Practicing Taxidermy

January 30, 2014

Question: I want to practice taxidermy and am wondering how I can get some animal hides to practice with. Would it be OK for me to purchase a hide from a tannery? If I do, will I have to just use game animals I take during hunting season? (Spencer)

Answer: As far as game animals, only deer hides can be purchased. The only other hides that can be purchased are hides from fur-bearers taken under the authority of a trapper's license. Remember, California wildlife (even hides and body parts) cannot be legally bought, sold, traded or bartered.

You can practice on any carcasses you can legally possess (e.g. taken legally by another person who gifts it to you, carcass of non-game/furbearing mammals taken under depredation laws, domestic game animals, etc.). In addition, you can also buy many hides from species not found in the wild in California from other states.