Wildlife Collector’s Permit

PURPOSE: This rule establishes a permit under which wildlife may be taken for scientific purposes. (1) Wildlife Collector’s Permit. A permit to collect, possess, mount, or preserve wildlife for scientific related purposes. (A) Wildlife Collector’s Permit for Scientific Purposes. Wildlife Collector’s Permits may be granted to an authorized representative of a university, college, school, incorporated city, state, or federal agency, publicly owned zoo, or wildlife or research organization or other qualified individual, provided that the collection shall be used exclusively for scientific, educational, or museum purposes. (B) Wildlife Collector’s Permit for Special Collections of Wildlife. Wildlife Collector’s Permits may be issued to professionally qualified individuals who charge a fee for biological studies for specific projects where the potential results are of sufficient public value and interest to justify special collection of wildlife. (2) General Requirements for Permit Holders. Species and numbers of each to be collected and collecting methods are limited to those specified on the permit. Advance notification shall be given to the conservation agent or Protection Division regional supervisor in the county or area as to where and when the collecting will be done. The permit holder’s name, address, and wildlife collector’s permit number shall be on all trapping and netting devices. The traps, nets, or other devices used under this permit shall be attended at least daily, or be constantly attended if so stated on the permit. The collected specimens shall be donated to a museum or educational institution or disposed of in accordance with instructions of the department. Wildlife held under a wildlife collector’s permit may be propagated but shall not be sold or exhibited commercially. When holding live specimens, permit holders are required to adhere to wildlife confinement standards set forth in 3 CSR 10-9.220. Wildlife removed from the wild and held in captivity at locations other than the point of capture are not to be returned to the wild unless specifically approved on the permit. Assistants in the field must be under the direct, in-person supervision of the permit holder at all times. This permit does not relieve the holder of full compliance with other provisions of the Code or other state and federal requirements. (3) The wildlife collector’s permit is not valid until signed by the permit holder. The permit is valid for one (1) year from January 1. The permit holder shall submit a wildlife collector’s permit report to the department within thirty (30) days of the permit’s expiration date. Issuance of permits for the following year shall be conditioned on compliance with this Code, specified conditions of the permit, and receipt of a satisfactory wildlife collector’s permit report. Stream Teams, Discover Nature Schools classes, and department volunteers working on department authorized programs or wildlife collection projects are exempt from the requirements of this rule. AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const., and section 252.040, RSMo 2016.* This rule previously filed as 3 CSR 10-9.605. Original rule filed Aug. 16, 1973, effective Dec. 31, 1973. Amended: Filed Aug. 4, 1978, effective Jan. 1, 1979. Changed to 3 CSR 109.425, filed March 24, 1993 and May 13, 1993, effective Jan. 1, 1994. Amended: Filed May 9, 2002, effective Jan. 1, 2003. Amended: Filed Sept. 29, 2004, effective Feb. 28, 2005. Amended: Filed Oct. 2, 2006, effective Feb. 28, 2007. Amended: Filed Oct. 10, 2008, effective April 30, 2009. Amended: Filed Sept. 25, 2009, effective March 1, 2010. Amended: Filed Sept. 17, 2014, effective March 1, 2015. Amended: Filed May 25, 2023, effective Feb. 29, 2024. Amended: Filed May 16, 2025, effective Jan. 1, 2026. *Original authority: 252.040, RSMo 1945, amended 1989.