§ 10-512

(a) (1) Any person desiring to commercially practice the art of taxidermy or fur tanning or who desires to mount, preserve, or tan any species of wildlife for another person first shall obtain a taxidermist and fur tanner’s license.

(2) A taxidermist and fur tanner’s license also shall permit the holder:

(i) To mount, preserve, or tan any species of finfish pursuant to Title 4 of this article; and

(ii) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, with the written approval of the Department for each specimen, to sell or dispose of any tanned, cured, or mounted specimen legally acquired but unclaimed by the customer within 30 days after written notice to the customer by certified mail.

(3) A license holder may not sell or dispose of any tanned, cured, or mounted specimen that is a migratory game bird.

(b) (1) A person desiring a taxidermist and fur tanner’s license shall:

(i) Apply on forms the Secretary supplies;

(ii) Pay a $50 annual license fee;

(iii) Pass an examination administered by the Department; and

(iv) Provide recent work samples for examination by the Department.

(2) Upon receipt of the application and license fee, and examination of work samples, the Secretary may issue the license permitting the practice of taxidermy or fur tanning, as provided in the license, if the applicant has passed the examination and the work samples meet minimum professional standards, as determined by the Department.

(c) A taxidermist and fur tanner’s license:

(1) Shall expire on June 30 following the date of issuance; and

(2) May be renewed by providing information on forms the Secretary supplies and paying the $50 annual license fee.

(d) Each taxidermist or fur tanner shall keep a ledger on a form provided by the Department indicating the name, address, telephone number and current hunting, trapping, fur dealer’s, game husbandry or regulated shooting ground license number of each person, from whom any species of wildlife was purchased or received within or outside the State, the date of purchase, or receipt, and the quantity of each species of wildlife purchased or received and the date the species was delivered or returned to the customer. The ledger shall indicate the country, state, and county or political subdivision in which the species was taken and the date on which the species was taken and identify any appropriate official game possession tag number or bill of sale. The tag or bill of sale shall be attached to the wildlife. The licensee also shall include in the ledger the same information with regard to any wildlife taken from the wild by the licensee. The ledger shall cover every transaction from date of issuance of the taxidermist or fur tanner’s license until date of expiration and shall be kept up-to-date. In addition to any other penalty provided by this subtitle, any person convicted of failing to maintain or keep up-to-date a ledger required by this subsection or of making false entries may have the person’s license revoked for a period not to exceed 5 years.

(e) The licensee shall allow any Natural Resources police officer or any law enforcement officer to enter the premises and holding facilities where operations are being carried on at all reasonable hours for the following reasons:

(1) To inspect the premises and holding facilities where operations are being carried on;

(2) To inspect wildlife; and

(3) To inspect records.