Game Animals

Game animals as regulated by the Captive Wildlife Office are defined as:

• Game mammals: animals in the families Cervidae (such as deer and elk), Suidae (hog), and Bovidae (such as buffalo and antelope)
• Game birds: wild turkey, quail, rails, snipe, woodcock, ducks, geese, brant, dove, coot, common gallinule, and non-native species generally considered game such as pheasant, chukar partridge, and coturnix quail

A permit or license is needed to possess game animals in captivity in most cases. A license is not required in the following situations:

• Possession, protection, propagation, raising, or production or bison for commercial purposes
• Protection, propagation, raising, or production of 100 or fewer live bobwhite quail or nonnative game birds (except nonnative ducks and geese) for personal use, consumption, education, dog training, or other not-for-sale or exhibition purpose
• Purchasing or receiving eggs for personal use, consumption, education, or other not-for-sale or exhibition purpose

Activities

A permit or license is required to possess game animals in most cases. Follow the links below for more information about licensing for different activities:

• Raising/Sale
• Release/Take on hunting preserve
• Personal Pet
• Importation

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please contact the Captive Wildlife Office.

Phone: (850) 488-6253
Email: CWApps@myFWC.com
Mail: Captive Wildlife Office, 620 S Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399