A Federal Migratory Bird Special Purpose Game Bird permit is required to acquire, purchase, possess, transfer, sell, donate, or otherwise dispose of to another person, migratory game birds- excluding waterfowl- that are captive-reared and properly marked, including their eggs. Game birds may not be taken from the wild.
Game birds include pigeons, doves, coots, rails, and similar species:
- Scolopacidae - Common snipe and American woodcock
- Columbidae - Band-tailed pigeon, Bridled quail-dove, Common ground-dove, Inca dove, Key West quail dove, Mourning dove, Plain pigeon, Red-billed pigeon, Ruddy ground-dove, Ruddy quail-dove, Scaly-naped pigeon, White-crowned pigeon, White-tipped dove, White-winged dove, Zenaida dove
- Gruidae - Sandhill crane (except Mississippi subspecies)
- Rallidae - Clapper rail, King rail, Virginia rail, Sora rail, Purple gallinule, American coot and Common moorhen
For waterfowl, see the Migratory Bird Waterfowl Sale and Disposal permit.
Who Needs It
Anyone who wishes to acquire, purchase, possess, transfer, sell, donate, release to the wild, or otherwise dispose of migratory game birds with migratory game birds other than waterfowl must first obtain a Federal Migratory Bird Special Purpose Game Bird permit.
You may not take migratory game birds or their eggs from the wild. Anyone who transfers migratory game birds to you must have a valid Special Purpose Game Bird permit.
Marking
All live migratory game birds (including offspring) possessed in captivity under authority of a valid Migratory Bird Special Purpose Game Bird permit must, prior to 6 weeks of age, be physically marked using one of the following methods:
- Removing the hind toe from the right foot.
- Pinioning of a wing by removing the metacarpal bones of one wing or a portion of the metacarpal bones thereby rendering the bird permanently incapable of flight.
- Banding one metatarsus with a seamless metal band.
- Tattooing a readily discernible number or letter or combination thereof on the web of one foot.
State Compliance
Your Migratory Bird Special Purpose Game Bird permit is not valid unless you also are in compliance with State requirements. This means that if your State requires you to have a permit to sell or transfer migratory game birds, you must hold a valid State permit in order for your Federal permit to be valid. It is your responsibility to make sure you comply with State permit requirements.
Process
To Submit an Application
To submit an application online or through the mail, follow the instructions on our ePermits site.
Need to submit your annual report?
Download report form 3-202-6 to mail in.
Application Fee
- $75
- Application fee is non-refundable.
- Federal, Tribal, State, and local government agencies, and those acting on the behalf of such agencies, are exempt from the processing fee (documentation may be required).