Transporting Deer

[Andrew]

Do I meet the regs if I take only the skull cap and horns or do I need to take the "twig and berries" too?  This is my second season chasing fur, first high hunt, and I'm freaking about the potential pack weight since I've read a head with horns is in the neighborhood of 25#. 

[wannabhntr]

Read the regs. Buck deer must have antlers attached to the body or testicles. Doe's must have head or nipple attached.

[Andrew]

"Male - head with antlers or horns
attached or penis or testes any of
which must be naturally attached to
at least one quarter of the carcass or to
the largest portion of meat."

This is directly from the regs, I interpret it with three options:
- Head and antlers together
-horns attached (attached to 1/4 of the carcass; which seems stupid since they are attached to the head, can't discard the head and have them still attached)
-Twig and berries attached to 1/4 of the carcass.

So my question still stands, if I take the head with horns I don't need genitalia (there is that legalese 'or' present)?

[sirmissalot]

I see your point. Bring the skull cap and horns, along with the balls attached to one of the quarters and you'll be ok. Stupid law but it is what it is. I don't think they would require the head to be attached to the horns, they will be able to tell its a fresh kill by the cap alone. Maybe that's just how they worded it so you don't cut the horns off at the base under the pedicels, and keep reusing them on does saying it's a buck all cut up and quartered.

[bobcat]

It is confusing the way it is written. I interpret it to mean that all you need is the head.

Unless you cut off the antlers, then you need evidence of sex attached to one of the 1/4's.

[JLS]

You answered your question.  If the head is naturally attached to one portion of the carcass it is sufficient evidence of sex.  The head and antlers together, but detached from the carcass do NOT count as evidence of sex.  Honestly, why don't you just skin out the scrotum and leave it naturally attached to one of the quarters?  I've been doing this for years, it takes about an extra 60 seconds to do and would sure be lighter and easier than packing a head out.

It's not a stupid law.  There are quite a few ways to cheat the system without evidence of sex and species on a carcass.

[bobcat]

I know on the high hunt I definitely would not be packing out the head.

As JLS said, it's very simple to leave evidence of sex attached to one of the quarters. Not a big deal at all.

[Huntbear]

I have never kept the scrotum on any male animal I have shot...  If deer are loaded whole then you have evidence attached.  However, if I am quartering and packing it out... I will take the head with the horns... but the quarters come out skinned and ready to hang..  or completely boned out, so not even any bones in the meat.... 

I have been checked by Gamies both in deer and elk season, many times..... they have never ever said anything about evidence of sex not attached.

[Andrew]

Is it still possible if you bone out...sorry for the stupid questions as stated I'm way the hell out of my element!  I've watched that posted video of boning out a deer seriously like 50 times, let alone all the youtube.  I'm sure I'm going to walk away from this carcass looking like Al Pacino in the chainsaw bathroom scene in "Scar Face".

[JLS]

Skin out the scrotum and leave it physically attached to one of the hindquarters.  When you bone out that quarter, just make sure it stays attached to the chunk of meat.  It's easy, just make sure your brain is staying ahead of your knife.

Huntbear,

Glad you haven't gotten popped for it, but I wouldn't make a habit out of it.  Especially if you hunt other states like MT, WY, or ID.

[Miles]

It's pretty easy to leave the nuts attached to one rear quarter.  Sometimes I leave it there just to save a potential headache with a gamie that's trying to make a name for himself.

[Andrew]

Thanks all,

Depending on if it's a wall hanger or not I'll keep the head and horns, if not, I'll 'try' to keep the balls attached to some portion of the hind quarter and simply cut the skull cap off.

[Axle]

This is my second season chasing fur

I've been trying real hard to get clinton out of my mind! and then this?!.......oh boy!

[grade-creek-rd]

One other tip...after leaving the evidence of sex on a hind quarter (boned out) also attach the tag here (it's suppose to go on the largest portion retained...not the antlers) and then put a piece of flagging tape on the meat sack (I use pillow cases...cheap and un-dyed cotton is pretty strong...I like the ones with the zippers to keep the meat clean. One holds about 25 lbs of meat, so I pack 4 just in case) anyway, when/if you get stopped you pull out all of your meat sacks, go to the one with the flagging tape, open it up with your tag tied on with a string through the meat of the hind quarter next to the evidence of sex...I also make it a point to tell them this is why I put on the flagging tape, to make it easier to locate the right quarter with evidence of sex and my tag...shows I know the laws, like to play by the rules and it also really sucks to have to sort through your meat looking for the right quarter of meat and your notched/attached tag.

G-C-R