News Release

Game farms must comply with new regulations

September 1, 2009
Contact: Capt. Linda E. Harrison, 850-488-6253

As of Aug. 27, game farms in Florida can be as large as 2,000 acres. This increase, from 640 acres, and other changes to the rules regulating game-farm operation, received final approval from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in June. They are now part of Florida law.

Rule 68A-12.011 of the Florida Administrative Code replaces the old Florida statute on game farms, while retaining substantive portions of the previous statute.

The changes also provide exemptions to licensing requirements, require readily available proof of a leasing agreement if game farm land is leased, limit killing of game to the licensee or bona fide employees and require record keeping.

If someone leases game farm property, the effective date of the lease must cover the game farm license period. A copy of the valid and current lease agreement must be submitted with the application.

The code requires game farm operators to make all records available for inspection by FWC staff on request.

There are exemptions to the requirement that owners of game animals be licensed. They include bison ranchers and people who own 50 or fewer live bobwhite quail or nonnative game birds (except nonnative ducks and geese) for pets, consumption, or educational or dog-training purposes. People who buy or receive eggs for food or consumptive purposes also are exempt from game farm regulations.

Records that game farm operators must keep include papers on buying or selling deer, elk or other Cervidae.

For details on game farm rules, the proper way to ship game using current captive wildlife standards and how to prevent game from escaping, go to www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?ID=68A-12.011.

To obtain an application for a game farm license, go to MyFWC.com/RULESANDREGS/Rules_Captive_index.htm.