Cougar meat - is it legal to not eat the meat?

[Bean Counter]

I can't wait to try it, myself. Even if I didn't like it, I would still carry it out of the field and give it to someone else. Just seems like the fitting thing to do with our conservation ethos.

[Stein]

Read the law. It does not say a thing about having to eat the meat. It says it is illegal to waste the animal. Who's to say that is not salvaging the hide.

The game warden.

[Machias]

I'm shocked by a couple of you guys, by far the best meat I have eaten was lion meat.  Better than elk, deer and moose I've had.  My wife is from the UK and not a big wild game meat eater and LOVED it.

[Machias]

Well, there are officers citing people for leaving coyotes lay where they shoot them; they are citing them for wastage.....

Can you point me to where this is in the law?

[Curly]

Well, there are officers citing people for leaving coyotes lay where they shoot them; they are citing them for wastage.....

Can you point me to where this is in the law?

If you check out this thread you will see the subject beat to death.  Bigtex says the law says wildlife can't be wasted and that wildlife can include any living animal.  There is even a Nutria thread where he warns that wating a nutria could land someone in trouble with a wildlife officer.

You might check out this point in the thread:

Shooting the coyote and "leaving it lay" would actually fall under wastage and is a hunting/wildlife offense. As far as trespassing goes, it would definitely be an interesting one for the prosecutor. But certainly a wastage charge would apply, you can't waste ANYTHING!

Technically that's true, but coyotes are shot and left all the time. I've never heard of anyone being cited.

Which portions of the meat do you eat?

I'm not saying it doesn't happen. I was simply saying it's against the law. For me, I want to see the animal removed from the field, if you take the coyote home and throw it in the garbage can then so be it, but if you just shoot it and "leave it lay" I would have no problem with any officer citing you.

[Stein]

The law specifically mentions "big game" and that is a defined term that doesn't include coyotes or nutria.

[Curly]

I'll quote tex again from that thread (and bold the part about wildlife wastage).  He  provided all the info regarding the law.  Seems like the law needs changed.

Shooting the coyote and "leaving it lay" would actually fall under wastage and is a hunting/wildlife offense. As far as trespassing goes, it would definitely be an interesting one for the prosecutor. But certainly a wastage charge would apply, you can't waste ANYTHING!

Technically that's true, but coyotes are shot and left all the time. I've never heard of anyone being cited.

Which portions of the meat do you eat?

I'm not saying it doesn't happen. I was simply saying it's against the law. For me, I want to see the animal removed from the field, if you take the coyote home and throw it in the garbage can then so be it, but if you just shoot it and "leave it lay" I would have no problem with any officer citing you.

If it is the same "reckless wastage" law that applies to other game such as deer and elk, then you must take the meat and yet no one does. I've asked this question of several enforcement officers. They've all said the law does not apply to predators such as coyotes and crows.

I think you're far more likely to get cited for illegal dumping.

In any case, it's a bad idea.

The law does not separate between species. It's simply "wasting wildlife," per state law "wildlife" means those in the animal kingdom, coyotes are in the animal kingdom. You can't waste a coyote because it's a predator, it falls under the animal kingdom and per state law, you can't waste wildlife.

Wastage of big game is under RCW 77.15.170 and is a gross misdemeanor:

(1) A person is guilty of waste of fish and wildlife if:
(a) The person kills, takes, or possesses fish, shellfish, or wildlife having a value of two hundred fifty dollars or more or wildlife classified as big game; and
(b) The person recklessly allows such fish, shellfish, or wildlife to be wasted.
(2) Waste of fish and wildlife is a gross misdemeanor. Upon conviction, the department shall revoke any license or tag used in the crime and shall order suspension of the person's privileges to engage in the activity in which the person committed waste of fish and wildlife for a period of one year.

Wasting a coyote would fall under RCW 77.15.160(2)(c)
The following acts are infractions and must be cited and punished as provided under chapter 7.84 RCW:
(2) Hunting infractions:
(c) Wasting wildlife: Killing, taking, or possessing wildlife that is not classified as big game and has a value of less than two hundred fifty dollars, and allowing the wildlife to be wasted.

I know of several citations issued for the 77.15.160 offense for coyotes every year in Grant and Adams Counties. Some officers may say it's ok and they wouldn't cite for it, but if an officer wanted to they could.

[Machias]

Make sure you guys eat them moles, skunks, possums, beaver, muskrats and rock chucks, etc....    Police State, closer and closer everyday. 

Thanks for showing me that Curly

[bobcat]

Yes, eat them or at least bring them home and throw in your garbage can.     

[AspenBud]

Predator meat is not for me, I've hunted Africa several times and the parasite content of predator meat is too high for my taste.  If you must eat it, cook it thoroughly and make sure its handled well.

Exactly why I have no desire to eat cougar meat.

No thanks, but for those who will, cook the heck out of it!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/30/AR2007013001383.html

[Machias]

I guess the State of Washington and the WDFW would be considered accomplices in this most heinous of crimes.  Since they are the ones who set the seasons and in fact contribute to the wanton waste of wildlife.  In fact they encourage it.  There is nothing but waste of a coyote in July, the hides have no value at all and the meat is not edible.  Same with many other species of wildlife.  The fact an officer feels compelled to write a ticket is complete BS and they should stand trial as a co-conspirator.

[timberfaller]

Pretty good read!!

I know Cats make a great looking leather jacket!  only seen one, sure was nice looking.  Took three large cats to make a large size jacket.

Surprised no one brought up the "real" Asian cooking ingredient!