I found a great horned owl at the park today. What do I do with the body while i wait to find a taxidermist? Do I put it in the freezer or will just refridgerating it do as well?
Return to Bird Taxidermy Category Menu
It's illegal to possess owls or other birds of prey. Get rid of it before you get caught with it.
Different countries, different laws... Freezing is best, IF it's legal...
If you can get around the Army Corps of Engineers they can help with the mounting. Alot of times they will get them mounted to put on display and they can get the permit to do so. Yes in the USA you cannot possess any bird of prey. But some outfits can get them mounted for educational purposes. You may want to check with them before you do anything else with it.
what do you know about birds of prey your just a pit. grad.
An ordinary person picking up an owl, hawk, eagle, or even a songbird is inviting unnecessary trouble. I routinely mount all of these things and I know that the safest way is for the paperwork to be in hand before the bird is ever recovered. The safest advice to give laymen is simply "Don't even touch it."
I can say I have some experience with birds of prey. I have been working closely with our USACE (Army Corp) at Raystown Lake. They have the necessary permits and can get these birds mounted. If I would happen to find one of these items in my area I know I can take it to them and they can have it mounted. I am working with them on mounting some of the birds of prey and songbirds, personally. Thanks for the confidence booster Grumpy Jim. hehehe. Take care and do what you think is right Ken.
If you are in Canada , you may posses the bird , but you have to bring it to your local , Ministry of Natural Resourses.
and they will look at the bird , check it out to be sure it was not shot. At this point they will issue you a Certificate of reporting game ( no cost ) you bring the permit and the bird to the taxidermist and and when it is completed you be sure to have the permit with you on file
It's "easy" for you since you already have the contacts, but Joe Blow on the street doesn't. You also didn't bother to inform Ken that when he DOES take it to such an agency, he relinquishes it to them. Private citizens cannot possess protected species. That's rather plain to any taxidermist, but many private individuals don't know that. Nothing Ken said implies that he's anything but a person who found a dead owl and would like to have it mounted for himself.
Why does being truthful suddenly make one "grumpy". I don't know what dream world some of you grew up in, but the stark reality of being ill-informed or ill-advised is only ignorance being perpetuated. This site is an open forum to the world and its gateway is often just an entry into a search engine. All of us should take extreme care when we give cavalier answers and advice to"strangers". If that makes me "grumpy", I guess I can live with that.
There is a huge tendency to kill the messenger when one does not like the message - grumpy or not Many taxidermists mount birds of prey and do so legally - however, the permitting process is absolute and not an after the fact consideration. Violations of the permit process carry a material federal offense if caught - including possession of any part of a protected specie - feather, talon, nest and etc.
Commonly governmental agencies, museums and educational facilities have such permits, but they are specific and they customarily carry an expiration date. Some time ago I was asked to mount an osprey for the Audobon Society. When I asked for the permit they assured me they had, it had expired 4 years before. No problem for them getting a new one, but between the old one and the new one they were out of compliance with the law and had I accepted the bird, I would also have in violation as well. Once the permit was received I mounted the bird. But for them, their members or their organization to have and display these birds is not legal without the applicable and current permits. Another point to note is that a permit to possess is not necessarily a permit to collect. Even when a bird is legally found and possessed there are provisions for native americans to have some claim to the bird for etnic and religious purposes. It is complicated and not something one wants to innocently enter into. Good Luck
George whoa whoa. I apologize for anything that I may have typed that offended anyone. Grumpy Jim is my buddy (a friend of mine). I was directing the grumpy to him and him alone.
I did not explain myself, yes taking for granted that maybe the original message came from Joe Public. I am sorry for that. I am new to this game and the site as well. I only come on here because I am now a taxidermist. Before I was one a didn't come on here at all. Again I apologize for any misunderstandings this may have caused. I will be more clear in the future.
So George my Grumpy was not directed toward anyone other then my buddy Jim J (bowhunterj@zoominternet.net).
Sorry
The only bird native americans have foremost rights to are bald eagles. I again was working with my army corp on an eagle and we had to find an alternative route,(replication with chicken feathers). The native americans kept the one the army corp had and therefore they (army corp) could not get the permit to mount it. This bird in particular was found dead on the corps ground. However, they can and have mounted all of the other birds they have in THEIR freezer. (such as Owls, hawks, heron) I have the army corps permit in my shop, just in case they need something mounted in a hurry. It is valid by the way.
And as a last note. One of these days I will have the knowledge that some of you older and wiser taxidermist have. But until I age cut me some slack. We are ALL learning as we walk through life. Teach as you would want to be taught.
Hope to see you all at Reno next year. I may even have a bird of prey to show. Thanks to my local Army Corp.
You had my respect when you listed your name. I hope you'll be smarter than those of us who are old and used up. Remember, a sponge works best when damp and drawn slowly over a spill. Being dry with a quick swipe just leaves a mess. Best wishes. Shame you couldn't be in Billings next week.
Thank You George and sorry I cannot make it to Billings. I will be in Shenendoah, Va next week. I hope to learn tons of great information from some of ya'll. Take great care and look for me in the future. I strive to be the next household name in the industry.
Best wishes