roadkill???

[rubber duck]

Is it legal to pick up road kill fox, coon, muskrat, ect and sell the fur? I found a grey fox on the road this morning not a strach on the thing. I have never seen one up close very nice looking critter.

[Gissert]

Sure, but the fur buyer will want to see your small game lisc. in the case of fox or coon, and your trapping lisc. for critters like mink and muskrats that do not have a hunting season.

[rubber duck]

Thank you!! Thats no problem with the license.

[CornPirateKiller]

I'd be careful saying that it is legal. I posed the same question to a CO several years back and got a flat "no".

According to the CO, game animals must be taken by legal means. That is with a legal firearm, archery, or trap, as described in the game laws. Roadkill animals are the property of the state unless you get permission to pick them up.

I argued with the CO and pointed out that it would be better to utilize the animal rather than let it rot and go to waste by the side of the road, but he was very clear... picking up roadkill is illegal without official permission.

I know a lot of people do pick up roadkill and I'm sure in most cases, the authorities won't argue but legally, you don't have the law on your side. The animal must be taken by legal means to be legal.

Now, I may have picked a CO that was a stickler for the law, but if you really want to be safe, talk to a CO and make sure it's OK.

[protrapper]

I really don't like this topic, but I will let it slide as long as it does not get ugly.

I really wont tell you what to do. But I will say this alot of guys do it. So it is up to you. Just remeber you are the ones who faces the law...

[icehousebob]

A guy that I used to coon hunt with years ago would always stop and pick up road killed coon. He had about a dozen skins in his freezer before coon hunting season started and someone turned him in. They searched his freezer and it cost him some bucks. I'd say check with the local CO BEFORE you even touch a roadkill. Its a shame to see the waste, but the fines and maybe losing hunting rights make it not worth the trouble.

[SartellMN]

The obvious answer is to talk with your local CO. I am sure that they will not care as long as you get their permission each and every time you pick one up. They will even start calling you when they see a fresh one on the side of the road. They have the authority to issue possession permits year round (for free) for all protected animals.

[iffwalleyes]

Isn't it funny that it becomes property of the state but all they do is let it lay and rot. I really wish that their crews would do a better job of pick up dead animals. I had a next door neighbor and he had an on going deal with the Sheriff's department every time they had a road killed deer they would call him to see if he wanted it. I am sure if you talk to the local law they will be willing to work with you on it.

[lawdog]

Picking up road kill animals got a lot more complicated a couple years ago due to Chronic Wasting Disease. There is really no place to take them anymore. Used to be Rendering Plants would take them, now they won't. That and the budget issues have led most road authorities to say they won't take them anymore, but rather will just leave them to nature's devise...

[The Grebe]

Before CWD and West Nile, the worse thing a trapper could run into would be rabies. That is in my opinion, still the worse thing a trapper could come in contact with.

I never heard of any trappers up here getting it? Every once in awhile you hear of a skunk that has tested positive for it.

At any rate, I digress, I used to pick up a road kill if it looked alright? When I was trapping, I figured that was found money, so to speak.

The fur buyers would know if it was a road kill, when you put them up, it shows on the pelt and they would dock you for it, but still, I figured it was better then to let the crows pick them apart on the side of the road....the Crows

have enough squashed Squirrels and Rabbits to clean up!

I asked a game warden (CO)about it years ago and he told me it was okay as long as I had a license and did'nt take anything out of season, like Muskrats that get killed during the spring shuffle.

He said he had no problem with it? Maybe it is something that is open to different interpetations? (Sp)

I guess the only people that would know for sure would be the Dept. Of Natural Resources?