Special permits

The possession, importation, transportation, liberation, propagation, maintenance, disposition (including but not limited to sale), and research of fish, wildlife, and plants is prohibited in Massachusetts without a special permit from MassWildlife. All special permits require applicants to meet certain permitting standards, including but not limited to demonstrating relevant qualifications and intent.

Importation Permit

No person shall import any live fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, or mammal, or the dead bodies or carcasses or parts thereof without first being issued an importation permit from MassWildlife. Receiving one of the licenses outlined below does not absolve applicants from also having to apply for and receive an Importation Permit from MassWildlife prior to importing animals into the Commonwealth. 

If possession within Massachusetts is temporary, the applicant shall supply the Division with the dates, times, and locations where the animals will be possessed, as well as the purposes of temporary possession, a list of the animals being temporarily possessed, and the dates of their removal.  

To apply for an importation permit, submit the importation application form and fee to MassWildlife Field Headquarters. 

Class 1: Fish Propagator’s/Private Waters License

A Class 1 License authorizes an individual to possess, propagate, culture, maintain, and buy fish at any time for personal use. It can also authorize clubs or associations, or its members or guests, a special license to possess, propagate, culture and maintain fish at any time for the purpose of fishing within the club’s or association’s waters. A Class 1 Private Waters License may be issued for Type A fish species only. Sale of fish is not allowed under a Class 1 License. Fish cannot be taken from the wild for the purposes of a Class 1 License. 

The following are type A species: bluegill, brook trout, brown bullhead, brown trout, chain pickerel, fathead minnow, golden shiner, largemouth bass, mummichog, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout, white sucker, yellow perch   

To apply for a class 1 license, submit the Class 1 application form, supporting documentation, and fee to MassWildlife Field Headquarters. 

Class 3: Aquaculture License

A Class 3 License authorizes any individual, business, club, or association to possess, propagate, culture, maintain, buy, sell or otherwise dispose of fish during any season. A Class 3 License may be issued for Type A, B, or C Aquaculture Facilities. Fish from the wild cannot be taken for the purposes of sale. 

To apply for a class 3 license, submit the Class 3 application form, supporting documentation, and fee to MassWildlife Field Headquarters.  

Class 4: Possession/Propagation of Live Animals

A class 4 license authorizes a person to possess, maintain, propagate, buy, sell or otherwise lawfully dispose of specified birds, mammals, reptiles or amphibians for purposes described in 321 CMR 2.12(10).  

To apply for a class 4 license, submit the Class 4 application form, supporting documentation, and fee to MassWildlife Field Headquarters.  

Class 6: Dealer's License

A Class 6 Dealer's License authorizes an individual to possess or maintain for food purposes, and to purchase, sell, offer to sell, barter, offer to barter, or conduct commercial transactions of any nature, fish, birds, or mammals which have been lawfully imported into Massachusetts or lawfully propagated within Massachusetts. Fish cannot be caught from the wild for the purposes of sale. 
 
Fish maintained alive under a Class 6 Dealer's License are subject to the species and facilities restrictions established in 321 CMR 4.09(4) (Aquaculture facilities).  

To apply for a class 6 license, submit the Class 6 application form and fee to MassWildlife Field Headquarters.  

For seafood, please visit Seafood dealer permits.

Class 6: Baitfish Dealer's License

A Class 6 Baitfish Dealer’s License authorizes an individual to maintain and sell commercial baitfish. Baitfish may not be taken from the wild in Massachusetts. An importation permit is required to import commercial baitfish. Commercial baitfish means only live or dead fish of the following species lawfully imported into the Commonwealth, or propagated within the Commonwealth for purposes of sale as bait for fishing:  

1. White sucker (Catostomus commersoni)  
2. Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus)  
3. Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas)  
4. Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)  

Baitfish taken from any inland waters of the Commonwealth shall not be considered commercial baitfish and shall not be sold or offered for sale.  

To apply for a class 6 baitfish license, submit the Class 6 Baitfish application form and fee to MassWildlife Field Headquarters.  

Class 8: Dog Training License

A Dog Training License authorizes an individual to possess no more than 25 quail, 6 ring-necked pheasant, and 2 chukar partridge to liberate and recapture for the sole purpose of training dogs.   

To apply for a class 8 license, submit the Class 8 application form and fee to MassWildlife Field Headquarters.  

Stocking Fish in Private or Public Waters

An individual or club may apply to stock fish in private or public waters. The following is a list of fish species that may be considered for liberation: brook trout, brown bullhead, brown trout, chain pickerel, golden shiner, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout, white sucker, yellow perch. 

If fish are obtained from outside of Massachusetts, an importation permit must be obtained before fish may be brought into the Commonwealth. Importation permits must be submitted with health certificates at least 15 days in advance of the importation date. Fish may not be taken from the wild and liberated into other waters in the Commonwealth. 

To apply for a permit to stocking fish in private or public waters, submit the application.

Game Liberation

Only the following wildlife species may be considered for liberation: ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, snowshoe hare. 

If game are obtained from outside of Massachusetts, an importation permit is also required before animals may be brought into the Commonwealth. Applicants that require an importation permit must also include a health certificate, and submit their application at least fifteen (15) days in advance of importation date.   

To apply for a liberation permit, submit the game bird importation/liberation application.

Taxidermist License

Permits an individual to practice taxidermy commercially and receive for taxidermy any fish, bird, or mammal from any person which has been lawfully taken or lawfully propagated by any person.  

To apply for a taxidermist license, submit the taxidermist application form and fee to MassWildlife Field Headquarters. 

Date published:	October 9, 2026