I just recently took my first blk. bear in. I have never seen a Cites tag before but thought I needed one with the bear. The bear is from Canada and was tanned there. I am in the U.S. and the customer didnt know what I was talkng about (cites tag) and I thought he would know. Do I need the tag? If so what do they look like so I can describe it to the customer? I am going to get one of the Cites booklets but I need info now. Also the tannery cut the thumb claws off the front feet is this normal and how do I repair this (magic sculp and a miracle)Ha Ha? Any and All help is greatly appriciated and hopefully one day I can return the favor, Thanks,Hank
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CITES (pronounced SIGHT ease) stands for the Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species. Black bear are hardly endangered as aren't moose, caribou, elk, deer and bunches of other animals. A CITES permit is a simple paper tag but it's not YOUR responsiblity to provide. It's really not even a state DNR concern though many bunny cops like to try and make it that, but rather a federal requirement. Most border crossings DO require an export or a validation permit of some sort to bring game back from Canada, but that too is random and oftentimes, haphazard.
Black Bear are most certainly covered under the convention. Its not JUST for endangered animals - it's also for critters that may become so if their trade is not regulated. The outfitter or camp owner etc where the animal was took shoudl have all the proper paperwork for the person ready to bring it across the border. NOW - I do recall reading something in last eyars Ontario hunting regs, that a US citizen who is brining a bear they took themselves from Ontario to the US, that they may not require a CITES tag as long as all other required hunting tags etc are with it. THis is just to make it easier due to the high volume of Ontario bear taken to the US each season. I don't know if this applies to anny diassassociated aprts OF the animal. as all parts of it are covered by cites (including claws), or if other provnces have the same sort of federal agreement - so as normal, check with all governments involved at federal and state levels to be sure. But yes - black bear are a cites listed animal.
But I know I get them from Ontario and they don't have permits with them. They have an orange band, but no CITES tag.
The canadians decided to follow the "personal baggage" exemption for CITES a few years ago, thus, a hunter returning to the US with HIS OWN bear may do so without a permit, as long as they comply with all provincial export requirements. This does not apply to taxidermied bears or to bears being shipped.
some provinces have/are considering implementing an export permit requirement (Ontario about a year or so ago, and BC is looking at one soon). All it is is a cash grab for a piece of paper, but as I understand it, you will need this in future to take any part of a harvested animals home. If you go to Ontario MNR's website it details the export requirements...this year in BC, hunters from outside of province had to get a permit and pay royalties to the province for taking an animal home...some of these run big $. Times, they are a changin' and government appears to have found another way to grab cash out of the pockets of hunters....