Scientific Research

Answering the two questions below is the best way to determine your Minnesota DNR research permit needs.  Depending on your research subject and where you intend to conduct research, you may need to apply for multiple research permits.  Please note Minnesota DNR may be unable to grant all research requests.

What will your research involve?

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• Fisheries - Collecting, holding, or transporting fish in ways not allowed under angling or commercial fishing licenses
• Game species - Species regulated by the State of Minnesota through hunting and trapping licenses
  • Research permit application for game species
• Nongame species - Species include migratory birds (including banding), protected or special concern nongame mammals (including rodents and bats), amphibians, reptiles, and special concern insects (request an application). If your research involves both nongame small mammals (except bats) and game species, please complete only a game species research application (using link and instructions provided above).
  • Research permit application for nongame species
• Bald or golden eagles (request an application)
• Endangered or Threatened Species
• Native mussels
• Collecting and transporting insect or plant pests
• Appropriating, diverting, or transporting water
• Collecting and removing aquatic vegetation

Some species require federal permitting, such as:

• Migratory birds Most birds also require federal permits. Go to the Federal Migratory Bird List to verify if federal permitting is required
• Federal Endangered Species Act Some of Minnesota's endangered or threatened species are also listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act.

Some species require permits from other State agencies, such as:

• Collecting and transporting noxious and invasive weeds
• Collecting and transporting insect or plant pests

Where do you want to conduct research?

• State Forests or other Minnesota DNR Division of Forestry-administered forest lands
• State Parks, State Recreation Areas, and State Waysides
• Scientific and Natural Areas (SNAs)
• State Aquatic Management Areas (AMAs) – contact the area fisheries office responsible for the AMA(s).
• State Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) – contact the area wildlife office responsible for the WMA(s).

If you are uncertain of the ownership of your proposed research site(s), these resources may help:

• DNR Recreation Compass
• DNR Lakefinder
• DNR school trust lands mapper
• Landview
• ForestView
• Public Waters Inventory Maps

Unsure where to start?

• Division of Parks and Trails permit coordinator - Mark Cleveland
• Division of Ecological and Water Resources permit coordinators -
  • Nongame permits -  [email protected]
  • Threatened and Endangered permits - Bridget Henning-Randa.
  • SNA permit coordinator – Rhett Johnson.
• Division of Fish and Wildlife -
  • Game - Lindsey Peterson.
  • Fisheries - [email protected].
• Division of Forestry permit coordinator – Amanda Kueper