Sales and Possession of Wildlife Parts and Mounted Specimens

PURPOSE: This rule authorizes the sale of certain wildlife parts and mounted specimens. (1) Subject to federal regulations, legally obtained feathers, squirrel pelts, rabbit pelts, and groundhog pelts may be bought, sold, or bartered when accompanied by a bill of sale. In addition, legally obtained deer and elk heads, antlers, hides, or feet, and turkey feathers, beards, heads, bones, feet, spurs, wings, tails, or tail fans, and skins, including skins with the feathers, wings, and legs attached, may also be bought, sold, or bartered when accompanied by a bill of sale. Bills of sale required by this rule shall contain the seller’s full name, address, and the number and species of these parts, and the full name and address of the purchaser. The bill of sale shall be retained by the purchaser while these parts are in his/her possession. Legally taken wildlife and wildlife parts, after mounting or tanning, may be bought and sold. (2) The recipient or purchaser of deer and elk heads and/or antlers attached to the skull plate must retain a dated bill of sale identifying the seller while the heads or antlers are in his/ her possession. (3) Any person who finds a dead deer or elk with antlers still attached to the skull plate while afield and takes those antlers into possession must report the taking to a conservation agent within twenty-four (24) hours to receive possession authorization. Shed antlers not attached to the skull plate found while afield may be possessed, bought, and sold by any person without possession authorization. AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const. Original rule filed Aug. 27, 1975, effective Dec. 31, 1975. Amended: Filed Aug. 1, 1980, effective Jan. 1, 1981. Amended: Filed Aug. 3, 1984, effective Jan. 1, 1985. Amended: Filed Aug. 6, 1985, effective Jan. 1, 1986. Amended: Filed May 10, 1990, effective Jan. 1, 1991. Amended: Filed April 21, 1993, effective Jan. 1, 1994. Amended: Filed June 20, 1995, effective Jan. 1, 1996. Amended: Filed May 10, 1999, effective March 1, 2000. Amended: Filed Oct. 9, 2003, effective March 30, 2004. Amended: Filed Aug. 28, 2018, effective March 1, 2019. Amended: Filed June 28, 2019, effective Dec. 30, 2019.