Tennessee Code Title 70. Wildlife Resources § 70-4-410

(a) Before any person may engage in the business of propagating or otherwise obtaining Class I or Class II wildlife for sale, barter or trade, whether indigenous to this state or not, such person must obtain and possess a permit for each propagating location.

(b) Any nonresident who enters the state for the purpose of selling Class I or Class II wildlife species in this state shall also be required to purchase and possess a permit.

(c) All permits under this section shall comply with all provisions of the United States Code and the Code of Federal Regulations relating to exotic animals, their care, propagation, importation and sale.

(d) Artificially propagated wildlife may be propagated, sold, possessed, released or exported in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the commission and, in the case of migratory birds, the regulations prescribed by the federal government.

(e) Only commercial propagators may qualify for a permit to propagate Class I wildlife and may transfer Class I wildlife only to persons or entities approved to possess Class I wildlife. First time commercial propagators shall have one (1) permit year to meet the criteria as defined in § 70-4-402(4). Renewal of a commercial propagator permit is conditional on the permittee having met the definition of a commercial propagator during the prior permit year.