need advice on non-target catch

[Skeeter]

i was recently ticked for takeing an otter by trap out of season it was a non=target catch at a beaver castor mound and was set up on a drowning cable [ release was not possable ]as it was about 2 1/2 miles to the road i skinned the critter eo lighten the load intebdibg to call the local MDOC agent when i got home unfortanatly i was stopped for a rutine traffic stop and the agent was called in and wrote me whats sure to be a very costly ticket claiming skinning the otter madwe it illeagle but i can find nothing in the rule book that says i cant skin them. is this true? what ias the correct policy for non target catches?

[townsendtaxidermy]

You have to discard them. You can't harvest any part of them. Even carrying the dead otter or hauling it in your car would have probably got you a ticket, as it shows intent to harvest, but skinning it certainly shows intent to harvest.

We have a permissive law in Missouri...if it doesn't say you can do it, you can't do it.

[bigjohn]

Pretty much what Kim said.I've had coons get caught in castor sets ,as coons love the stuff.Just have to pitch them.Sucks,but beats a ticket.I have my GW number in my phone so I can get in contact with him if something comes up.