A common wildlife species category that state resource agencies may use is “nongame” species.

Quick Scoop

  • Nongame species are animals that are not typically hunted, trapped, or fished for sport or commercial purposes.
  • State wildlife and natural resource agencies use this category to organize management, protection, and funding efforts for species that still need conservation attention even though they are not legally “game.”

Other common categories

Many state resource agencies also group wildlife into additional categories such as:

  • Game species (e.g., big game, upland game, waterfowl) that can be hunted under regulations.
  • Furbearers , which are species harvested primarily for their pelts.
  • Threatened or endangered species , which receive legal protection due to low or declining populations.

These categories help agencies plan hunting seasons, conservation programs, and habitat protection in a structured way.

TL;DR:
For the question “which is a wildlife species category that state resource agencies may use” , a correct, widely used category is nongame.