Is it legal

[alaskamokaiman]

Can you use dead bird feathers for tying, like owl road kill?

[Derek Day]

not if it's protected. It's often illegal to just have the feathers, for example a heron feather.

[Daryle Holmstrom]

it's here to stay, I think you can have some

[cabezon]

One best be very, very careful. The Feds are especially sensitive about possession of body parts from birds of prey (hawks, owls, eagles, etc.), and herons and other shorebirds, and even some common birds. For example, a classic NC trout fly, the yallerhammer, used to be tied from the feathers of yellow-shafted flickers, but because of overhunting, populations of the birds declined and possession was outlawed. These are federally protected and possession without a permit can bring serious fines.

Even picking up / possession of roadkill is supposed to require a federal permit if it is a migratory or otherwise federally protected bird or mammal. There may also be state laws regarding the possession of non-game animals.

Steve

[Zen Piscator]

I have found dead herions on rare ocassions on the local water, I wonder if you called fish and game if they would let you snip a few feathers. I've done it anyways but thinking about it, getting caught would suck.

[speyfisher]

I have found dead herions on rare ocassions on the local water, I wonder if you called fish and game if they would let you snip a few feathers. I've done it anyways but thinking about it, getting caught would suck.
Common now. What are the chances of the feds going through your fly box?

[chadk]

Can you use dead bird feathers for tying, like

I prefer to use live bird feathers. Makes tying a pain, but the action is GREAT! :eek:

[James Mello]

Can you use dead bird feathers for tying, like owl road kill?

Nope if it's any kind of protected species. In fact possesion without proper documentation is a federal offense. It's tough as my wife is a zookeeper and has access to the molted feathers of several exotic birds. :( Now if it's just stuff like starling or other birds, it's totally up to the hunting law whether you can have those feathers or not.

[Ned Wright]

Because of the migratory bird treaty act it is illegal to possess feathers (or any part) of any native wild bird without a permit (a hunting licence serves as the permit in game situations). This even includes stuffing a dead bird to display to school kids. You must apply for a permit to possess anything. Permits are not granted for anything that could even look remotely like a comercial endevor. (The feather trade of the early 20th century decimated many populations of birds in the name of fancy hats.) Non-native species like house sparrows, starlings, monk parakeets, etc do not apply. Livestock and pets also do not apply. So if you know someone who raises native game birds, ducks, chickens, exotic parrots, etc. they can sell or distribute the feathers.

IUCN controls the international trade of threatened and endangered species and requires that all signature countries restrict the import/export of certain species and any body parts of those species. Zoos and museums are closely regulated here and therefore avoid any potential troubles with regard to distribution or sale of animal products.

USFWS (regulatory agency of migratory bird treaty act) does not have a large enforcement arm and generally would spend the majority of their time looking into potentially large offenders. But, they have been known to stop by fly shops and taxidermists to look through inventory. Little chance of getting your fly box looked through or getting a ticket for having an owl feather dangling from your rear view mirrow, but if you were found with multiple entire skins in your fridge you would likely face some penalty.

Ned

[Sloan Craven]

I thought this thread was going to be a lot more juicy with the title it has.

[kodiaksalmon]

What are the chances of the feds going through your fly box?

Not very likely, but a friend of mine had a conservation officer in his house in a social, off-duty capacity, and he gave him serious, professional grief over a hawk feather he'd found and had hanging on his wall. Almost got tense. I don't mess with them. I've got enough feathers from legal birds I've hunted and killed to satiate my "feather need." An owl feather hanging on the wall wouldn't do much for me, other than make me nervous. Plus I take more pleasure and pride displaying and tying with feathers I'ver harvested myself, than something just found somewhere. Anyone can find a feather.

JMO.

Jeff

[Bestbuilder]

Ok, let’s say that some guy, we don’t know who was fishing an unnamed river and while bushwhacking to go around a deep hole close to the bank came upon an Eagle carcass with just a few feathers and the skeleton remains including the talons. The supposed guy admired the find for a while and probably thought to himself. I should leave this here. But he was in a spot that know one would ever find or have the chance to see the cool talons.
He left the find alone and went on fishing. This must have been in his mind for a few weeks, because a few weeks later he might have went back to that same unnamed river and bushwhacked the same way and he probably came upon the same thing. It was probably unchanged just as he had seen it before. I think he might have even decided to pick up a feather or two and both talons. I think if he did he might still probably have them now. I feel sorry for this guy if it happened, because now he knows that he shouldn’t have disturbed the site. But it’s done- Now what is he supposed to do?

[Ned Wright]

Shut up, know that he found something cool, and by all means don't sell it.

One may have found it in this way, but if the laws were not there lots of people might kill an eagle to sell the talons to some queer rich person.

Ned

[kodiaksalmon]

Now what is he supposed to do?

Legally? Discard them or surrender them to fish and game, and stand ready for their questions.

In reality, shut up and don't show 'em to the neighbors.

Romantically, put them back and let them "rest in peace."

I've found a couple of carcasses, and was just in awe at the skull, talons and all of that. So I know how this hypothetical gentleman felt. I took pictures. :thumb:

Jeff

[Rory McMahon]

it just depends on the bird, if you see a carcass, and nobodys around. It wouldn't hurt anything to take a few feathers. Nobodys gonna catch you, just be careful about it. BTW, i would never take anything from a bald eagle, you get a huge penalty for that, plus a bald eagle feather is very distinguishable from other feathers.

[flytyerboy95]

its actully really illegal to own ant type of owl hawk our eagle feather though it would look nice on some flys

[Ron Eagle Elk]

I've had a couple Non-Native friends get busted with a Red Tail Hawk feather hanging off their rear view mirror. They couldn't produce documentation on the feather so the feather was confiscated and they got a fine. If your not Native, be careful with those feathers.

Bestbuilder, If I knew that gent, who is a figment of our collective imaginations, I would quietly let him know that a respectful thing to do is bury them with a little sage or tobacco in a nice quiet spot.

[hedburner]

Oh crap...bawling:

[yuhina]

If we all judge the law by our own standard, intead of by the law's standard. I think the world would be a little bit messier. The law prevent people to "touch" any roadkill (the main reason) is to prevent some sneakers to take advantage of that. But there are still exceptions, if a engle is dying on the roadside, are you going to bring them in to rescue center? of couse do.
BTW, The trade of endanger species is govering by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) not IUCN. around 166 international parties (most of them are countries) have meeting constantly and discuss the international status and trade in these species. the issues are more "hot" than just pure potection, they also deal a lot of culture conflict. You might heard about chinese medicine, ivory trade etc...
Here is the link... if you intend to buy some endangerous sp. oversea, this might help...
http://www.cites.org/