Looking for seals fur US

[Peterjay 0]

I have often seen seal fur for sale by reputable dealers at fly tying shows, and I know of at least one online source that regularly sells it. The legal issues around this are complex, and shipping it internationally or even between states is an entirely different set of issues. I think it is well summed up by the following quote from the Animal Law web page: http://www.animallaw.info/

 

"There are very few U.S. federal statutes concerning fur animals. Laws such as the Lacey Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Fur Seal Act and the Endangered Species Act deal with protecting animals in the wild, and do not concern fur farms. The U.S. has a Fur Products Labeling Act, which mandates that garments containing fur be properly labeled..."

 

For what it is worth, the substitutes IMHO are okay,but not anything like the real seal dubbing. There are things I would not touch like condor or eagle feathers. Seal is in a different category. But given the possible issues with shipping, I would not use it in a swap fly.

 

And let's not forget the Dog And Cat Protection Act of 2000. I can think of at least one "reputable" and well-known dealer who's selling illegal dog fur. (either that or he's falsely labeling his merchandise) Regardless, tyers who go out of their way to circumvent animal protection laws give the rest of us a bad name, not to mention fuel for groups who want to ban any kind of trade in animal products.

[mybadhabit 0]

I have often seen seal fur for sale by reputable dealers at fly tying shows, and I know of at least one online source that regularly sells it. The legal issues around this are complex, and shipping it internationally or even between states is an entirely different set of issues. I think it is well summed up by the following quote from the Animal Law web page: http://www.animallaw.info/

 

"There are very few U.S. federal statutes concerning fur animals. Laws such as the Lacey Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Fur Seal Act and the Endangered Species Act deal with protecting animals in the wild, and do not concern fur farms. The U.S. has a Fur Products Labeling Act, which mandates that garments containing fur be properly labeled..."

 

For what it is worth, the substitutes IMHO are okay,but not anything like the real seal dubbing. There are things I would not touch like condor or eagle feathers. Seal is in a different category. But given the possible issues with shipping, I would not use it in a swap fly.

 

The customs inspector I talked to when I had The mystery material box confiscated said that if it is in a fly, thy usually don't bother with it, but if it is in skin form, they will research till they find out just what it is, they spent a week with 4 people trying to identify all the items in that box, she wasn't thrilled. I still am waiting for the judge to make a decision on what they're going to do with the confiscated items. I was told it could be a fine of over $250 per item, and believe me that got my attention, since I was the one sending it, that doesn't include the criminal charges that go along with the fines. Play it safe, and find an alternative, I really don't think the fish will be that much more finicky, I know the ones I catch don't mind.

 

Blane

[FrequentTyer 0]

And let's not forget the Dog And Cat Protection Act of 2000. I can think of at least one "reputable" and well-known dealer who's selling illegal dog fur. (either that or he's falsely labeling his merchandise) Regardless, tyers who go out of their way to circumvent animal protection laws give the rest of us a bad name, not to mention fuel for groups who want to ban any kind of trade in animal products.

I'm not sure what your point is Peterjay. I don't think any one is talking about trafficking in dog or cat fur. The law you are referring to prohibits the sale, import, export, and interstate shipping of dog or cat fur or products made from dog or cat fur. In fact, dog and cat fur are more highly regulated than seal fur in the US! It is legal to own, buy, and sell seal fur. It is illegal to hunt seals.

I am not suggesting anyone circumvent animal protection law, and would strongly speak out against any one that did suggest that (which is why I posted the link to the animal law web page). However I do think it is worthwhile understanding the law rather than having a knee jerk reaction. If you would advise someone in the US to not buy seal fur based on the current US law, then you would also have to tell folks that they shouldn't use fur from their cat to dub flys. And since it is illegal to hunt deer at some point during the year just about everywhere in the country, owning deer hair is risky because you can't prove that your particular patch of deer hair was legally harvested. Obviously this quickly becomes ridiculous.

The animals that provide the materials we use have to be treated with the same respect and eye towards sustainability as we apply to the trout we catch and the streams we fish. This requires observation of all relevant regulations regarding the use of these animal products. Someone who legally buys and uses seal fur in the US is observing all relevant regulations.

[Jfish 0]

Quite interesting. I don't need the stuff that bad.

 

On a side note; does anyone need cat hair dubbing? I have 2 calicoes and a tiger. 2 of which are long hair.

[Piker20 0]

Quite interesting. I don't need the stuff that bad.

 

On a side note; does anyone need cat hair dubbing? I have 2 calicoes and a tiger. 2 of which are long hair.

 

 

I'll swap you with some lynx, kingfisher and Dodo I've got lying about.

[Toirtis 0]

Wow...I never realised that we were fortunate up here in Canada, where seal dubbing is pretty common. On the other hand, it is a royal pain trying to import opossum, nutria, and other critter furs commonly available in the US.

[Peterjay 0]

And let's not forget the Dog And Cat Protection Act of 2000. I can think of at least one "reputable" and well-known dealer who's selling illegal dog fur. (either that or he's falsely labeling his merchandise) Regardless, tyers who go out of their way to circumvent animal protection laws give the rest of us a bad name, not to mention fuel for groups who want to ban any kind of trade in animal products.

I'm not sure what your point is Peterjay. I don't think any one is talking about trafficking in dog or cat fur. The law you are referring to prohibits the sale, import, export, and interstate shipping of dog or cat fur or products made from dog or cat fur. In fact, dog and cat fur are more highly regulated than seal fur in the US! It is legal to own, buy, and sell seal fur. It is illegal to hunt seals.

I am not suggesting anyone circumvent animal protection law, and would strongly speak out against any one that did suggest that (which is why I posted the link to the animal law web page). However I do think it is worthwhile understanding the law rather than having a knee jerk reaction. If you would advise someone in the US to not buy seal fur based on the current US law, then you would also have to tell folks that they shouldn't use fur from their cat to dub flys. And since it is illegal to hunt deer at some point during the year just about everywhere in the country, owning deer hair is risky because you can't prove that your particular patch of deer hair was legally harvested. Obviously this quickly becomes ridiculous.

The animals that provide the materials we use have to be treated with the same respect and eye towards sustainability as we apply to the trout we catch and the streams we fish. This requires observation of all relevant regulations regarding the use of these animal products. Someone who legally buys and uses seal fur in the US is observing all relevant regulations.

 

Sorry if I didn't make myself clear. My point is that I don't necessarily trust dealers to be honest, because in 50 years of fly tying, I've encountered quite a few who aren't. There are those who know (and care) what they're selling and those who don't give a damn as long as there's a buck to be made. I actually had a shop sell me some heron hackle some years ago. The owner said they'd been legally killed, (which was true) but he didn't mention that the birds were supposed to have been destroyed and possession of the feathers could have gotten me arrested. I've been a bit more careful about doing my homework ever since. Nobody's telling anybody not to buy seal's fur - just make sure it's legal. In an instance where a NOAA exemption permit is required for importation, documentation is indeed necessary. Your deer hair analogy doesn't fit here.

[primeflycompany 0]

All the people saying it's illegal- are wrong. You can source legal seal in the US through feathersmc.com

[Gene L 0]

I bought some  about a year ago.  So I was wrong.  It's hard to dub, I must say.  I used it once; it's colorful.

[flytire 0]

i bought this

Badger Creek Real Seal Fur Dubbing Fur Assortment-Dispenser - On-Line Fly Tying Magazine and Fly Tying Catalog (eflytyer.com)