Deer Farming Legal States 2025

License required
25
Illegal
14
Legal
State
Deer Farming Legality
Additional Deer Farming Details
Alaska Flag
AlaskaLicense requiredElk farms are legal with license, after an inspection of the elk farming facilities to make sure they are well-maintained and meet the required fencing standards.
Arkansas Flag
ArkansasLicense required
California Flag
CaliforniaLicense requiredOnly fallow deer (Dama dama) may be possessed for deer farming purposes. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and be residents of California.
Colorado Flag
ColoradoLicense requiredConsidered wildlife or alternative livestock and require a permit or license issued by United States Department of Agriculture, Colorado Department of Agriculture, or Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Georgia Flag
GeorgiaLicense requiredRestricted to fallow, sika, and red deer, elk, caribou and their hybrids.
Hawaii Flag
HawaiiLicense requiredWhitetail/White-tailed deer not allowed.
Indiana Flag
IndianaLicense required
Kentucky Flag
KentuckyLicense required
Louisiana Flag
LouisianaLicense required
Maine Flag
MaineLicense required
Michigan Flag
MichiganLicense required
Mississippi Flag
MississippiLicense required
New Jersey Flag
New JerseyLicense required
New York Flag
New YorkLicense requiredThis license authorizes individuals to breed captive white-tailed deer and operate a commercial or private deer hunting preserve.
North Carolina Flag
North CarolinaLicense required
North Dakota Flag
North DakotaLicense required
Ohio Flag
OhioLicense requiredRestricted to white-tailed deers.
Oklahoma Flag
OklahomaLicense required
Oregon Flag
OregonLicense required
Pennsylvania Flag
PennsylvaniaLicense required
South Carolina Flag
South CarolinaLicense required
South Dakota Flag
South DakotaLicense required
Texas Flag
TexasLicense requiredRestricted to white-tailed and mule deers.
Utah Flag
UtahLicense requiredRestricted to elks.
West Virginia Flag
West VirginiaLicense required
Connecticut Flag
ConnecticutLegal
Florida Flag
FloridaLegal
Idaho Flag
IdahoLegalRestricted to reindeer, elk and fallow deer.
Illinois Flag
IllinoisLegal
Iowa Flag
IowaLegal
Kansas Flag
KansasLegal
Massachusetts Flag
MassachusettsLegalRestricted to fallow, sika, and red deer.
Minnesota Flag
MinnesotaLegal
Missouri Flag
MissouriLegal
New Mexico Flag
New MexicoLegalRestricted to mule deers.
Wisconsin Flag
WisconsinLegal
Alabama Flag
AlabamaIllegalAlabama law prohibits keeping wild animals as pets.
Arizona Flag
ArizonaIllegal
Delaware Flag
DelawareIllegal
Maryland Flag
MarylandIllegal
Montana Flag
MontanaIllegalNo new deer farms are allowed in Montana. Only those that were in business at the time of the 2000 initiative which stopped all new game.
Nebraska Flag
NebraskaIllegal
Nevada Flag
NevadaIllegal
New Hampshire Flag
New HampshireIllegal
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode IslandIllegal
Tennessee Flag
TennesseeIllegal
Vermont Flag
VermontIllegal
Virginia Flag
VirginiaIllegalLegal only for for wildlife exhibitors and zoos permitted by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Washington Flag
WashingtonIllegal
Wyoming Flag
WyomingIllegal

Sources

  1. Alabama game breeder fined $750,000 for illegally importing deer - News Channel 9
  2. AS 03.05.075. Elk Farming - Alaska Legal Resource Center
  3. Hunters help safeguard Arizona’s deer and elk from chronic wasting disease - Cronkite News
  4. Keeping captive deer, elk, or other cervids in Arkansas - Arkansas Game and Fish Comission
  5. Fallow Deer Farming Permits - California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  6. Fallow Deer and Reindeer - Colorado Department of Agriculture
  7. Testimony presented to the Environment Committee of The Connecticut General Assembly - State of Connecticut Department of Agriculture
  8. Chronic Wasting Disease and Cervidae Regulations in North America - Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance
  9. Game Farms - Florida Fish and Wildlife, Conservation Commission
  10. How to Become a Deer Farmer in IL - Illinois Deer Farmers Association
  11. Requirements for keeping whitetail - Iowa Legislation
  12. Getting Started - KEDA
  13. How to Become a Deer Farmer in KY - KALAKY
  14. 2024 Louisiana Laws, Revised Statutes, Title 3 - Justia Law
  15. Rules for Licensing - Maine Gov
  16. Maryland Code, Natural Resources § 10-404 - FindLaw
  17. House Bill 4427 & 4428 - Michigan Legislature
  18. Deer farms - Minnesota DNR
  19. Title 40: Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks - Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
  20. Captive Cervids in Missouri - Missouri Department of Agriculture
  21. Deer Farming in Montana - Deer Farmer Forum
  22. Nebraska Cervid Breeding - Deer Farmer Forum
  23. 2018 New Hampshire Revised Statutes, Title XVIII, Fish and Game, Chapter 208 - JUSTIA Law
  24. Information for Farmers - NJ Department of Environmental Protection
  25. Starting a deer farm in New Mexico - Deer Farmer Forum
  26. Captive Bred White-tailed Deer License - NY Department of Environmental Conservation
  27. Veterinary- Farmed Cervid Requirements - North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
  28. North Dakota Administrative Code. Title 48.1 - Animal Law
  29. Captive White-tailed Deer Propagation - Ohio Department of Natural Resources
  30. Farmed Cervidae Facility Licensing Explained - Oklahoma Department of Agriculture and Forestry
  31. Private Holding or Propagating of Cervid Species - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
  32. Apply for a Cervidae Livestock Operations License - Pennsylvania Gov
  33. 2024 Rhode Island General Laws, Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife, Chapter 20-15 - Justia Law
  34. Deer Farming Operation Act - South Carolina Legislature
  35. 2022 Landowner - South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
  36. Captive Wildlife Permits - Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
  37. Deer Breeder Permits & Release Site Info - Texas Parks & Wildlife
  38. Elk Farms and Elk Hunting Ranches - Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
  39. Rules to be considered for Vermont's game farms - Rutland Herald
  40. Deer: Frequently Asked Questions - Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
  41. WAC 220-200-110 - Washington State Legislature
  42. Deer Farming - West Virginia Department of Agriculture
  43. Deer Farm Frequently Asked Questions - State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
  44. Possessing Wildlife Brochure - Wyoming Game & Fish Department