeder permits that cover deer, you can sell captive-bred white-tailed deer to other licensed breeders, hunting preserves, or individuals. However, captive deer are among the most strictly regulated game animals due to CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) concerns. Most states require CWD testing, detailed movement records, herd certification, and sometimes proof that animals originated from CWD-free herds. Some states prohibit interstate movement of deer. Always check your state's specific captive deer regulations.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal prion disease affecting deer, elk, and moose. It is transmissible between animals and has no vaccine or cure. Most states with active captive deer industries require mandatory CWD testing of all animals at death, fencing requirements to prevent escape and contact with wild deer, and strict movement restrictions for live animals. These requirements are designed to prevent CWD from spreading from captive operations into wild deer herds, which would be catastrophic for both wildlife and the hunting industry.
Many states have separate exotic wildlife permit categories for non-native species. Axis deer, fallow deer, red stag, wild boar, and similar exotic game animals are often regulated under different permits than native white-tailed deer or wild turkey. Some states treat certain exotic deer as agricultural livestock (not requiring a wildlife permit), while others require full wildlife breeder permits. Wild boar regulations vary dramatically — some states classify them as an invasive pest with no permit requirements, while others regulate them as a game species.
Typical facility requirements for game breeder permits include: adequate fencing for the species (height and strength requirements vary by animal size and species), shelter and water provisions, adequate acreage per animal, and appropriate predator exclusion measures. Deer and elk require high fencing (typically 8 feet or taller). Pheasants and quail require secure wire enclosures. Initial facility inspections and annual inspections (or surprise inspections) are common. Facilities must typically meet or exceed minimum square footage per bird or per deer.
No — these are typically separate permits. A game breeder permit authorizes the propagation (raising and breeding) of game animals. A hunting preserve license (or shooting preserve license) authorizes the operation of a fee-based hunting operation where hunters pay to hunt release birds or animals. Many hunting preserve operators hold both types of permits — the game breeder permit to raise birds and the hunting preserve license to operate the hunting operation. Each state has different requirements and fee structures for each type of permit.