Idaho Examiner: NO SEIZED PORSCHES, LEARJETS OR YACHTS FOR SALE, BUT PLENTY OF IDAHO CRITTERS WITH SOME TRAPS AND FISHING POLES INCLUDED FOR GOOD MEASURE."Common Sense News"

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Recreation

NO SEIZED PORSCHES, LEARJETS OR YACHTS FOR SALE, BUT PLENTY OF IDAHO CRITTERS WITH SOME TRAPS AND FISHING POLES INCLUDED FOR GOOD MEASURE.

Posted on: February 09, 2007

IDAHO FALLS – We’ve all seen those little newspaper ads for seized government Porsches, Lear Jets, and yachts. The scam goes, “Just send $9.95 for more info.” But not all notices of government auctions are bogus. While not as glamorous, the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) is really going to be holding its own annual auction of seized items in Idaho Falls on Saturday, April 7th.

The auction of found, forfeited, and seized items by IDFG is an annual happening. Those familiar with the event call it by its shortened name of “The Fur Sale.” As the name implies, the majority of the items up for auction are furs and hides found, confiscated or seized by the courts throughout the state during the past year. In order to make it fair for all the residents of the state, IDFG moves the fur sale from region to region each year. This means that in the weeks leading up to the fur sale IDFG trucks will be shuttling loads of frozen hides, miscellaneous animal parts and assorted forfeited items to Idaho Falls for the auction.

According to Regional Conservation Officer John Hanson, “While some firearms have been seized by the court in certain regions of the state as part of IDFG cases; those firearms are being sold as part of the regular surplus property auction held in Boise each month.” Because firearms are considered a valuable piece of personal property, the practice of seizing firearms used in the commission of a wildlife crime is not universal across Idaho, whereas the seizing of fishing poles and traps is more common. The bid lots are a real mixed bag, some are valuable taxidermy mounts, some are green hides, and others are downright road kill. Each year folks attending the auction have the opportunity to bid on bundles of fishing poles. The bidders have a chance to preview all items, so they know exactly what they are bidding on. Because the background of many of the animals is unknown, none of the animals are sold with the intention that the meat be consumed!

Along with curious sportsmen, both amateur and professional taxidermists show up to bid on animals that have been marked for disposal. Sometimes unique items like bear cubs come up for sale and are just what a taxidermist may be looking for to complete a bear family creation he has been working on. Folks interested in mountain man and other historical types of reenactments also come to see what bits and pieces of fauna might be up for sale. Needless to say, plenty of deer and elk antlers will also be up for bid, some real trophies, others sub-standard or broken. One bit of wildlife that won’t be for sale are any bighorn sheep horns that the Department may have collected over the past year. Currently state law forbids the sale of these items, even by the state!

Some of the items seized by the courts or found by IDFG will never make it to the fur sale; a provision under state laws provides the opportunity by educators within the Department to pick certain items for use as part of Hunter Education and Conservation Education Programs. Because most of these items are in their raw condition, sportsmen’s groups often provide the funds to have a taxidermist mount the animals for classroom purposes.

The auction will be held at the Upper Snake Regional Office located at 4279 Commerce Circle in Idaho Falls. The auction will run from 10:00 AM until noon, with doors opening at 8:00 AM to preview auction items. The auction will be operated by Andersen Auction Service of Pocatello, Idaho. For more information call John Hanson at 208-525-7290 or E-mail at jhanson@idfg.idaho.gov .

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