Advice on offering feathers

[CrappieLab]

Hey guys, I do not tie but am absolutely addicted to checking out the amazing ties you guys produce every morning with my coffee lol.

My question is I am an avid duckhunter and usually have to send a wing sample of each duck we harvest to the US Fish and Wildlife for survey. I live in Illinois and if there is nothing illegal and anybody would be interested i would save any feathers you prefer off the ducks we harvest usually around 200 a year ranging from teal, woodies, gadwall, pintail, mallards, shoveler, widgeon, and most of the freshwater diver species. I do not want money if you would just post you pics.

Does anybody see a problem doing this or is there some sort of permit you need.

[MuskyGary]

I think it is ok. Lots of guys skin their birds, ducks, pheasants, quial, even turkeys. They then scrape all the fat off the hide and cover it in borax. After the hide has cured they sell them on e-bay. I have bought a lot of bird skins off e-bay. You might want to check it out.

[liftbite56]

I would check with your dnr person, Im pretty sure for personel use your ok but to sell to public it is a no, no.

[skiptomylu]

Ok did some checking on this issue and there is a difference in birds that are hunted and ones raised for their feathers. In other words wild birds you can not tie and sell, but some people raise them for their feathers and they are okay to use and sell. It becomes a problem when a wild bird is shot (even legally) and then one gets the feathers even free it's against the law to tie with them and sell them. Thankfully I have a lot that I bought as I have bought some what they call big bags of Mallard and other kinds of ducks. I even have a pound of Mallard Flank I bought that is legal.

I sure which I could take you up on these for sure, but doubt it worth taking that risk. Lots do I feel sure, but when or if they ever get caught I bet that is a huge fine since it's Federal!

So here is another warning for you guys, don't hunt ducks and use them, you better be buying them from the Fly/jig material shops.

Thank you for the offer, but don't want a big fine or jail time, LOL!

Skip

[radtexan]

lab,Id be happy to take some off your hands,but only if I can send you some jigs in return ....Cant imagine that being illegal...

[revtoby]

You can use bird feathers you shoot legally. You cannot sell them. I just spoke with the enforcement officer of the Louisiana Wild Life and fisheries. He did say state to state will vary in the way they handle it.

[PA_Slabs]

Sure looks like you can to me. --> Subpart J—Feathers or Skins

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_20...50cfr20.92.pdf

[skiptomylu]

Then you may also get into a bind since they would need to cross state lines which may be a whole different matter. I would love to take him up on this offer, but don't want to tempt fate. Darn I hate this kind of stuff!

Skip

[revtoby]

PA where did you get this from... This is great stuff. I have many hunting buddies... I don't tie many feather jigs to sell. But I do have a few costumers that is all they want.

[PA_Slabs]

Then you may also get into a bind since they would need to cross state lines which may be a whole different matter. I would love to take him up on this offer, but don't want to tempt fate. Darn I hate this kind of stuff!

Skip

I agree Skip. I visted a couple of waterfowl forums and the concenus is personal use is no issue. And sale is ALWAYS check with your state's game/conservation/wildlife department.