Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 002 - Game and Fish Commission
Division 01 - Legal Division
Rule 002.01.22-055 - 09.14 - Native Wildlife Pets Restricted

1. No more than 6 per household of any combination of the following animals may be possessed as pets:

2. It is unlawful for any person to remove such wildlife or their offspring from. Arkansas except under the terms of a permit that may be issued by the Chief of Wildlife Management to persons who are moving to another state and have presented proof from. that state that it is legal to import the wildlife.

3. The sale or transfer of ownership of such wildlife or their offspring is prohibited except as provided in (A)(7) of this regulation.

4. All wildlife possessed in captivity shall be maintained in enclosures, pens, or cages that are sufficiently strong to prevent escape of the wildlife and that will protect the wildlife from injury.

5. All adult deer kept in compliance with (A) of this regulation shall be confined within an enclosure that complies with the following requirements:

6. Males and females of the same species must be kept in separate enclosures, or if kept in the same enclosure, the owner shall provide proof that all males within the enclosure have been neutered.

7. Native wildlife, except white-tailed deer, kept as personal pets in compliance with this regulation may be transferred to a wildlife rehabilitator permitted by the Commission (Code 09.12) and released back into the wild in the county where they were captured provided such animals were not confined with commercially obtained, captive born wildlife of the same species.

1. Commercially obtained, captive born wildlife pets and/or their offspring shall not be confined with the same species of wild born animals and/or their offspring.

2. Animals shall either be acquired from either a Commission-permitted Wildlife Breeder/ Dealer, acquired in accordance with Code 9.07 Exception I, or have been brought into the state in accordance with a Commission Wildlife Importation Permit. Owners shall maintain records of proof of legal ownership of such animals including licenses, bills of sale, bills of lading, receipts, invoices and copies of Wildlife Importation Permits or other satisfactory evidence. The date of acquisition, place of origin, and the name, address, and telephone number of the person from whom, the wildlife was acquired shall be recorded. Owners shall provide these records to the Commission upon demand.

3. Commercially obtained, captive born wildlife pets or their offspring shall only be sold in compliance with Code 09.07.

4. Males and females of the same species must be kept in separate enclosures, or if kept in the same enclosure, the owner shall provide proof that all males within the enclosure have been neutered.

5. Owners of commercially obtained or captive born white-tailed deer or elk that were acquired prior to June 30, 2005, and that are kept as personal pets may retain ownership of such animals provided they registered with the Wildlife Management Division by June 30, 2008, and are in compliance with all provisions of this regulation.

6. Owners must immediately test all deer and elk that die in captivity for CWD and forward copies of test results to the Commission within seven days of receipt.

7. All cervids kept in compliance with (B) of this regulation shall be confined within an enclosure that complies with the following requirements:

8. All wildlife possessed in captivity shall be maintained in enclosures, pens, or cages that are sufficiently strong to prevent escape of the wildlife and that will protect the wildlife from injury. Birds must be kept in buildings or covered pens.