I have a question regarding Cities tags. I am an amateur/beginner taxidermist in California and I purchased skins or whole specimens from different states, mainly pine martens , squirrels foxes and a bobcat
Some of the skins had a metal green tag with a number on them and some did not. Do all skins and specimens need to have such a tag?
What am I supposed to do with them and do I need to leave them attached if I send them to a tannery anywhere in the country?
I heard that I cannot legally sell them after I mount them before of California laws so I give them to friends and employees after I mount them. Can someone shed some light?
Thanks and Happy thanksgiving to you all!
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Just as a technicality - it's CITES (pronounced sight-eez) not cities (large towns where lots of people live). It stands for Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species. I point that out not to correct you so much as to draw attention to the "I". That is.. International. CITES only matters if you plan to sell out of country. As far as CITES is concerned - state lines have absolutely no meaning whatsoever. This isn't to say that you can legally transfer items across state lines however as the USFWS (United States Fish and Wildlife Service) has several other laws in effect. In addition, the state in which you sell and plan to sell to may have their own laws regarding specific animals. In California for example it is illegal to sell cougars which is why no cougar part can be legally sold on E-Bay (it's based in California).
In short - you do not need to worry about CITES information unless you sell out of country. Contact that USFWS as well as the Department of Natural Resources or Fish and Game department of both your state as well as the state you plan to sell to - and get the legal information directly from them and do not go by what you hear through the grapevine (including here).
As for green metal tags? This is something new to me. Our dearest friends own a hunting camp in Canada and all the US bear hunters need CITES permits to return to the US with their game. I get snakes etc imported to Canada from the US and never see green metal tags. There is paperwork - but no metal tags. Not all CITES species are mammals. Fish birds and plants are also covered - not sure how they would go about tagging a leaf? Is it possible that the tag is from a commercial tannery or some other organization not affiliated with CITES? Again - your best bet is to contact the USFWS as they cover CITES as well as domestic federal fish and game laws.
Hope that helps =)
Your posted response is far from accurate. I suggest you check the proper CFR's and CITES form 3-201A. Base section CFR 50-13. CITES acctualy stands for Convention On International Trade "IN" Endangered Species. In the eyes of US Law, there is a big difference between "OF" and "IN". Small in letters but big in meaning. Your statement,"Cites only matters if you plan to sell out of country" is pure hogwash. Better to know what you are talking about, before you speculate YOUR interpitation of US/International Law. I suggest to those interested in this arm of the USFWS, you contact the Office of Managment Authority of the USFWS before you take the word of myself or any other user of this forum, especially a non United States citizen.
You coward lil punk... The In or Of is not a critical factor - if it was it woudl be givein it's own letter. Furthermore - I have 3 documents in front of me and they ALL say OF. Specifically the ENTIRE title is "Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna". AND to that... the "I" is the critical point in that it stands for INTERNATIONAL. AS WELL... I DID say to consult with the authorities themselves! Before you - so your post isn't even required... AND - the fact that I'm Canadian strenghtens the need for me to know this stuff as I ship INTERNATIONALLY like the I in CITES menas - ugh.
SO... pull yer head out of your arse, get a life and stop nitpicking like a little old lady haggling over pennies off the dollar on discount melons at market.
to the above: http://www.cites.org/
In Missouri (USA), bobcats and otter have to be tagged. It's a plastic tag, though. I was told by our agent once the said animals are tanned, they can be bought/sold on eBay or whereever. It's the raw skins that they are particular about. It helps them keep track of the population of these animals and the need to increase or decrease limits, season on same.
Call the division of wildlife in the state these hides came from and ask them,
Since Bocats and Otter were first placed on the CITIES list its has been that to cross state lines in any form they must be tagged. This is done by a Game Warden in most cases.
Normally through the lip and one eye hole.
As the bobcat has recovered the states have been allowed more freedom in and now many states donot require tags for cats that will remain in the state where taken.
Problems fall when a TANNER removes the tags for tanning and ships the skins back to you. You there for are techniqially stuck with the cat or otter, even as a mount the tag should be included attached under the base for ease of inspection.
Many states have not been inforcing these laws!
Play it safe and tag the cats.
Mountian lions and wolves are normally tagged with a lead tag on the left front paw, but that can also be on the right, main thing is they are tagged.
Bottom line on CITIES (site eaze) regs are set by the Feds. and can be strictor by the state(S) but never less stringent than the FEDERAL REGS.
The is only one company in the USA allowed to export paddle fish roa or paddle fish in any shape form or fashion, last night on tv he pronounced the word CITIES as (site eaze)
If tanned pelts needed a tag then it would be illegal to cross INTERNATIONAL boarders with a bobcat coat. I believe their are three levels of CITES regulations and I honestly don't know to what extent they apply, BUT..... bobcats, otter, and marten are NOT regulated after they have been tanned. Buy'em, sell'em, give'em away to whomever and wherever you want.
I believe the confusion is coming from the state level, they're all different in respects to RAW pelts and harvest regulations. Once it's tanned it is no longer regulated!
Does a bobcat coat have to have all the tags in the pocket? Or does sewing them together make them legal?
States that require tagging animals, usually use a CITIES tag only because it would be pointless to put a additional state tag on an animal that has just been tagged with a federal tag and the federal tag is mandatory ONLY IF you are going to leave the country. Some states still do it though.
The metal tags you speak of could be a state tag or just a tannery ID tag.
Bill K.
I handle about 50 bobcat mounts a year and have dug into this law big time...The CITES tag is not required once the cat is tanned, but it was highly suggested to me by my game warden to ship the tags with the cats...Basically it just clears up any confusion...unwritten law of ethics I guess...What really amazes me about most of our laws in KS is that they really need to be updated and more understandable...Half the time when I call the F&G it takes me 30 minutes to get a straight answer and I don`t really think most of them have a clue...