Rule 391-4-9-.01 - Scientific Collecting Permits(1) Purpose. The purpose of this rule is to establish administrative procedures to be followed by applicants and/or holders of scientific collecting permits and to discourage excessive duplication of effort and reduce excess collecting.(2) Definition. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms as used in this rule shall have the following meanings: (a) "Collection report" means a summary, prepared by the permittee, which details collections of the previous year and includes data on species collected, dates, numbers, methods, locations, and disposition of specimens;(b) "Master permittee" means a person to whom a scientific collecting permit has been issued, which permit allows him to authorize students, assistants, aides, employees or field workers to assist with collections under his supervision;(c) "Project proposal" means a document which outlines proposed research activities that require scientific collecting permits and justifies the need for scientific collecting. The project proposal shall explain specific objectives, methods, location, frequency of collection, number of individuals needed, and the planned disposition of specimens to be taken;(d) "Scientific collecting permit" means a permit which authorizes one to take, possess, capture, kill, ship or transport any of the wildlife of this State, or the plumage, skin or body thereof, or the nest of eggs of the same for scientific purposes according to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Natural Resources;(e) "Special purpose permit" means a permit that grants privileges beyond that of a scientific collecting permit, i.e., possession of specimens collected for longer than sixty days following expiration of the scientific collecting permit;(f) "Sub-permittee" means a student, assistant, aide, employee or field worker who is working under the supervision of and is authorized to collect wildlife by a master permittee.(3) Application for Permit. (a) A specific request must be made for the issuance of a master permit. Applicants must clearly justify their need for a master permit.(b) Unless otherwise specified on the permit, scientific collecting permits shall be effective from April 1 through March 31.(c) Student collectors must submit a project proposal and a written and signed endorsement thereof by their major professor.(d) A five dollar ($5.00) fee per permit must accompany the application. Payment must be made by certified check or money order made payable to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.(e) A collection report detailing the previous year's collection activities is required with any renewal application.(4) Use of Permit. (a) Permittees and sub-permittees must have their permit in their possession when collecting. Permits are non-transferable, except that a master permittee may designate students, assistants, aides, employees, or field workers assistants in collecting. All such sub-permittees must have on their person a copy of the master permit and a letter of authorization issued by the master permittee to them. The master permittee shall be responsible for any violations by any such sub-permittees and shall be responsible for maintaining all records.(b) Instructors whose class members are directed to collect wildlife are responsible for assuring that only a representative sample of animals are retained and sacrificed for class use.(c) All live specimens retained must be humanely cared for. All collectors are expected to use good judgment when exercising the privileges of their collecting permit. Collectors should be as prudent and humane as possible in collecting and capture activities.(d) The District Law Enforcement Office of the Department of Natural Resources in each area of collection must be notified at least three (3) days in advance of the date and place specimens are to be collected, the species to be collected, the method of collection and the permit number.(5) Disposition of Specimens. In order to ensure the maximum use of all specimens collected under the auspices of a scientific collecting permit, the disposition of wildlife, their carcasses, parts, products, or progeny thereof shall be as follows: (a) Live, uninjured and unimpaired specimens which could reasonably be expected to survive in the wild, shall be returned to the location of capture and released. Records of such releases shall be indicated on the scientific collection report.(b) All other specimens taken and possessed under authorization of a scientific collection permit must be denoted and transferred to a public, scientific, or educational institution within sixty (60) days following expiration of the permit, unless the permitee has been issued a special purpose permit authorizing possession for a longer period of time. Specimens not suitable for donation must be destroyed. Edible specimens shall be donated to a charitable institution and receipt obtained. Receipts must be attached to annual collection report.(6) Reports. (a) A collection report detailing the previous year's collecting activities must be submitted with any request for renewal of a permit. Individuals not renewing a permit must submit a report by March 31, or within sixty (60) days after collecting, whichever is later. Data should be provided on species collected, dates, location, and disposition of specimens.(b) A listing of all publications, research papers, theses, progress reports, etc. derived from the study of such collections, shall be submitted with the annual collection report. Copies of such material shall be made available to the Department of Natural Resources upon request.(7) State parks, municipal parks, public museums, public zoological parks, and public scientific or educational institutions may possess law-fully acquired wildlife without a permit, provided the wildlife may be acquired only from persons authorized by this paragraph; or persons authorized by permit from this department; or from Federal or State game authorities by the gift of seized, condemned, or sick or injured wildlife; or through salvage of wildlife which have been killed as the result of unintentional accident or an act of nature; and also provided that it shall be unlawful to possess migratory birds without authorization from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-9-.01
Ga. L. 1977, p. 396.
Original Rule entitled "Disposition of Wildlife" was filed on December 9, 1975; effective December 29, 1975.Amended: Rule repealed and a new Rule entitled "Scientific Collecting Permits" adopted. Filed August 11, 1978; effective August 31, 1978.Amended: F. Jul. 17, 1991; eff. Aug. 6, 1991.