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

Affected: IC 14-22-19-3

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

(b) A fur buyer's license must be obtained 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 Indiana.

(c) A person shall make application for a license under this section on a departmental form.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a licensed fur buyer may possess the carcasses and untanned hides of:

1. (1) furbearing mammals;
2. (2) river otters;
3. (3) badgers; and
4. (4) bobcats;

that are lawfully taken until June 30 of the year the license expires.

(e) A licensed fur buyer must do the following:

1. (1) Not possess the carcass or untanned hide or any part of a bobcat or badger unless the carcass, untanned hide, or part was lawfully acquired outside Indiana.

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

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

(f) A licensed fur buyer may possess a carcass or untanned hide after June 30 of the year the license expires upon the submission of a signed report to the department by June 30 identifying the species, number, and location of furs or carcasses kept.

(g) A licensed fur buyer must issue a valid, dated receipt for any 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 animals sold.

(h) A conservation officer may, at any reasonable time, inspect the records, hides, and carcasses of wild animals possessed by a licensed fur buyer.

(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)