I'm fairly new to waterfowl taxidermy and have busy all spring practicing on some birds I hunted last fall.
I've read the federal permit rules and checked to see if there are permits required in New York State.
My questions is: If I give a completed mount I harvested to a friend, (I can't keep all of my mounts) should it be properly tagged?
Thanks,
Denny
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So long as you are not doing taxidermy for profit, and you are within your possession limits, then you do not need a lisence to practice. Therefore you are not bound so strictly to the rules as you are only mounting your personal birds. Per standard hunting laws, you are not required to tag your personal birds as far as I know. Being there would be no selling, trading, or barting involved, I would say you're safe in just giving the bird to your friend. Technically, "gifting" only applies to freshly killed, WHOLE birds or their parts. Once the bird is processed (mounted)I do not believe the same rules apply as it would no longer be considered part of your possession limit.
NOW...... if you already have your migratory bird license from the fed's and are doing taxidermy for profit.. THEN YES>>> TAG EVERYTHING.. once the mount reaches it's final destination, then your friend could remove the tag. Even if you aren't doing it for profit, yet you still have your license.. tag it.. By getting your license, you have opened your doors for inspections, and trust me.. it's easier to tag it than explain it.
I would still leave a tag with the birds, just in case your Friend ever happens to have a visit from the Game Warden. That way, he should not get in trouble.
I talked to the president of the United Taxidermist of New York today and he said that you cannot gift mounted birds to anyone other than immediate family members. He mentioned an issue where a taxidermist wanted to donate a bird to a local DU dinner. I guess it's not allowed.
Where can I find this language in the rules? (migratory bird treaty act?)
Thanks
when donating the bird to the local DU, the bird would most probalby been put up as a raffle item, which would have meant people would have been bartering for the bird, or putting a dollar value on it. That is a no-no.
Jon