is it legal to keep a skull?

[BIGINNER]

if i  (a buddy) of mine found a bobcat skull,   can i (my buddy) keep it?   its an old one (at least 3-6 years old) and all the teath are missing.   i'm (my buddy is) pretty sure its a bobcat skull.

  

[runamuk]

not technically according to the game regs...

but if say your buddy was a bird watcher who had never hunted and had zero reason to have ever looked in a reg book..... it would not be at all unusual to find a.... found skull or other things not poached..... in their possession...just sayin

kinda like finding feathers and pine cones and pretty rocks and agates on the beach...probably laws for some of these as well...specially in regard to feathers be careful when collecting feathers from under eagle feeding trees as well even if they are in your yard...make sure you only pick up duck and oh say heron feathers

[Bob33]

runamuk, what specific regulation prohibits the possession of a bobcat skull?  I've not seen one that addresses that.

[sisu]

I only find skulls in Montana.

[BIGINNER]

ok,  well i looked at some pics at bobcat skulls,  and what i (my buddy) might have found, is definately not a bobcat skull.....  i dunno what it might be,  it has no teath, but it looks like it used to have big k9's,  its a little longer than a bobcat skull. but not a coyote skull....  again, its just imaginary for now,  i (he) might not even have found it.

[runamuk]

runamuk, what specific regulation prohibits the possession of a bobcat skull?  I've not seen one that addresses that.

well maybe you can i was going with if you have a skull and no pelt sealed you might be up *censored* crick   could also be wrong game regs make no sense to those of us who come from a tree hugger background where no one knew you couldnt keep bones and stuff  

[CAMPMEAT]

You can keep skulls. I find skulls here alot around here.

[Bob33]

I know there are regulations about big game skulls that are found, but I've not seen something similar for small game like bobcats.

[BIGINNER]

ok. ok.  i just found out through google images that its a racoon skull 

[runamuk]

ok. ok.  i just found out through google images that its a racoon skull 

well heck coons are virtually unregulated so keep it...

I dont know to me a deer skull horse skull coyote skull are all skulls and if I found it all bleached out I would have picked it up and brought it home...never thinking for a minute it might be illegal...I had never hunted and never had any reason to read hunting regs...so no idea why I would know this information  this is all I am saying...to be safe anymore I just dont pick bones up and if I do no one knows anyway 

[adamR]

according to the regs... page 73 #4 about the middle of the page...

dead wildlife can only be removed for disposal from your property after notifying wdfw, not for personal use or consumption...

so technically you can't keep or remove any wildlife parts from dead animals found in the woods, however, whos gonna know if you dont tell them...

[BlackRidge]

according to the regs... page 73 #4 about the middle of the page...

dead wildlife can only be removed for disposal from your property after notifying wdfw, not for personal use or consumption...

so technically you can't keep or remove any wildlife parts from dead animals found in the woods, however, whos gonna know if you dont tell them...

I can't think of a Gamie who would give you grief for walking off with the skull of a small-game animal 

Probably a few odd looks, but nothing more IMO

[woodywsu]

I only find skulls in Montana.

 

[Fetch em up]

According to Washington State WAC 232-12-287, it is unlawful to possess wildlife found dead.  You can pick up naturally shed antlers, but not a raccoon skull.  Here's the WAC...

WAC 232-12-287 Possession of dead wildlife. (1) Except as authorized by permit of the director or by subsection (2) of this section, it is unlawful to possess wildlife found dead. This rule does not prohibit the possession of naturally shed antlers of deer, elk, or moose.

     (2) An individual may remove and dispose of wildlife found dead on his or her property or an adjoining public roadway. Before removing the wildlife, the individual shall, by telephone, notify the department or the Washington state patrol communications office, and shall provide his or her name, address, telephone number, and the description and location of the wildlife. The individual may remove the wildlife for disposal only, and may not retain the wildlife for personal use or consumption. Other laws and rules may apply to the disposal, including rules of the department of health (WAC 246-203-120). Wildlife removed under this section remain the property of the state.


 

[BIGINNER]

what racoon skull?   oh.. you mean the one my buddy found and left it where he found it?   

[Fetch em up]

what racoon skull?   oh.. you mean the one my buddy found and left it where he found it?   

Right, that one.   

[FALFire]

I'm pretty sure you can keep the skulls, especially if you find them rummaging through your stuff before they heard the bang.

I keep a few around the barn........................

And on fence posts too. Don't seem to have many visitors these days though and Trick Or Treaters are never a problem 



Things have been slow around here lately, maybe word got out!