Looking for Ohio Law & Regs

[hidetanner]

I'm looking at getting into the taxidermy, just a hobby for right now.

I'm looking for the law and reg for buying and selling hides, fur, parts and taxidermied animals.

I know Ohio doesn't require a taxidermy license. Is there any other license or permits that I would need to get? Either local or federal.

Do I need to get a fur buyers license? Is so, who do I contact to get one?

[jimtucker]

You must have a vendor's license and charge sales tax in Ohio as a taxidermist.

You need to keep a record of all game in your establishment. The forms are available from your game warden. You must record:

DATE IN
SPECIES
NAME/ADDRESS
LOCATION OF KILL
TAG# if applicable
DATE OUT

In order to sell non-pickups or other mounts they must be YOUR game OR you have to go to court and get them awarded to you. A friend CAN give you a GIFT of some game BUT you better have documentation. Waterfowl can NEVER be sold EVER.

You need a Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit to mount waterfowl.

In order to legally purchase animals you need a Fur Buyer's License.

Finally, since we are not lawyers take this advice with a grain of salt. I personally would contact your local Game Officer and ask him what HE likes to see. The laws are VERY GRAY in Ohio for taxidermists. For us as well as the guys trying to enforce the law. A good relationship is essential and really will help your business in the long run.

[hidetanner]

Thank for the info. It give me some where to start.

One more question, you said to be able to sell a mount it has to be my game. If I were to buy a hide or fur, with a fur buyers license, would that be considered my game? I'm asking you this just to get your opinion.

I will get in contact with the game warden to get an interpretation on the laws.

[jimtucker]

hidetanner said:

Thank for the info. It give me some where to start.

One more question, you said to be able to sell a mount it has to be my game. If I were to buy a hide or fur, with a fur buyers license, would that be considered my game? I'm asking you this just to get your opinion.

I will get in contact with the game warden to get an interpretation on the laws.

Furbuyers permit will allow you to buy and sell certain game. The exact rules I do not know. However I know it is quite expensive, and that is why most guys do not have it.

[waynenix]

The DNR investigator who came to my place said that even "my" game could not be sold. See the Division of Wildlife Directive _22 issued on 04/15/03 by Steven Gray, Div. Chief.

Summary of the directive is that "by O.R.C. 1531.02 no person shall buy, sell or offer any part of a wild animal for sale except as permitted by the revised code or division rule."

"the following exceptions to 1531.02 whid allow the sale of wild animals or parts of wild animals:

Rule 1501:31-15-02 C sections 1-6 allows the sale of:
1. Legally acquired hides of furbearing animals taken during the open season.
2. Legally acquired carcasses of raccoon, beaver, opossium and muskrats can be bought and sold anytime.
3. Legally acquired bear claws, teeth, hair and hides can be bought and sold anytime.
4. Legally obtained tails of squirrels may be bought or sold anytime. (evidently only the tales as i was told it was not ok to sell mounted squirrels.)
5. Legally acquired deer hides, fee5t, and antlers may be bought and sold at any time provided there is a signed statement which lists the previous owners name, address, where and when taken and number bought and sold.
6. Hides, skins, feathers or parts of wild animals raised under a propagating permit, pursuant to ORC 1533.71 , may be bought or sold provided the seller maintains records of species obtained, from whom and when the animal part was purchased of obtained, and if sold as a mount, there needs to be a record identifying the type of species and to whom and when sold.
7. Legally obtained turkey feathers, bones, spurs, feet and beards bay be bought of sold at any time.

You can sell mounted raccoon, beaver, fox, coyote, muskrat, mink and opossum as long as you have a valid Fur Buyers Permit.

Regarding mounted rabbits and squirrel: No sales allowable if they are game quadrupeds regardless if legally obtained buy hunting except for squirrel tails. Propagated squirrels and rabbits are ok.

Hope this helps clarify things.
Wayne

[keith]

You've pretty well got it Wayne. If it's something that's legal to sell on the open market, you can sell the mount. Game animals can not be sold, with the exception for certain deer parts. This exception is really amazing, who's going to poach a squirrel, rabbit, ground hog etc. for the value of the animal if it was legal to sell? But that's the law.

Close to ten years ago I sent a list of questions about taxidermy law questions to the district two law enforcement supervisor, he took the questions to Columbus for a meeting with the other district and state law enforcement supervisors. A memorandum did come from this, Rod Tennant did have it at one of the PTO shows in Zanesville, I'm guessing he still has it. I know there was talk in the past of the association talking with the DOW and getting more of the gray area's cleared up.

With the seemingly constant supply of new wildlife officers coming on board, the organization needs to keep in contact with Columbus and make sure these new officers are educated about taxidermy and understand the business.

Developing a good working relationship with the DOW is a lot of work and takes a lot of time, but the benefit is well worth it. All taxidermists benefit from the effort that the organization does in this respect, that's why you need to try and get others involved and step up to help.

Fortunately, Rod knows most of the people in the DOW, but running a business he will need help from any of you who can pitch in.

[david]

The thing I don't like is you get a different answer from every DNR officer. One year I call my local DNR and ask about buying a mammal to do for competition and for the shop and ask if I needed a fur buyers permit. His answer was if it was for personal use and that I could not sell it that I did not need one. Know i have a new Dnr officer who tells me the only thing I could perchase is pen raised animals. Whats a guy to do. I was told that you could buy tanned hides . My ? is if you buy a tanned hide and then rehidrate it and mount it its know a mounted animal so how do they know it was a tanned hide when you perchase it? The thing is you get different answers from every DNR officer. Whats a guy to do. JETT

[keith]

That's why there needs to be contact between the OTA and division. They need to make sure all officers are interpreting the laws the same, in the past it's been all ove the board. The tanned then mounted question is one I brought up years ago. Yes, I was told that a tanned skin could be purchased without a tag (we were discussing CITIES species) but after it was mounted it needed a tag. Common sense prevailed and thy agreed that as long as you have a paper trail on the skin you would be O K, but all officers need to know this.

Ohio's DOW is actually pretty sensible and easy to work with. Unlike some neighboring states who's mission seems to be to simply write tickets, we've got it pretty good.

[Mike R.]

I still think it would be nice if the OTA and the DNR could get together and have somebody from the DNR to come out the show for a question and answer seminar.It could clear up alot of confusion pertaining to the laws.