Authority: IC 14-11-2-1; IC 14-22-2-6; IC 14-22-19

Affected: IC 14-8-2-108; IC 14-22-19-3

Sec. 12. (a) This section applies to a person that is issued a fur buyer's license under IC 14-22-19-3.

(b) A person shall obtain a fur buyer's license under this section before a person engages in the business of buying furbearing mammals, river otters, badgers, and bobcats or the untanned hides, skins, or furs of furbearing mammals, river otters, badgers, and bobcats in the state.

(c) A person shall make application for a fur buyer's license under this section in a form and manner prescribed by the department that includes the following information:

1. (1) The name of the applicant.
2. (2) The address of the applicant.
3. (3) The county of residence for the applicant.
4. (4) The location where wild animal carcasses or hides are purchased.
5. (5) The phone number of the applicant.
6. (6) The names of any agents of the applicant, if applicable.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a person holding a fur buyer's license may possess the carcass and untanned hide of:

1. (1) a furbearing mammal, as defined by IC 14-8-2-108;
2. (2) a river otter;
3. (3) a badger; and
4. (4) a bobcat;

lawfully taken until June 30 of the year the fur buyer's license expires.

(e) A person holding a fur buyer's license must do the following:

1. (1) Possess the carcass or untanned hide or any part of a badger if the carcass, untanned hide, or part was lawfully acquired outside the state.

2. (2) Document the date and method of lawful acquisition of each untanned hide or carcass of a badger by obtaining from the seller a legible copy of:

   1. (A) a tag;
   2. (B) a receipt;
   3. (C) a hunting license;
   4. (D) a trapping license;
   5. (E) a permit to take or possess a badger; or
   6. (F) any other appropriate record;
3. from the state or country where the wild animal, including any part or portion of the wild animal, is acquired.
4. (3) Record the date and method of lawful acquisition of each untanned hide or carcass of a wild animal other than a badger.

(f) A person holding a fur buyer's license may possess a carcass or untanned hide after June 30 of the year the fur buyer's license expires when the person submits a signed report to the department not later than June 30 of the year the fur buyer's license expires identifying the species, number, and location of furs or carcasses kept.

(g) A person holding a fur buyer's license must issue a valid, dated receipt for a wild animal that is sold, traded, bartered, or gifted. The receipt must include the following information:

1. (1) The fur buyer's license number.
2. (2) The buyer's and the seller's names and addresses.

3. (3) The:

   1. (A) number; and
   2. (B) species;
4. of wild animals sold.

(h) A conservation officer may, at a reasonable time, inspect the records, hides, and carcasses of wild animals possessed by a person holding a fur buyer's license.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 9-10-12; filed May 12, 1997, 10:00 a.m.: 20 IR 2732; readopted filed Jul 28, 2003, 12:00 p.m.: 27 IR 286; filed Jun 23, 2006, 2:24 p.m.: 20060719-IR-312050214FRA; readopted filed Nov 24, 2008, 11:08 a.m.: 20081210-IR-312080672RFA; filed Jul 6, 2010, 1:55 p.m.: 20100804-IR-312090616FRA; readopted filed May 20, 2014, 9:43 a.m.: 20140618-IR-312140017RFA; filed Feb 26, 2015, 2:01 p.m.: 20150325-IR-312140341FRA; readopted filed Sep 18, 2019, 1:16 p.m.: 20191016-IR-312190325RFA; filed May 7, 2025, 11:48 a.m.: 20250604-IR-312240383FRA)