29.501 Fur dealers regulated.

(1) In this section:

(a) “Dressed fur" means the dressed or tanned skins of any fur-bearing animal, but does not include fur in the manufactured article.

(b) “Fur auctioneer" means a person duly licensed to sell furs of wild-fur-bearing animals of this or other states or foreign countries.

(c) “Fur dresser or dyer" means a person engaged in the business of dressing, dyeing, tanning and otherwise preparing furs to be made into manufactured articles.

(d) “Itinerant fur buyers" means persons other than resident fur dealers who engage in the business of buying, bartering, trading or otherwise obtaining raw furs from trappers or from fur buyers or fur dealers in retail lots for purposes of resale, except those buying furs at a nationally advertised public auction conducted by a regularly licensed fur auctioneer.

(e) “Raw fur" means the undressed skins or pelts of any fur-bearing animal.

(f) “Resident fur dealer, Class A" means persons having an established post or place of business in the state where they carry on the business of buying, bartering, trading and otherwise obtaining raw or dressed furs, to the amount of $2,000 or more each year.

(g) “Resident fur dealer, Class B" means persons having an established post or place of business in the state where they carry on the business of buying, bartering, trading and otherwise obtaining raw or dressed furs, to the amount of less than $2,000 each year.

(2) No person may engage in the business of buying, bartering, bargaining, trading or otherwise obtaining raw furs until he or she has a license issued under this section.

(3) Licenses shall be issued, subject to s. 29.024 (2g) and (2r), by the department upon application. The form of application and license shall be prescribed by the department.

(5) Persons who have not had a place of business in the state for at least one year immediately preceding the date of application for such license, shall be issued itinerant fur buyers' licenses only.

(6) Each resident fur dealer, Class A; resident fur dealer, Class B; fur dresser or dyer; itinerant fur dealer or fur auctioneer license shall bear upon its face the date of issuance. The license shall be exhibited to the department upon request.

(6m)

(a) Every person licensed under this section shall keep records of all transactions in the buying, selling, dressing, dyeing or tanning of raw furs by the person. This record shall show the name and address of each person from whom furs were purchased and to whom sold, together with the date of receipt and shipment, and a detailed account as to the number and kinds of raw furs in each shipment received or sold. This record shall be open to the inspection of the department at all reasonable hours. The records shall be kept intact for a period of 2 years after the expiration of any license issued under this section, as to all transactions carried on while the license was effective.

(b) Not less than 10 days before conducting a fur auction, the fur auctioneer shall file with the department evidence of national advertising showing the date and place of the auction.

(c) Within 10 days after conducting any fur auction, the fur auctioneer shall file with the department on forms furnished by it a report of the auction containing the date and place of the auction, the names and addresses of all persons buying furs taken from wild fur-bearing animals, the quantities and kinds of furs bought, and the amounts paid for the furs by each buyer.

(7) All packages of raw furs shipped or transported by any person shall have plainly marked on the outside of the package or shipment the kinds and number of furs in the package or shipment, the license number, and the name of the consignor and the consignee.

(8) No person on the person's own behalf or as an agent for any person may receive for shipment or cause to be received for shipment out of or in the state, any package of fur or furs unless the contents are plainly marked on the outside of the package as to the number and kinds of fur contained in the package, the license number, and the address of the consignor and consignee.

(9) Nothing in this section prohibits any person from buying raw or dressed furs for the purpose of making garments for himself or herself or a member of his or her family, but the person shall apply to the department for a permit to buy the furs.

(9m) This section applies to the raw furs and dressed furs of fur-bearing animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.

(10) Any person who violates this section shall be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned not more than 9 months, or both. Any person violating sub. (6m) shall forfeit not more than $100.

History: 1975 c. 365; 1983 a. 27; 1991 a. 316; 1997 a. 191, 237; 1997 a. 248 ss. 288 to 290; Stats. 1997 s. 29.501; 1999 a. 32; 2001 a. 56; 2015 a. 89.