Virginia Law

Unclaimed mounted native wildlife specimens or their processed hides, when taken in accordance with the provisions of law and regulations, may be sold by a Virginia licensed taxidermist with the exception of migratory waterfowl, migratory birds, and state and federally listed threatened and endangered species.

A mount or processed hide shall be considered unclaimed if it has been left in a taxidermy place of business for more than 30 days beyond the period the mount was to remain on the premises pursuant to a contract. This contract must inform the owner of the possibility of such sale. After the 30-day period a notice by registered or certified mail with a return receipt requested must be mailed to the owner of record, instructing the owner to reclaim the mount within 15 days of the notice. This notice shall identify the species and the date it was received, set forth the location of the taxidermist facility where it is held, and inform the owner of his rights to reclaim the mount with 15 days of this notice after payment of the specified costs. This notice shall state that the failure of the owner to reclaim the mount or hide within this 15-day timeframe may result in the sale of the unclaimed mount or hide.

If a mount or hide is not claimed after the return of a signed certified receipt and within the 15-day period, then the taxidermist may sell the mount for an amount not to exceed the remainder of the amount of the original invoice plus reasonable administrative and storage costs. Within seven days of the sale of any unclaimed mount the taxidermist shall notify the department in writing of the name, telephone number, and address of the purchaser, invoice price, species sold, taxidermist, and previous owners' name, telephone number, and address. Upon receipt of such paperwork for a bear mount or hide, a conservation police officer will review the paperwork and will provide the purchaser a form that will remain with the mount.

For the purposes of this section, "mount" means the processed hide, pelt, or skin of an animal affixed to a form for display. A processed hide, pelt, or skin is one that has been tanned, cured, chemically preserved, or converted to any usable form beyond initial cleaning, stretching, and drying by the taxidermist or the taxidermist's agent. Nothing in this section shall permit the sale of skulls, claws, teeth, unprocessed hides, or any other parts of a bear that are not a legitimate part of the mount.