Ariz. Admin. Code § R12-4-305 - Possessing, Transporting, Importing, Exporting, and Selling Carcasses or Parts of Wildlife

A. A person shall ensure that evidence of legality remains with the carcass or parts of a carcass of any wildlife that the person possesses, transports, or imports until arrival at the person's permanent abode, a commercial processing plant, or the place where the wildlife is to be consumed.

B. In addition to the requirement under subsection (A), a person possessing or transporting the following wildlife shall ensure each:

1. Big game animal and sandhill crane has the required valid tag attached in the manner indicated on the tag, as indicated by the Department through the person's electronic device, or as permitted under R12-4-302(E)(6), as applicable;

2. Migratory game bird, except sandhill cranes, has one fully feathered wing attached;

3. Sandhill crane and Eurasian-collared dove has either the fully feathered head or one fully feathered wing attached;

4. Quail has attached a fully feathered head, or a fully feathered wing, or a leg with foot attached; and

5. Freshwater fish has the head, tail, or skin attached so the species can be identified and the total number and required length determined.

C. A person who has lawfully taken wildlife that requires a valid tag when prescribed by the Commission may authorize its transportation or shipment by completing and signing the Transportation and Shipping Permit portion of the valid tag or as indicated by the Department through the person's electronic device, as applicable, for that animal. A separate Transportation and Shipping Permit issued by the Department is necessary to transport or ship to another state or country any big game taken with a resident license. Under A.R.S. § 17-372(B), a person may ship other lawfully taken wildlife by common carrier after obtaining a valid Transportation and Shipping Permit issued by the Department. The person shall provide the following information:

1. Number and description of the wildlife to be transported or shipped;

2. Name, address, license number, and license class of the person who took the wildlife;

3. Tag number;

4. Name and address of the person receiving a portion of the carcass of the wildlife as authorized under subsection (D), if applicable;

5. Address of destination where the wildlife is to be transported or shipped; and

6. Name and address of transporter or shipper.

D. A person who lawfully takes wildlife under a tag may authorize another individual to possess the head or carcass of the wildlife as prescribed under R12-4-302.

E. A person who receives a portion of the wildlife shall provide the identity of the person who took and gave the portion of the wildlife upon request to any peace officer, wildlife manager, or game ranger.

F. A person shall not possess the horns of a bighorn sheep, taken by a hunter in this state, unless the horns are marked or sealed as established under R12-4-308.

G. Except as provided under R12-4-307, before a person may sell, offer for sale, or export the raw pelt or unskinned carcass of a bobcat taken in this state, the person shall:

1. Present the bobcat for inspection at any Department office, and

2. Purchase a bobcat seal by paying the fee established under R12-4-102 at any Department office or other location as determined and published by the Department. Department personnel or an authorized agent shall attach and lock the bobcat seal only to a pelt or unskinned carcass presented with a validated transportation tag.

H. A person who takes bear or mountain lion under A.R.S. § 17-302 may retain the carcass of the wildlife if the person has a valid hunting license and the carcass is immediately tagged with a nonpermit-tag, valid hunt permit-tag, or electronic tag as required under R12-4-114 and R12-4-302, provided the person has not reached the applicable bag limit for that big game animal. An animal retained under this subsection shall count toward the applicable bag limit for bear or mountain lion as authorized by Commission Order. The person shall comply with inspection and reporting requirements established under R12-4-308.

I. A person may possess, transport, or import only the following portions of a cervid lawfully taken in another state, country, or designated CWD Management Zone:

1. Boneless portions of meat, or meat that has been cut and packaged either personally or commercially.

2. Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the head, brain tissue, or spinal column attached, except as required for proof of legality provided the cervid quarters and portions are being transported directly to a licensed meat processor located within this State.

2.3. Clean hides and capes with no head, brain tissue, or spinal column attached, except as required for proof of legality.

3.4. Clean skulls and skull plates with or without hard antlers with no brain tissue or spinal column attached,. This includes antlers in the velvet stage, provided they are attached to a clean skull or skull plate with no brain or spinal tissue attached and are being transported directly to a licensed taxidermist located within this State.

4.5. Finished taxidermy mounts or products.

5.6. Upper canine teeth with no meat or tissue attached.

7. Edible organs, such as heart, liver, and kidneys, that have been removed from the cervid's body cavity.

8. For the purposes of this Section, "CWD Management Zone" means the geographic area that surrounds the area where CWD is initially detected. A CWD Management Zone is established to control access to and from the designated area to ensure the appropriate sanitary disposal of cervid carcasses or parts.

J. For a cervid taken in another state or country, or in a designated CWD Management Zone, the cervid parts identified in Subsection (I) may be transported in Arizona, however, a person is:

1. Prohibited from disposing of any remaining unused tissue that is a byproduct of processing on public or private property, and

2. Shall ensure the unused tissue is placed in a domestic or commercial trash receptacle designated for disposal at a commercial landfill or incinerator.

J.K. A private game farm license holder may transport a cervid lawfully killed or slaughtered at the license holder's game farm to a licensed meat processor.

K.L. A person may possess or transport only the following portions of a cervid lawfully killed or slaughtered at a private game farm authorized under R12-4-413:

1. Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the head, brain tissue, or spinal column attached, except as required for proof of legality;

2. Clean hides and capes with no head, brain tissue, or spinal column attached, except as required for proof of legality;

3. Clean skulls and skull plates with antlers with no brain tissue or spinal column attached, including antlers in the velvet stage;

4. Finished taxidermy mounts or products;

5. Upper canine teeth with no meat or tissue attached; and

6. Edible organs, such as heart, liver, and kidneys, that have been removed from the cervid's body cavity.

L.M. A person who obtains bison meat as authorized under R12-4-306 may sell the meat.

M.N. Except for cervids, which are subject to requirements established under subsections N. (I) through (L), a person may import into this state the carcasses or parts of wildlife, including aquatic wildlife, lawfully taken in another state or country if transported and exported in accordance with the laws of the state or country of origin.

N.O. A person shall not transport live crayfish from the site where taken, except as permitted under R12-4-314.

O.P. A person in possession of a common carp (Cyprinus carpio), buffalofish (Ictiobus spp.), or crayfish (families Astacidae, Cambaridae, and Parastacidae) carcass taken under Commission Order may sell the carcass.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R12-4-305

Amended effective May 3, 1976 (Supp. 76-3). Former Section R12-4-54 renumbered as Section R12-4-305 without change effective August 13, 1981 (Supp. 81-4). Amended effective May 12, 1982 (Supp. 82-3). Amended effective June 14, 1983 (Supp. 83-3). Amended effective December 30, 1988 (Supp. 88-4). Correction, former Historical Note should read "Amended effective January 1, 1989, filed December 30, 1988" (Supp. 89-2). Section repealed, new Section adopted effective April 1, 1997; filed in the Office of the Secretary of State July 12, 1996 (Supp. 96-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 10 A.A.R. 850, effective April 3, 2004 (Supp. 04-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 12 A.A.R. 683, effective April 8, 2006 (Supp. 06-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 19 A.A.R. 826, effective July 1, 2013 (Supp. 13-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 25 A.A.R. 1047, effective 6/1/2019. Amended by final rulemaking at 27 A.A.R. 2966, effective 2/7/2022. Amended by final rulemaking at 30 A.A.R. 2308, effective 8/10/2024.