A Maquoketa man faces 43 charges for allegedly running an unlicensed taxidermy business in his house. Iowa Department of Natural Resources spokesman, Mick Klemesrud, says 36-year-old Lorin Felderman was arrested after a long investigation. He says the investigation was made possible after they got a sworn statement from a confidential informant.
Klemesrud says they then got a warrant and found numerous violations and a variety of animals in the process of being mounted. Klemesrud says the DNR requires taxidermist to be licensed to prevent illegal hunting and use of animals. Klemesrud says some of the exotic species or a deer with a large rack can be taken to an illegal taxidermist and mounted and sold for a lot of money.
Felderman faces 20 counts of taxidermy violation, one count of possession of a protected species, one count of illegal possession of a deer and one count of practicing taxidermy without a license. Klemesrud says Felderman had parts of a barn owl in his possession, which is a protected species. Among the evidence was a landowner tenant tag issued in Felderman’s name attached to a deer with an antler rack. Felderman allegedly does not own any land. Felderman has received and signed the warrants that resulted from the raid on his home.
Klemesrud says it’s now in the hands of the court, and Felderman is scheduled to appear in court on August 30th. If convicted, Felderman could face fines and damages totaling nearly 18-thousand dollars and suspension of his hunting, fur harvester and taxidermy privileges for up to three years. Felderman’s name would then be entered in to the Wildlife Violators Compact meaning the states that are members of the compact would deny Felderman similar privileges in their state.