Selling Taxidermy at Auction

The legalities behind selling taxidermy at auction ( or any method) vary widely by local state regulations.  We have found that calling the local DNR office to be the most helpful in regards to getting concrete answers as to what you can, and cannot sell at auction.  

Taxidermy sells very well on K-BID and this extra legwork can be well worth your time.  However, the penalties are severe should you sell something that is not legal to sell.

See this auction for a recent example of auction prices (after a call to the DNR, about 10 items had to be removed before the auction was listed):  https://www.k-bid.com/auction/30745 

There are also a number of really good resources available online, such as this article from EstateSales.org which breaks down the requirements by state.   Here is an excerpt from that page:

Minnesota, MN 

Contact: DNR at [phone]
Any taxidermied animal is allowed, as long as it it was obtained legally, is not endangered or federally restricted or protected.
Endangered/Threatened Species of Minnesota

Reference:

• https://www.animallaw.info/statute/mn-wildlife-pos…

North Dakota, ND 

Contact: [phone]

Any taxidermied animal is allowed, as long as it it was obtained legally, is not endangered or federally restricted or protected.

Reference:

• Endangered/Threatened Species of North Dakota
• http://gf.nd.gov/wildlife/fish-wildlife

South Dakota, SD 

Contact: 605-773-4243

Only the skins, including bear skins with paws attached, heads,claws and antlers of lawfully taken big game animals. A conservation officer must tag velvet antlers before they are offered for sale, sold or purchased.”
State law prohibits the barter or sale of any fish taken or killed in the waters of this State;however, lawfully-taken fish that have been mounted may be sold. If fish come from a legal, private source, it is the responsibility of the taxidermist to have sufficient proof or origin.

Reference:

• Endangered/Threatened Species of South Dakota
• http://gfp.sd.gov/agency/contacts/contact-co.aspx
• http://gfp.sd.gov/licenses/docs/taxidermist-regs.p… (Taxidermy regulations)

Wisconsin, WI 

Contact: [phone]

No game birds or game fish for the purpose of auction.

It’s okay if the specimen been inherited in the family. This type of taxidermy must be destined for a private collection and not for the purpose of sale.

Reference:

• Endangered/Threatened Species of Wisconsin
• http://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2012/chapter…
• http://law.justia.com/codes/wisconsin/2012/chapter…

Iowa 

Contact: [phone]

Any taxidermied animal is allowed, as long as it it was obtained legally, is not endangered or federally restricted or protected.

Reference:

• Endangered/Threatened Species of Iowa
• http://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Cool-ICE/default.asp… (481A.55 Iowa Code, Selling Game)