Landowner Exceptions
Licensing Requirements
- A landowner is required to have a license to hunt deer, bear, turkey, game birds, migratory game birds and bobcats. The owner or occupant of any land and members of their family may, without a license and subject to all other restrictions except seasons, hunt or trap on their own property for beaver, fox, coyote, raccoon, woodchuck, rabbit and squirrel year-round, and unprotected species causing damage or a nuisance, and may sell the skins of these species.
- Family members who do not live with the owner or occupant of the land may also hunt or trap certain species without a license on this land only if they are siblings or children of the owner or occupant and are under the age of 18.
- Mentorship rules apply to youth ages 11 and under.
- Grackles, red-winged blackbirds and cowbirds are protected species and may not be hunted for recreational purposes. They may be killed on private lands without a hunting license or federal permit only if they are causing damage or are about to cause damage to trees, crops, livestock or wildlife, or if they are concentrated in large numbers that may constitute a health hazard or other nuisance. Crows may also be killed without a federal permit and outside the normal crow season in these situations. Non-toxic shot is required when shooting crows outside the normal season and when shooting grackles, red-winged blackbirds and cowbirds which are causing damage or a nuisance. For more information, visit the Nuisance Wildlife webpage.