(a) Wildlife lawfully taken within this Commonwealth that has been mounted, tanned or completely prepared for study or display in accordance with generally accepted taxidermy procedures may be sold if one of the following conditions is met:
(1) The original owner is deceased.
(2) The original owner's assets are being liquidated.
(3) The original owner's specimen is determined to be unclaimed as provided for in subsection (b).
(b) A specimen will be considered unclaimed when the following conditions are met:
(1) The specimen was lawfully possessed when originally deposited with the taxidermist.
(2) The specimen was mounted, tanned or completely prepared for study or display in accordance with generally accepted taxidermy procedures.
(3) The taxidermist has made a reasonable effort to contact the original owner or depositor through any means generally available to inform the owner or depositor that the specimen is complete and should be picked up within a certain time period.
(4) The owner, or the original depositor of the specimen, has been notified by certified, first-class mail and has failed to contact the taxidermist within 30 days of receipt of the notice; or the taxidermist is notified by the postal authorities the certified mail is unclaimed or undeliverable. The specimen will be considered unclaimed after 30 days from the date the taxidermist was notified.
(c) Before selling a specimen, a permit shall be obtained from a
officer.
(d) An executed copy of the permit application (PGC-12) shall list the items to be sold. The permit is valid for 120 days.
(e) The fee for a permit issued under this section is $5.
(f) The original owner of a specimen may donate the specimen to a wildlife conservation organization, which may then sell the specimen without a permit for fund raising purposes.
(g) Second and subsequent owners of wildlife parts acquired in accordance with section 2312(c)(1) of the
(relating to buying and selling of game) may sell the parts if included as part of a manufactured or finished product.
(h) Second and subsequent owners of deer hides acquired in accordance with section 2312(c)(1) of the
may buy and sell the deer hides. Deer capes may only be sold by the original owner.
(i) A person violating this section shall be subject to the penalties provided in section 2312 of the
.
