Any market value in an Argali sheep mount?

[Shraggs]

Ak, I owe you an apology for bad advice!

Certainly humbled and learned from this thread. Had no idea just whitetail may have limited used value.

 

[Rokbar]

A buddy of mine was gifted a pretty large Argali shoulder mount and he was wondering if it was worth anything. So, does anybody know if there is a market for this kind of thing? Obviously, if there is a market, size matters and I'll have him get some good pictures and measurements for a score, but just thought I'd ask here first to see if anybody had any good insight into this.

You should try and get the story of the hunt that goes with the mount. Sometimes that could increase the price??

 

[Millek47]

Looks like a Gobi

 

[AK Troutbum]

Ak, I owe you an apology for bad advice!

Certainly humbled and learned from this thread. Had no idea just whitetail may have limited used value.

No worries Shraggs, I’m learning a lot from this thread as well.


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[ColeyG]

Being a CITES listed species, there are a lot of rules and regulations that affect importing, exporting, buying and selling Argali. Definitely something to check into before putting it up for sale. FYI.

 

[Cynoscion]

Somebody correct me if I’m wrong but since this argali was taken pre CITES, it should be exempt from those rules.

 

[WalterH]

Somebody correct me if I’m wrong but since this argali was taken pre CITES, it should be exempt from those rules.

I think you are correct, but with the caveat that the owner/seller must be able to prove, via documentation, that the specimen was imported pre-CITES with no restrictions? I'd definitely be calling someone to make sure before trying to sell it.


Argali are listed in CITES appendix 2, so the following should apply?

50 CFR § 23.55 - How may I use a CITES specimen after import into the United States?

www.law.cornell.edu

The specimen may be used only for noncommercial purposes (see § 23.5).

Exception:

If the specimen was lawfully imported, with no restrictions on its use after import, before the species was listed as described in paragraphs (a), (b), or (c) of this section, you may continue to use the specimen as indicated for paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of this section provided you can clearly demonstrate (using written records or other documentary evidence) that your specimen was imported prior to the CITES listing, with no restrictions on its use after import. If you are unable to clearly demonstrate that this exception applies, the specimen may be used only for noncommercial purposes.

 

[AK Troutbum]

How would one find the appropriate documentation? The gentleman that killed the ram has been dead for almost 40 years.

 

[WalterH]

A buddy that dealt with an argali import a few years back spoke with the people at this office re: CITES import permits.

U.S. Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: IA, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803, Toll Free: (800) 358-2104/permit questions, Tel: (703) 358-2095/other questions, Fax: (703) 358-2281/permits, Fax: (703) 358-2298/other issues, Email: [email protected], Web site: http://www.fws.gov/international and http://www.fws.gov/permits.

Not sure how far back their records go re: import permits and records. If they don't have anything, the way I read it, the onus is on the current owner to provide documentation, otherwise it can't be legitimately sold?

 

[Cynoscion]

I’ve done a lot of permitting with USFWS getting trophies imported from overseas. The above contact info should be helpful.
If the trophy is that old, I’d be surprised if there were any permitting requirements at all back then. I may be wrong but I wouldn’t expect USFWS to have anything on record for that particular sheep.
Your buddy should be able to explain the situation to the agent assigned to him, they should do an investigation and then they should issue him the necessary paperwork.
All that said, I wouldn’t sell it. That is one super special trophy!