md. dnr said i have get the lic. to practice , but i have to take a test and show a mount to get the lic. and if it not a good mount i wont pass but i cant practice? O.K.?
they even said if you bye a little kit from wally world to put my sons rack on (when he gets one ) if i help him do it (he's 13) they can take it away and fine both of us .he has to do it by his self.
The dnr site said for "others "which i though ment in exchange for money you need a lic. but it means even people like my son? also you cant save the antlers from any deer to make door handles ect.. w/o a lic.
this is crazy... you cant even screw a shed antler to a board w/o a lic. you can have them just cant do anything to them unless you shoot it yourself.
i know a guy with a deer butcher shop and was going to get some hides to practice on for my self and just wanted to know what info . i had to keep with them, and got all that . you also cant use bones from any deer you cant PROVE you shot for a craft either? no deer parts at all.
all i got was go to the PA. school . she said if i want a lic. the others are not that great.
all i wanted to do is try something new. we eat & sleep hunting all of us and with 3 guys in the house if i did ok we would save alot of money and prob. have fun.
very dissapointed in MD. Donna
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Unless they've written new regulations and convinced the Department of Commerce of something I'm unfamiliar with, you can "practice" on your own animals as long as you don't go outside your immediate family (i.e, you and your children living with you). There is a broad line between common sense and a well meaning bureaucracy.
I find it hard to believe that would hold up in court. Granted I'm from Minnesota (in face i'm a police officer here). you need a taxidermy license here also but only to do commercial work. if you are doing your son's work I find it hard to believe that would hold up in court. I'd try talking to a different game warden and see if you get the same answer. I do know from experience that most game warden's lack a personality or common sense so I wouldn't put it past them. A lot of them tend to have their own interpretation of the rules. Maybe even call the county attorney's office in your area and tell them about your problem. Ask them if it would even be anything they would be willing to prosecute. The other thing to do is to just do the work and not tell anyone. The warden shouldn't have any right to just enter your house because he suspects you may be doing taxidermy without a license. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood or maybe I just don't care for game warden's, but to be blunt I'd just tell your warden to kiss my ass and f off.
After reading the Md DNR requirements (listed below from their website), I cannot see where it is against the regulations to "practice" taxidermy in your home and with / for your family. When you read the requirements they have posted on-line, I BELIEVE that "the intent" of their statement is for when you want to go into business (take that with a grain of salt as I am no lawyer, but it seems pretty straight forward). Here in VA it is essencially the same way. You may do your taxidermy but when $$$ starts passing hands,and your doing it for other for $$, you need to have the license and all the fun that goes with it. Kudos for wanting to find out from the horses mouth, it's just a shame you ended up speaking with the wrong end of the horse!
I myself would do your thing with your young-en within the confines of your own home and enjoy. Whatever you deccide - Enjoy.
Mac
From the Maryland DNR website:
Taxidermist and Fur Tanner Permit/License
A Maryland Taxidermist and Fur-Tanner License is required for each person within the State of Maryland to do taxidermy work for a person other than himself. Anyone applying for a Taxidermist and Fur Tanner's License (after July 1988) is required to take a written examination and submit recent work samples for evaluation by the Department of Natural Resources.
NOTE: If you intend to perform taxidermy work of any type on migratory birds, you must also obtain a Taxidermy Permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Service of Law Enforcement, PO Box 779, Hadley MA 01035-0779. Phone: (413) 253-8643.
Once you have completed a formal application for a Maryland Taxidermist and Fur Tanner's License, you must take the written test and submit your mount on the date of your test no later than 90 days after filing your application. An application fee of $50.00 is due on your test date.
If you do not pass the first test, you may take the test two more times during the period July 1 to June 30. If you take the test three times without passing, your application will no longer be valid and you must wait 12 months from the date of the last test date to reapply.
Donna, Mac is correct. You may practice your taxidermy skills on items taken legally by your immediate family. However, you MAY NOT charge for or exchange items for taxidermy services. Anyone can order a horn mount plaque from Cabela's and mount it... but you can not sell it.
One year at the Eastern Regionals (held in Hagerstown), we had a DNR Officer explain your statement about making items out of antler and the like... "We are not in the business of selling wildlife to those other than the person who brought you the item to taxidermy" This means one deer foot thermometer, no antler handle knives and so on.
If you still have questions, call the Division of Natural Resources, Wildlife Heritage Division, Mary Jo was the contact person when I lived there.