THE PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE IT TO HELP BUYERS OF THE ABOVE TITLE ITEMS WHO ARE NEW TO TAXIDERMY OR ARE THINKING ABOUT ADDING AN ADDITION TO THEIR COLLECTION.

THE FIRST RULE YOU MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER, MAKE SURE IT IS LEGAL TO OWN !! AS A FORMER TAXIDERMIST;  I KNOW THAT UNLESS YOU HAVE PERMISSION FROM YOUR PROVINCE OR STATE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMALS AND FISHERIES, YOUR PURCHASE WILL BE CONFISCATED. SELLERS ON EBAY OR OTHER SITES MAY OFFER YOU PAPERWORK REGARDING THE PURCHASE BUT OWNERSHIP IS NON-TRANSFERABLE!

BIRDS OF PREY SUCH AS HAWKS, EAGLES AND EVEN VULTURES ARE ILLEGAL TO PURCHASE AND TO SELL UNLESS THE ARE FOUND FRESH AFTER DEATH. MOST DEAD BIRDS OF PREY ARE SCANNED TO LOOK FOR GUNSHOT SO DON'T RISK A RECORD FOR LIFE TRYING THIS. SOME ANIMALS IMPORTED FROM OTHER COUNTRIES ARE ALSO BANNED UNLESS THEY ARE PURCHASED FROM A GOVERNMENT LICENSED SELLER.  BEARS, SHEEP AND OTHER LOCAL PROTECTED ANIMALS ALONG WITH EXOTICS LIKE LIONS & TIGER SKINS AND OTHER PROTECTED ANIMALS CAN BRING YOU FINES UP TO $10,000.00 FOR OWNING OR TRANSPORTING WITHOUT SAID PERMISSION FROM YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENT. BEFORE MAKING ANY PURCHASE ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU CAN!!! IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT OR THE SELLER DOES NOT WANT TO CHECK ON THE ITEM STAY AWAY FROM IT!!

IF YOU HAVE DECIDED ON A PELT FOR PURCHASE THAT ISN'T MOUNTED AND IF EVERYTHING IS FINE REGARDING THE PURCHASE OF IT, REMEMBER TO ALSO ASK QUESTIONS. IF A PELT IS LISTED AS "A GREEN PELT" THIS MEANS THAT THE HIDE HAS BEEN  SKINNED AND SALTED WITHOUT ANYMORE PREPARATION TO THE SKIN. UNLESS YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH ALL ASPECTS OF TANNING, YOUR PURCHASE CAN GO FROM A NICE HIDE TO A HANDFUL OF HAIR WITHIN HOURS. SOME SELLERS ALSO SHIP THE PELT IN FROZEN FORM TO YOU WHICH USUALLY MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE LONG UNTIL YOU HAVE TO DO THE REST OF THE SKINNING SINCE THE THAWING HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE AND TO REFREEZE WILL JUST RUIN THE PELT. ALSO, REMEMBER TO MAKE SURE ALL MUSK GLANDS ARE REMOVED. AS IN SKUNKS, ALL ANIMALS IN THE WEASEL FAMILY HAVE THIS GLAND AND IF IT NOT REMOVED THE PELT WILL ALWAYS GIVE OFF A CERTAIN ODOR. ALSO, DEER, ELK , MOOSE AND ANY OTHER ANIMAL IN THIS CATEGORY HAVE A MUSK GLAND BELOW THEIR EYES AND THESE NEED TO BE REMOVED AS WELL!

SOME SELLERS WILL SELL YOU A PELT THAT HAS BEEN LIQUID TANNED (USUALLY BY THEMSELVES).

AGAIN, BUY FROM A SELLER WHO HAS A REPUTABLE FOLLOWING SINCE IF YOU WANT TO DO A MOUNT WITH THE HIDE IT NEEDS TO BE SUPPLE AND COMPLETELY TANNED SINCE SLIPPING (HAIR PULLS OFF THE SKIN) CAN OCCUR IF NOT.

A GOOD SELLER WHO KNOWS ABOUT TAXIDERMY WILL REMOVE ALL THE MEAT FROM THE LEGS AND TURN THE LIPS AND EARS. TURNING THE LIPS AND EARS MEANS TAKING THE FLESH OUT WHILE CAREFULLY TURNING THEM INSIDE OUT.IF YOU WANT TO BUY ONE WITHOUT THE EARS AND LIPS BEING TURNED MAKE SURE YOU DO THEM SINCE THE MEAT WILL GO RANCID AND YOUR PURCHASE IS RUINED.

MOUNTS THAT HAVE GONE TO THE TANNERY ARE USUALLY A DIFFERENT GRADE SINCE THEY WILL BE USED IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY. SOMETIMES A TAXIDERMIST WILL HAVE A HIDE SENT TO A TANNERY FOR A SPECIAL MOUNT BUT THIS IS A COSTLY PROCESS.

MOST ITEMS ON EBAY ARE DESCRIBED AS CASED. THIS MEANS THE LEGS ARE GONE AND MOST OF THE HEAD IS GONE. YOU CANNOT MOUNT A CASED HIDE BUT THEY LOOK NICE HANGING ON A WALL OR A PARTIAL RUG.