Possession of Wild Animal Parts

From the Indiana DNR Law Enforcement Facebook page:  

It's that time of year... Most hunting seasons are out, but you still want to get in the woods. 

Time for antler shed hunting! This is one type of hunting you don't need a license for, just permission from the landowner. If you happen to find a shed like the one in the picture, still attached to a deer skull, you can collect those as well.

Indiana Conservation Officers are providing this information so that all citizens may clearly understand the rule that governs antlers that are found with the skull attached, a permit IS REQUIRED to possess animal parts as described below. There is no possibility for our agency to mandate a specific response to the many different situations that occur regarding the possession of wild animal parts. It is always the best practice for citizens to involve their local Indiana Conservation Officer when an animal, or part thereof, is desired to be possessed and was not taken with a license and by lawful means. All of our officers may be reached through our Central Dispatch by calling 812-837-9536.

Additional information:     One more point of clarification on the deer antler collection discussion. A shed antler has specific characteristics that is present and identifies it as an antler that has naturally fallen from a live deer. With this said, the Department of Natural Resources has no interest in regulating “shed antlers”. However, the presence of a skull with the antlers identifies that a deer has died. Our interest is in what has caused the mortality of the deer and the circumstances surrounding it, therefore a permit is required to allow for investigation, if needed. It is the policy of the DNR Law Enforcement Executive staff that citizens may collect shed antlers that have been naturally discarded without the need for a permit.

312 IAC 9-2-3 Application of this article to wild animal parts
Authority: IC 14-22-2-6
Affected: IC 14-22
Sec. 3. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a prohibition against the:

(1) possession;
(2) sale;
(3) offer for sale;
(4) purchase;
(5) offer for purchase;
(6) shipment;
(7) transportation;
(8) delivery; or
(9) receipt;
of a wild animal also applies to any part or portion of that wild animal.

(b) The prohibition established under subsection (a) does not apply to the following parts of wild animals taken lawfully:

(1) Tanned hides.
(2) Any portion of a furbearing mammal.
(3) Cured feathers.
(4) Squirrel tails.
(5) Untanned deer hides.
(6) Antlers.
(7) Hooves.
(8) Any portion of a river otter.
(9) Untanned squirrel hides.

312 IAC 9-3-9 Wild animals killed by other means; disposition
Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-22-2-6
Affected: IC 14-22
Sec. 9. (a) This section governs the following species of wild animals that die following a collision with a motor vehicle or are found dead:

(1) White-tailed deer.
(2) Fox or gray squirrel.
(3) Eastern cottontail rabbit.
(4) Furbearing mammal.
(5) River otter.
(6) Wild turkey.
(7) Bobwhite quail.
(8) Ring-necked pheasant.

(b) An individual may possess a species of wild animal listed in subsection (a) with a special purpose salvage permit issued in accordance with 312 IAC 9-10-13.5 or a permit issued by:

(1) a conservation officer;
(2) a district wildlife biologist for the department;
(3) a property manager or assistant property manager for the department; or