Buying Whole Coyotes......Illegal!

[HunterDave]

This thread may generate a bit of discussion about buying whole coyotes in order to process the fur and IMO could tie into other threads wrt selling furs to people.

There seemed to be so much confusion about whether or not it was legal to buy and sell whole coyotes that I decided to submit the question about buying them to F&W. Here is the question that I submitted to them:

As a licenced Residential Trapper, is it legal for me to purchase a whole coyote, unskinned, in order to process the pelt for sale at auction?


Today I received a reply. Here it is:


Hi Mr. (HunterDave),

A Fur Buyers licence is required to purchase the pelts and parts of any fur-bearing animal.

There are two type, one you can only purchase at your licenced premises and the other allows you to purchase anywhere in Alberta.

Purchasing whole coyotes without a Fur-Buyers licences is an offence of trafficking in wildlife.

From the Regulation guide

Fur Dealers

Fur dealers shall ensure that an approved partner as described

above (including their spouse or a resident child under 18 years

of age) produces a valid licence and WA188 card when selling

the pelts and parts of any fur-bearing animals. The appropriate

information from the card shall be accurately recorded and

maintained as part of the Fur Dealer’s Transaction Record.

Similarly, fur dealers shall ensure that the appropriate information

from Registered and Resident Fur Management Licences is

recorded when fur is bought from individuals authorized to sell

under these authorities.

For those fur dealers authorized to conduct the registration of

the pelts of lynx, fisher, wolverine and otter, the Furbearers

Registration Certificate (WA324) shall be fully and accurately

completed and appropriately submitted in a timely manner.

Fur dealers are required to report monthly all wildlife taken into

possession.

Also, fur dealers are required to retain on the licenced premises a

copy of all records for 2 years since the wildlife was last possessed.

Contact your local Fish and Wildlife office for further information

(see Page 6).



From the Wildlife Regulations

Fur dealer permits - entitlements

75(1) A Class 1 fur dealer permit authorizes its holder to traffic in

skins of fur-bearing animals with a person who is legally entitled to

traffic in those skins, on that fur dealer’s permit premises other

than in the living quarters of a private dwelling.



(2) A Class 2 fur dealer permit authorizes its holder to purchase

skins of fur-bearing animals anywhere in Alberta on behalf of the

holder of a Class 1 fur dealer permit named in the permit.

[Red Bullets]

Excellent post. Everyone should read the response you got back from F&W.

[mxz1997]

Can someone give them to you?

[Bigmountainrider]

Yes, you can let them lay to waste or gift them to someone.

[HunterDave]

Originally Posted by Bigmountainrider

Yes, you can let them lay to waste or gift them to someone.

There's a reg that states that you aren't allowed to allow the fur of a furbearing animal go to waste so I don't think that you can legally do that. I don't see anything in the regs that says you can't accept them as a gift though.

Originally Posted by JDRAZZ

Thanks for the good information, that fully covers all the information needed if one wants to buy whole coyotes. On the reverse side is there any stipulations on someone who wants to sell whole coyotes(legally harvested of course) to someone that holds the appropriate Fur Buyers License.

It looks to me like anyone can sell them but only someone with a "Fur Dealer Permit" can legally buy them. I looked in the regs and the permit costs $100.

I left the signature line out from the email response that I received but I know that he is a member of AO so maybe he'll find this thread and post info if any clarification is needed.

[philintheblank]

You can still put up fur for people if you keep records of who owns what in you fur shed. Check out the fur handlers section in the trapping regs. You can then charge a fee for the work you did prepping the pelts, the fee is between you and the owner of the fur

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by HunterDave

There's a reg that states that you aren't allowed to allow the fur of a furbearing animal go to waste

On public (crown) land, that is... On private land that regulation does not apply...

[JDRAZZ]

Originally Posted by HunterDave

This thread may generate a bit of discussion about buying whole coyotes in order to process the fur and IMO could tie into other threads wrt selling furs to people.

There seemed to be so much confusion about whether or not it was legal to buy and sell whole coyotes that I decided to submit the question about buying them to F&W. Here is the question that I submitted to them:

As a licenced Residential Trapper, is it legal for me to purchase a whole coyote, unskinned, in order to process the pelt for sale at auction?


Today I received a reply. Here it is:


Hi Mr. (HunterDave),

A Fur Buyers licence is required to purchase the pelts and parts of any fur-bearing animal.

There are two type, one you can only purchase at your licenced premises and the other allows you to purchase anywhere in Alberta.

Purchasing whole coyotes without a Fur-Buyers licences is an offence of trafficking in wildlife.

From the Regulation guide

Fur Dealers

Fur dealers shall ensure that an approved partner as described

above (including their spouse or a resident child under 18 years

of age) produces a valid licence and WA188 card when selling

the pelts and parts of any fur-bearing animals. The appropriate

information from the card shall be accurately recorded and

maintained as part of the Fur Dealer’s Transaction Record.

Similarly, fur dealers shall ensure that the appropriate information

from Registered and Resident Fur Management Licences is

recorded when fur is bought from individuals authorized to sell

under these authorities.

For those fur dealers authorized to conduct the registration of

the pelts of lynx, fisher, wolverine and otter, the Furbearers

Registration Certificate (WA324) shall be fully and accurately

completed and appropriately submitted in a timely manner.

Fur dealers are required to report monthly all wildlife taken into

possession.

Also, fur dealers are required to retain on the licenced premises a

copy of all records for 2 years since the wildlife was last possessed.

Contact your local Fish and Wildlife office for further information

(see Page 6).



From the Wildlife Regulations

Fur dealer permits - entitlements

75(1) A Class 1 fur dealer permit authorizes its holder to traffic in

skins of fur-bearing animals with a person who is legally entitled to

traffic in those skins, on that fur dealer’s permit premises other

than in the living quarters of a private dwelling.



(2) A Class 2 fur dealer permit authorizes its holder to purchase

skins of fur-bearing animals anywhere in Alberta on behalf of the

holder of a Class 1 fur dealer permit named in the permit.

Thanks for the good information, that fully covers all the information needed if one wants to buy whole coyotes. On the reverse side is there any stipulations on someone who wants to sell whole coyotes(legally harvested of course) to someone that holds the appropriate Fur Buyers License.

[coyotekiller2014]

good job thanks Dave