Administrative Rules of Montana
Department 12 - FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PARKS
Chapter 12.6 - ENFORCEMENT DIVISION
Subchapter 12.6.11 - Falconer License Regulations
Rule 12.6.1116 - FEATHERS

(1) A permittee may possess flight feathers for each species of raptor currently or previously in possession for the purpose of replacing a damaged feather with a molted feather (imping). Feathers for imping may be received from other permitted falconers, wildlife rehabilitators, or propagators in the United States. Feathers may not be bought, sold, or bartered.

(2) Feathers from a falconry bird, other than those from a golden eagle, may be donated to any person or institution with a valid permit to have them or to any person exempt from the permit requirement under 50 C.F.R. 21.12.

(3) Except for primary or secondary flight feathers or retrices from a golden eagle, feathers that are molted or otherwise lost by a falconry bird are not required to be gathered. Feathers can be left where they fall, stored for imping, or destroyed. Molted flight feathers and retrices from a golden eagle must be collected for imping or sent to the National Eagle Repository at the following address: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Eagle Repository, Rocky Mountain Arsenal Building 128, Commerce City, Colorado 80022. The telephone number at the repository is 303-287-2110.

(4) If a permit expires or is revoked, all feathers of any species of falconry raptor, except a golden eagle, may be donated to any person or any institute exempt from the permit requirement under 50 C.F.R. 21.12 or authorized by permit to acquire and possess the feathers. Any feathers not donated must be burned or destroyed. Feathers from a golden eagle must be sent to the National Eagle Repository.