Last updated April 2023

Link to state website

Contacts

Is a state permit needed for banding?

Yes.

Permit application forms

• Application Form
• Application Instructions 
• Renewal – same form
• Application to amend permit
• Threatened and Endangered
• Salvage
• Banding

State lands

Any banding, collection (including T&E), or salvage activity which is to take place on a Department owned property (i.e. Wildlife Management Area), requires a Special Use Authorization (SUA) in addition to the Banding, Salvage, Scientific Collection, or Threatened & Endangered Species Permit. The SUA application must be submitted with the banding, salvage, collection, or T&E application. There is no additional cost for the SUA

Prior notice

Check permit conditions. Even if not expressly required to do so, you should always contact the manager of that particular state land unit or with the owner of private land before your arrival. You want to be aware of the hunting seasons, and, of course want to be sure that your activities will not interfere with the activities of that park, wildlife management area, or other state land unit, and that your activities will not adversely affect public use of the land or with the activities of private landowners.

Policies

Statute: Code of Virginia. Title 29.1. Game, Inland Fisheries and Boating § 29.1-418. Collecting specimens.

Regulation: Virginia Administrative Code. Title 4. Conservation and Natural Resources.

4VAC15-30-10. Possession, Importation, Sale, Etc., of Wild Animals.

Virginia state endangered species law

Statute: Code of Virginia. Title 29.1. Game, Inland Fisheries, and Boating. 

§ 29.1-564. Taking, transportation, sale, etc., of endangered species prohibited.

State-listed species as of March 2023

Endangered

Bachman’s Warbler (=wood) (Vermivora bachmanii)
Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis)
Kirtland’s Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii)
Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis)
Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii dougallii)
Wilson’s Plover (Charadrius wilsonia)

Threatened

Bachman’s Sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis)
Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica)
Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii)
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa)