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Domestic Game Bird Breeder License

Statutory Authority: ECL 11-0103, 11-1901 and 6 NYCRR Part 153 and Part 175

The Department may issue a Domestic Game Bird Breeder License to an owner or lessee of wholly enclosed lands or an entire island. This license permits the purchase, possession, and propagation of captive bred domestic game birds, providing the applicant has facilities for propagating on the licensed premises.

Class A - $50.00 Class A breeders may purchase, possess, propagate, transport, and sell domestic game birds dead or alive and their eggs.

Class B - $10.00 Class B breeders may purchase, possess, and propagate domestic game birds for their own use. Live birds, their eggs, and their carcasses may not be sold, exchanged, or given away.

Please note:

  • Domestic game bird means captive bred ducks, geese, brant, swans, pheasants, quail, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, chukar partridge, and Hungarian or European gray-legged partridge.
  • No wild turkeys, canada geese, or swans are to be released into the wild.
  • Class A License is required to supply birds to any shooting preserve, including one under your possession.
  • The licensee may kill domestic game birds on the licensed premises at any time, in any manner, EXCEPT by shooting.
  • This license does not allow the training of dogs. Training dogs requires a Shooting Preserve License.
  • This license expires annually on March 31st.

If you are currently a licensed Domestic Game Bird Breeder the following links will supply you with some needed documents.

Please contact the Special Licenses Unit with any questions or concerns about qualifying or to apply for this license.

NYSDEC
Special Licenses Unit
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4752
518-402-8985

List of applicable Laws and Regulations

  • New York Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) to read visit the Department of State website at http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menuf.cgi
    • 11-0103
    • 11-1901
  • New York Codes Rules and Regulations (6NYCRR)
  • Page applies to all NYS regions
  • PDF Help:
  • For assistance with PDFs on this page, please call 518-402-8985.
  • Contact for this Page:
  • NYSDEC
    Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources
    625 Broadway
    Albany, NY 12233-4752
    518-402-8985
    email us