Can someone point me to the source in the MI law that says it's illegal to have wolf and lynx pelts or mounts? I'm looking for the law's text, not a phone call from the MI DNR, so please tell me where it can be found in the text - like, criminal code, civil code, or whatever. Thanks.
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A Permit to Hold Wildlife in Captivity, issued by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Division is required for the possession of the following animals:
Badger, beaver, bobcat, bobwhite quail, brant, common moorhen, coot, coyote, crow, fisher, hare, Hungarian partridge, mink, muskrat, opossum, otter, rabbit, raccoon, skunk, snipe, sora rail, squirrel, weasel, wild turkey, woodchuck, woodcock, Virginia rail, ducks (all North American species except mallards), fox (red and gray), geese (Canada subspecies and blue/snow geese), grouse (ruffed and sharp-tailed), pheasants (ring-necks, Sichuan, and look-a-likes), swans (mute and tundra), and all other native species of birds not defined as game.
The possession of all deer species (white-tailed deer, elk, moose, reindeer, and other exotic deer) is regulated by the DNR under a separate registration program (contact Permit Specialist 517-373-9329).
Michigan threatened or endangered species may not be possessed as pets. These include: cougars, least shrew, gray wolf, lynx, Indiana bat, prairie vole, trumpeter swans, and several other
Seems plane to me:
Endangered and threatened species (Lynx, wolf, cougar, loon, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, etc..) Cannot be picked-up or Possessed; permits to possess cannot be issued except for scientific/educational uses
R 299.1027 Mammels on the States endangered species.
.....Don't seem to aply your question. If they are not legal to take(hunt, trap) in Michigan it would seem that you cannot have the hide if it was taken in Michigan. On the other hand if you have a hide that was legally taken in another state or in Canada, there should be no reason that it would be illegal in Michigan. Provided you have the proper documentation, tags, or license for it from where it was taken.
If you cannot contact the state or your local warden, I'd give Wildlife Gallery a call. They have to be up on all the state regulations. I would also bet that if your situation is unusual they could refer you to someone.
It was not on the MI DNR site but was buried as a link through the MI Gov site - here's the text.
Source: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/mileg.asp?page=getObject&objName=mcl-324-36505&highlight=endangered
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT (EXCERPT)
Act 451 of 1994
324.36505 Prohibitions; exceptions.
Sec. 36505.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this part, a person shall not take, possess, transport, import, export, process, sell, offer for sale, buy, or offer to buy, and a common or contract carrier shall not transport or receive for shipment, any species of fish, plants, or wildlife appearing on the following lists:
(a) The list of fish, plants, and wildlife indigenous to the state determined to be endangered or threatened within the state pursuant to section 36503 or subsection (3).
(b) The United States list of endangered or threatened native fish and wildlife.
(c) The United States list of endangered or threatened plants.
(d) The United States list of endangered or threatened foreign fish and wildlife.
(2) A species of fish, plant, or wildlife appearing on any of the lists delineated in subsection (1) which enters the state from another state or from a point outside the territorial limits of the United States may enter, be transported, possessed, and sold in accordance with the terms of a federal permit issued pursuant to section 10 of the endangered species act of 1973, 16 USC 1539, or an applicable permit issued under the laws of another state.
(3) The department may, by rule, treat any species as an endangered species or threatened species even though it is not listed pursuant to section 36503, if it finds any of the following:
(a) The species so closely resembles in appearance, at the point in question, a species which is listed pursuant to section 36503 that enforcement personnel would have substantial difficulty in attempting to differentiate between the listed and unlisted species.
(b) The effect of the substantial difficulty in differentiating between a listed and an unlisted species is an additional threat to an endangered or threatened species.
(c) The treatment of an unlisted species will substantially facilitate the enforcement and further the intent of this part.
(4) The department may permit the taking, possession, purchase, sale, transportation, exportation, or shipment of species of fish, plants, or wildlife which appear on the state list of endangered or threatened species compiled pursuant to section 36503 and subsection (3) for scientific, zoological, or educational purposes, for propagation in captivity of such fish, plants, or wildlife to ensure their survival.
(5) Upon good cause shown and where necessary to alleviate damage to property or to protect human health, endangered or threatened species found on the state list compiled pursuant to section 36503 and subsection (3) may be removed, captured, or destroyed, but only as authorized by a permit issued by the department pursuant to part 13. Carnivorous animals found on the state list may be removed, captured, or destroyed by any person in emergency situations involving an immediate threat to human life, but the removal, capture, or destruction shall be reported to the department within 24 hours of the act.
(6) This section does not prohibit any of the following:
(a) The importation of a trophy under a permit issued pursuant to section 10 of the endangered species act of 1973, 16 USC 1539, which is not for resale and which was lawfully taken in a manner permitted by the laws of the state, territory, or country where the trophy was caught, taken, or killed.
(b) The taking of a threatened species when the department has determined that the abundance of the species in the state justifies a controlled harvest not in violation of federal law.
(c) Subject to any permits that may be required by the department, the possession, transfer, transportation, importation, or exportation or the transport or receipt for shipment by a common or contract carrier of a raptor or the captive-bred progeny of a raptor, a raptor egg, or raptor semen acquired in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations which allow raptors, raptor eggs, or raptor semen to be used in falconry or in the captive propagation of raptors for use in falconry.
(d) Subject to any permits that may be required by the department, the selling, offering for sale, buying, or offering to buy a raptor that was captive-bred or semen from a raptor that was captive-bred in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations which allow raptors or raptor semen to be used in falconry or in captive propagation of raptors for use in falconry.
History: Add. 1995, Act 59, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 470, Imd. Eff. Jan. 4, 1999 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 325, Imd. Eff. Sept. 10, 2004
Popular Name: Act 451
� 2004 Legislative Council, State of Michigan
When I renewed my state license this year, the DNR provided a handbook that had a section dealing with protected species. There was specific wording about wolves and the prohibition to buy or sell in Michigan. Basically it states you can accept them from clients who legally shot them in other states/countries. Then you can charge to mount them. But you can't buy the hide or sell it. Nor can you sell the mount if the client ends up not paying his bill. I took an interest in this when I saw other taxidermists with wolves in their showrooms. My research led me to believe that I didn't want the hassle. But I also am mounting one for the DNR that was shot last year during the firearm deer season. I made $%&^ sure that I had all the paper work in order from them before I accepted the piece.
Hugh
www.initaxidermy.com