Couple of Questions here that always have been in the "gray area" of my brain. can anyone enlighten me. Thanks inadvance.
1. What is the real law on selling finished mounts of waterfowl you have gotten or inherited? What about those mounts that a customer never picks up or has passed on and no relatives want? Would it be the taxidermists responsibility to locate who is handling the estate such as its lawyer, etc.?
2. I see a lot of home auctions where the person or estate is selling finished waterfowl mounts or maybe even has a dead bird in the freezer. Can they legally sell or give it away. As you know most of these maybe widows who have no clue to taxidermy laws or may have no one to pass on the specimen/mount.
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1. It is illegal to sell finished mounts of migratory birds (unless they are pen-raised with proper docs). If someone dies and their estate doesn't want the mount, that's too bad. That is a debt that you are owed and legally, you can collect (or attempt to) the amount owed from the estate. If one of your clients dies, it is your responsibility to submit to the estate any debts owed to you by the estate. If you cannot collect, then you will have a nice piece for your showroom. I am thinking of raising my required deposit on migratory birds from 50% to at least 75% or maybe even 100%. I have had pretty good luck with people picking up birds...only had a couple of birds not paid/picked up.
2. The auctions are illegal. However, the feds really aren't interested in busting a widow who is selling a few old mounts. Not saying they won't prosecute these cases, but their main interest is in getting people who are making money on a regular basis selling migratory birds. They can legally give the bird/mount to anyone they choose... as long as no $, goods, or services exchange hands. You also cannot trade for other migratory birds. I have seen folks on here that will give you waterfowl if you will pay shipping. That is also illegal. If they gift a bird to you, they must pay shipping costs.
James is exactly right. Don't you have the 50 CFR series of manuels they send with your Federal Migratory Bird Permit? Everything is explicitly spelled out in there. I sense that many people never bother to read those booklets when they get them.
I have read the 50 CFR but i keep hearing about manuels (booklets)they seem to have sent to some of you. I never got any with my license. So its possible that many have not read it because they never got it. If it were not for the internet I still would have never read it.
I'd ASSUMED that these were sent with everyone's initial license. If you don't have them, call your regional office and request them. Click the "LINKS" icon above and find the federal regional office for your area.
Now I know George is getting long in the tooth so searching the internet may be a new thing. :) But if you do a google search for tittle 50 CFR 10-20 you will get everything that you need to know.
Our fine government has spent a lot of our $ to post this important info. :)
Now I know George is getting long in the tooth so searching the internet may be a new thing. :) But if you do a google search for tittle 50 CFR 10-20 you will get everything that you need to know.
Our fine government has spent a lot of our $ to post this important info. we might as well use it:)
Thanks for everything. Yes I new about the 50 CFR books but NO I did not receive with the permit - was only referenced to. As ususal gov regs have a lot of "gobblety-goop" in it and not sure sometimes which way to interpet it. I mainily was looking for some good advice from those who have been in waterfowl work a lot longer then me (Have been mostly upland bird, mammal, and fish guy).
AGAIN THANKS A BUNCH.
Woody