Selling Specimens

The PGC is providing the following notice in an effort to clarify the legality of selling mounted specimens and as a proactive measure to prevent the unintentional violations of the Game and Wildlife code.

On July 7, 2006, Governor Rendell signed into law the act of July 7, 2006 (P.L. 358, No. 77), which effectively transferred licensing registration of taxidermy activities from the Pennsylvania Game Commission to the Department of Agriculture as of October 5, 2006. As a direct result of this legislation, taxidermists lost the ability to sell lawfully acquired mounted specimens harvested in Pennsylvania as well as unclaimed specimens. In an intentional effort to continue accommodations made to taxidermists respecting the sale of unclaimed specimens, the Commission developed new regulations to permit this activity. Therefore, although taxidermists are still restricted from selling lawfully acquired mounted specimens harvested in Pennsylvania, they may now sell unclaimed specimens after obtaining the required permit from the Commission. Mounted specimens of wildlife lawfully killed in another state or nation or raised under the authority of a propagation permit may still be sold without a permit. Taxidermists may contact their local Pennsylvania Game Commission regional office for further information on the sale of inedible wildlife parts.

The following regulations are taken directly from the PA CODE — Title 58

Subchapter H. PROTECTED SPECIMEN
Sec.
147.141.     Sale of wildlife and wildlife parts.
147.142.     Possession of wildlife accidentally killed by a motor vehicle.
147.143.     Transfer of lawful possession of abandoned venison. (N/A to taxidermy)
147.144.     Transfer of lawful possession of abandoned venison to food banks. (N/A to taxidermy)
147.145.     Unlawful acts. (N/A to taxidermy)
147.146.     Sale of inedible wildlife parts.

§ 147.141. Sale of wildlife and wildlife parts.
(This is the Commissions authority to sell to the public & the minimum fee schedule)
(a) Wildlife or parts of wildlife accidentally killed on the highway or by other causes, illegally taken, shot for crop damage or live deer removed from the wild, may be sold to a person under the following minimum fee schedule:
     (1) Deer antlers—$10 per point.
     (2) Deer cape—to include entire hide—$25.
     (3) Doe or spike buck head and hide—$25.
     (4) Fawn deer—$75.
     (5) Any live deer—$150.
     (6) Deer hide only—$5.
     (7) Pheasant, grouse, quail, squirrel, hare, woodchuck, mink, muskrat, opossum, skunk, weasel and raccoon—$25.
     (8) Other small mammals—$25.
     (9) Turkey, beaver and fox—$50.
     (10) Bobcat, otter and fisher—$100.
     (11) Bears—minimum of $100.
     (12) Cow or spike elk head and hide—$100.
     (13) Elk cape—to include entire head—$100 plus $20 per point.
     (14) Elk antlers—$20 per point.
     (15) Elk hide—$25.
     (16) Live elk—minimum of $100.
     (17) Any other species may be sold at public auction or through sealed bid.

Cross References
     This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 147.42 (relating to possession of deer accidentally killed by a motor vehicle).

§ 147.142. Possession of wildlife accidentally killed by a motor vehicle.
     (a) A resident of this Commonwealth may immediately take possession of a deer accidentally killed on the highway and transport it to a place of safekeeping within this Commonwealth. The person taking possession shall contact a regional office or a local Commission officer, for a permit number within 24 hours after having taken possession of the deer. The permit number shall be considered a valid permit for the purposes of the act and this part and shall be valid for a period not to exceed 120 days from the date of issuance. The whole or any part of the deer may not be given to any person nor may any edible part be removed from the recipient's place of residence. The recipient may not sell or transfer the hide to any other party except the hide may be given to the deer processor. Unused parts of the deer must be disposed of lawfully.
     (b) Holders of a valid fur takers license may take possession of a furbearer, except river otters, bobcats and fishers, accidentally killed on the highway. Persons taking possession of any furbearer under this section during the closed season for taking that furbearer shall within 24 hours contact any Commission regional office to make notification of said possession.
     (c) It is unlawful:
          (1) To possess a deer accidentally killed on the highway for more than 24 hours without applying for a permit number.
          (2) To give the whole or an edible part of a deer to a person.
          (3) To fail to comply with one or more conditions of the permit.
          (4) For a nonresident to possess a deer accidentally killed on the highway.
          (5) To possess a furbearer accidentally killed on the highway during the closed season for more than 24 hours without notifying the Commission.
          (6) To possess a river otter, bobcat or fisher accidentally killed on the highway, unless otherwise permitted by the Commission.

   (d) This section is not applicable under circumstances when a person is charged with violating another statute or regulation involving deer or furbearers. This section may not be used nor will it be accepted as a defense in a legal proceeding involving these cases.