Legal Texas Squirrels?

[Evan-11]

I'm not an academic genius, so if someone who knows what their talking about could help me out.....

I'm wanting to do some squirrel mounts, just for personal work and "showroom" examples, etc.  I have a couple of the squirrels around here that I have personally hunted, but I've never bought any before.

Is there a definite way to legally import squirrels (frozen, hides, parts, etc) from out of state into the state of Texas?

Here is what Texas Taxidermy law states:

6. SALE:
Section 62.021. Sale or Purchase of Certain Game.
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), no person may sell, offer for sale,
purchase, offer to purchase, or possess after purchase a wild bird, game
bird, or game animal, dead or alive, or part of the bird or animal.
(b) This section applies only to a bird or animal protected by this code without
regard to whether the bird or animal is taken or killed in this state.
(c) This section does not prohibit the sale of:
(1) a live game animal, a dead or live game bird, or the feathers of a
game bird if the sale is conducted under authority of a license or
permit issued under this code; or
(2) an inedible part, including the hide, antlers, bones, hooves, or
sinew of a deer.

Sale of Mammals:
Section 62.023. Sale by Taxidermist.
(a) If the owner of heads or hides that have been mounted or tanned has not
claimed them within 90 days after notification by a taxidermist or tanner, the
taxidermist or tanner may sell the head or hides for the amount due for labor
performed. This includes mammals, birds (except wild migratory birds), and fish.
(b) Heads or hides sold under this section must have attached the original wildlife
resource document.
(c) A taxidermist or tanner selling heads or hides under this section shall report
immediately the sale to the Department Law Enforcement Division. The report
must include the name of the person purchasing the heads or hides and a copy
of the wildlife resource document regarding the manner in which the head or
hides were obtained.

Non-game Animals: Armadillos, chipmunks, coyotes, mountain lions, prairie dogs,
ground or rock squirrels, and rabbits may be mounted and sold by anyone at anytime,
including such animals taken from the wild by taxidermists. A permit is no longer
required to keep mountain lions in captivity


Any help with interpretation will help.  I've got a guy in Kansas that has some black squirrels, and I want to buy them, but I don't want to do anything stupid. 

Thanks!
-Evan

[RoyalOaksTaxidermy]

Do what I do when they rule book gets too confusing.... I call the local game warden They will be able to tell you exactly what you need to know

[Evan-11]

Why didn't I think of that.  I guess because I'm still a little upset I got ticketed for the first time in my life.  Didn't have a migratory bird stamp.  I didn't check my license when I bought it and for not buying a $7 stamp, I now have a $150 fine to pay. 

Thanks ..

[Dmorg]

Squirrels are considered game animals in TX and with game animals you can only sell "inedible parts" if the animal.  So i'm just guessing that you can only import inedible parts also.  So skin, bones etc.  I would check the TPWD website to make sure though.

[MLP]

Its always safe to check with the game warden, but as I understand it (I'm from Texas) you must have proof that any game animal was legally taken to buy or sell.  The reason behind this is that it is illegal to pick up road kill for such purposes here in Texas.  I think you're good as long as you have proof it was legally harvested, but a call to the game warden will clear it all up sans the legaleze.

MLP