Question: Is it legal to ship harvested red abalone as gifts within California and also out of state if the abalone is tagged and still in the shell? If yes, anything else we should be aware of?

— Michelle G.

Answer: There are ways to gift abalone to an out-of-state person, but you would have to abide by the some rules and check with out-of-state officials to make sure they allow importation. Here are the rules:

No more than the legal bag and possession limit of three abalone may be possessed at any time. This means you cannot ship more than three abalone at a time. Otherwise, the shipper and the person picking up the abalone are exceeding the limit.

It is unlawful for a common carrier or his agent to transport or receive more than the bag limit of birds, mammals, fish or amphibia.

Abalone in possession (including transportation) shall not be removed from their shell, except as they are being prepared for immediate consumption. Abalone must be shipped whole, in the shell with the tags attached.

Any package in which birds, mammals, fish or amphibia are offered for transportation by a common carrier must have the name and address of the shipper and of the consignee and must say how many animals of what species are contained in the box.

Fish and Game codes prohibit shipping of wildlife via parcel post, so you must use a private shipper.

Again, different states might have regulations. Check with authorities for their requirements. For example, here are some of the laws regarding bringing abalone into California. Other states may have similar laws: Abalone or abalone meat legally taken outside the state may be imported when accompanied by a U.S. customhouse entry certificate showing the place of origin, and a certificate or clearance from the responsible governmental agency to the effect that such shipment was made in compliance with the laws and regulations of the place of origin, and such abalone or abalone meat may be possessed in this state and shipped or transported out of the state, but all containers shall be marked with the abalone's place of origin.

Q: If I have a current hunting license and appropriate state and federal duck stamps, can I carry more than two limits in my vehicle if I am by myself and the other limits are properly tagged and dated with the other hunters' license number? Or will that put me in violation of the possession limit?

— Dick T.

A: This would be legal. Just be sure the tag contains all the information required by law, including the date of kill, species and sex of the duck as well as the name, address, hunting license number and signature of the hunter.

Q: I'm a hide tanner and I was talking with a butcher about getting deer hides from him but he was worried about giving them to me. He seemed to think I would need to have a deer tag for every deer hide. Can you tell me the legalities concerning deer hides? I would like to use the hides that are being thrown away. Also, do you know of any deer hide sources for me?

— David Creamer

A: It is legal to buy and sell (or gift) lawfully taken deer hides (Fish and Game Code, section 4303). The person receiving the hides is not required to have a hunting license or tag. However, it's a good idea for both parties involved to keep records of the transactions to protect against false accusations that the hides were acquired illegally.

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