Billman,
As a fly tier, I try to stay on top of what you can and cannot have as far as fur and feathers. Feathers from Owls, (in fact all raptors) as well as song birds and almost all migratory are an absolute no-no here in the states. The authorities have no sense of humor but they do take prisoners.
When Clinton was in the White House, Hilary was out campaigning for one of his issues and a woman she met gave her a Dream catcher which she had made for her. Unfortunately for this woman she had included an Eagle feather in her Dream Catcher. Hilary graciously accepted the gift, but a couple of nights later, federal agents actually broke down the door of the woman's house and raided it looking for illegal feathers. The woman was hauled off to court, but I think she only received a very stiff fine.
To tell you how ridiculous it is, I live on a fifty acre lake that has several Canada Geese that arrive every spring to raise their goslings. When the adults molt in the summer, they leave (among other things) loads of primary wing feathers all over my back yard. It is illegal for me to pick those feathers up, even to throw them away. I can run them over with my lawn mower, but I can't have them in my position. Two months later I could shoot them and have all the feathers I want, but that's a different story.
Jim Smith
