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Captive Game Permit Information and Application Forms

New Jersey has specific wildlife captivity laws and regulations pertaining to game species (NJAC 7:25-10). In all states, a legally acquired wild animal is, for the most part, one which is not from wild origin. That is, it is the offspring of animals that were legally held in captivity.

The intent of regulations dealing with wildlife captivity are:

  • To protect wildlife from exploitation
  • To protect native wildlife populations from disease or competition
  • To protect people from being injured by captive wildlife
  • To protect agricultural crops from damage from escaped exotic wildlife
In New Jersey the animal must be bred in captivity and have appropriate documentation (unless otherwise authorized by Division). No person should ever take animals from the wild - there is a need to protect native populations, hence the requirements for importation permits and health certificates for game species. Potentially dangerous species permits require the applicant to have additional experience and meet facility requirements. Depending on the species and type of permit, federal permits from US Fish and Wildlife Service and/or US Dept. of Agriculture may be also be required.

Anyone interested in or having a need to import or possess wild game should contact the Captive Game Permit Section at 609-292-2966 prior to acquiring wildlife (especially potentially dangerous species). This allows us to confirm the person they are buying from holds a valid propagation and sales permit and the game is from documented captive stock, and to provide the applicant with information on current importation restrictions or bans. See the documents below for more information.

Captive Game Information Sheet (pdf, 21kb)
Captive Game Animal and Game Bird Regulations (pdf, 1.6mb)
Captive Game Animal and Game Bird Possession Application (pdf, 26kb)

Once the Division has been contacted the appropriate form must be completed and submitted:
Application to Import Game Birds (pdf, 22kb)
Application to Import Game Animals (pdf, 22kb)

Those who do possess game birds and/or game animals are required to file quarterly reports with the Captive Game Permit Section.
Quarterly Report Form (pdf, 9kb)

For further information call 609-292-2966.

Semi-wild and Commercial Hunting Preserve Information requests should be directed to 609-292-2965.

* Regulations concerning the possession of game animals, as well as semi-wild and commercial shooting preserves, may be found in NJSA Title 23:3-28 to 39. Please consult your county library for copies of Title 23 or view them online in the Statutes Section of the NJ State Legislature's Web site.

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Department of Environmental Protection
P. O. Box 402
Trenton, NJ 08625-0402

Last Updated: November 25, 2008