New to the board, so forgive me if this is an oft-covered topic...

On another forum I read a *vague* reference to the legality of using native deer horns for knife handles here in the great (ha!) state of California... the reference inferred that you'd be better off murdering someone than useing deer horns for anything...

This has me a bit concerned since I have about a dozen drop horns that a friend collected for me (he's a forester and goes and frolics where deer drop their pointy parts...) that I was going to use for knife handles!

Anyone know if I should;
A) bury the horns in the dark of night before the brownshirts from Fish and Game arrive.
B) Make knives with 'em, and just sell them out of state and tell the buyers my name is Sven...
C) Don't worry... I'm misunderstanding the law and it's OK...


Paul F. (too poor and too cheap to make "early attempt" knives with expensive foreign deer parts :-).

My understanding is that you would be better off dealing in "South American Pharmaceuticals" than in California deer antlers. The folks at PETA have a bit of pull there I guess.

Where I'm from PETA stands for " People For the Eating of Tasty Animals".:)

I've heard others here speak more specifically on this topic too.

Good Luck!

MIGHT BE WISE TO CHECK WITH THE STATE AGENCY, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT. HERE IN TX, TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE AGENCY. BELEIVE IT OR NOT, THIS IS BECOMING A LARGER ISSUE IN EVERY STATE, WHERE DEER TAGS ARE PURCHASED.
NATURE YEILDS THE HORN FOR FREE, BUT EVERYONE WANTS TO MAKE A BUCK, OFF OF IT.
KEN (WWJD)

You might consider asking your friend the forester for a letter on departmental letterhead stating that you have been given drop antlers as a courtesy from the agency.

Might go a ways to disarm the do-gooders.

Then again, it might get them all excited because the deer are littering in the forests.

Good luck.

Leon Jester
Roanoke, VA

B) Make knives with 'em, and just sell them out of state and tell the buyers my name is Sven...
:lol:

Welcome to the forums Paul. I like you already. You've got a good sense of humor.

That may be a good idea Leon had. It sounds logical. It would at least be worth it to inquire.

Leon; That might work... but more likely such a document would just serve to incriminate me.. "AH HA! You see your honor; he KNEW it was illegal! and was trying to cover himself!"...
California courts are as merciless as they are moronic..and vindictive! I'm a gun dealer here, so I know some first hand stories about dealing with the DOJ.... 'tain't pretty..

Terry;
I'm gonna lurk 'round here a while picking up information... I like it here :-)

And any knives with California Critter Parts on 'em are going to get "disposed of" in a nice low key manner...
(Dark of night.. in a parking lot at 2 am... cash only...)..
I just can't waste perfectly good materials!

Paul F.