Wildlife Collector Permits

If you are a student, educator, or researcher and collect or possess wildlife (including body parts, eggs, nests, or tissue) for scientific purposes, you need a Wildlife Collector's Permit.

These permits expire December 31. You must submit a Wildlife Collector's Report when you renew your permit. Please allow 6 weeks for review and processing.

Your application should be as complete and detailed as possible. Subsequent amendments to the permit will be reviewed and approval is not guaranteed.

Wildlife Collector Permit Applications can now be submitted online.

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Apply Online for Wildlife Collector Permit
Online Wildlife Collector Application System Instructions792.12 KB
Learn how to use the new online Wildlife Collector Permit application system.
Other Application Formats
Preferred Formats (Word and Excel)
Wildlife Collector Permit Application (Word)85.26 KB
Wildlife Collectors Report (Excel)44.53 KB
Wildlife Collector Report Form (Word)43.27 KB
Bat Report Form (Excel)129.32 KB
Alternate Formats
Wildlife Collector Permit Application573.77 KB
Wildlife Collector Report292.24 KB
The importance of Wildlife Collector permits and reports

Wildlife Collector’s Permits

  • Helps to minimize unnecessary take of fish and wildlife, especially Species of Conservation Concern.
  • Allows MDC to identify possible interference among projects and improves project coordination.
  • Facilitates communication between MDC and collectors, which can create opportunities for MDC staff to provide advice or support for collectors.
  • Used to inform Protection Division staff of sampling activities.  This helps them to more quickly assess the situation should they encounter the collector and more effectively field inquiries from the public regarding the sampling.  This is the reason we require collectors to notify agents prior to sampling.
  • Provides mechanism for MDC to understand what wildlife is collected in the state and how those collections are used.
  • Increases ability of MDC staff to maximize public safety related to proposed sampling methods.
  • Ensures MDC staff can comment on wildlife care and handling methods.  Proper care and handling reduces stress to animals and creates better public perception of sampling activities.
  • Provides MDC the opportunity to address precautions related to invasive species transfer, potential to transfer fish or wildlife diseases among populations, or identify other sampling issues.

Wildlife Collector’s Reports

  • Provides a mechanism to assess permit compliance.
  • Reported information is integrated into MDC databases and used to inform research needs and management efforts.
  • Increases the value of some collected data by creating additional uses for the information beyond original goals of the collection.
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