tagging Q

[Woodchuck]

I will say that when a friend of mine killed a big cow down in the bottom of Mother Nature's evil version of vertical pick up stix, we were more than happy to leave the head and take the udder instead. 

[Bean Counter]

The regulation has been rewritten to be less ambiguous. I think it's ridiculous that the head or penis or testes be attached to a quarter, but that's how this reads now. Someone who takes an animal will likely have pictures and if a gamie thinks something is afoul of the law, they can take DNA samples and often do. The head by itself should be enough.

Sounds like they either don't live in the real world (impossible) or they're just out to make ticket revenue (also impossible). So they must have just wanted to give the wildlife officers the easy ability to ruin someone's day if they want.

[bobcat]

There's a reason for the law being the way it is. It's to prevent poaching. It's really not that hard to follow.

[Bob33]

When packing out an animal in multiple trips, it is impossible to not have some portion of the animal untagged.

The most important thing is to immediately notch the tag correctly.

If possible the notched tag should be attached to the largest portion of the meat. It should not be attached to the head or antlers. It must remain with the meat until consumed. Proof of sex is required.

I trust that the vast majority of WDFW enforcement officers are reasonable in enforcement of this regulation, and can discern honest mistakes from intentional ones.

[pianoman9701]

There's a reason for the law being the way it is. It's to prevent poaching. It's really not that hard to follow.

Most states require the head OR attached body parts. It's because most states start with the assumption that most hunters are trying to follow the law and they want to make it easier to do so. It's faulty logic to think that making it more difficult to follow the rules will reduce poaching. Poachers don't follow the rules and don't even pretend to. It's more likely that making it more difficult to follow the rules will create more violations and therefore, more income through ticketing. For a department concerned about falling hunter numbers, this isn't a good path.

[Bob33]

Here are the two WACs you need:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=232-12-061

WAC 232-12-061 Tagging requirements

It is unlawful for a person who kills a big game animal or turkey to fail to immediately cut out and completely remove from his or her tag the designated notches corresponding to the day and month of the kill for that species (unless the tagging requirement is specifically exempted by the fish and wildlife commission), and to fail to immediately attach his or her notched tag to the carcass of such animal or bird. That tag must remain attached to the carcass while it is being transported and must remain with the wildlife during the period of retention of the edible parts.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=232-12-267

WAC 232-12-267 Field identification of wildlife—Evidence of sex—Definitions

(1) It is unlawful to possess or transport game birds unless the feathered heads are left attached to the carcass, except falconry caught birds, until the carcass is processed and/or stored for consumption.
(2) It is unlawful to possess or transport big game animals unless evidence of the sex of the animal remains naturally attached to the carcass until the carcass is processed and/or stored for consumption.
(a) Evidence of sex means the head with antlers or horns attached or penis or testes of male big game animals or the head or udder of female big game animals any of which must be naturally attached to at least one quarter of the carcass or to the largest portion of meat.
(b) For the purpose of this rule, "stored for consumption" means at the final point of storage prior to consumption of the meat.
(3) It is unlawful to possess or transport goat, sheep, moose, deer or elk taken in hunting areas which have horn or antler restrictions unless the head or skull plate, with both horns or both antlers naturally attached, accompanies the carcass.
(4) The possession of a taxidermist's receipt which includes the taxidermist's name, address, and telephone number, the hunter's name, address, telephone number, license, and tag number, the species and sex of the game bird or big game animal taken, as well as antler points or horn size and the date and GMU location or special deer/elk permit area where taken, shall be deemed to constitute compliance with this section.
For the purpose of this rule "accompanies the carcass" means to remain with the carcass until it has reached the point of processing or storage.
(5) It is lawful for persons who have complied with the department of fish and wildlife's chronic wasting disease sampling program to possess deer and elk without proof of sex under the following provisions:
(a) The head of the deer or elk must have been surrendered to an authorized department collection site.
(b) The hunter is in possession of an official department disease testing program identification card, completely filled out and signed and dated by a department employee or authorized agent.
(c) The carcass of the deer or elk is transported directly from where the head has been surrendered to the point of processing or storage.
Failure to comply with (a) through (c) of this subsection constitutes unlawful possession of big game and is punishable under RCW 77.15.410.

[pianoman9701]

There's a reason for the law being the way it is. It's to prevent poaching. It's really not that hard to follow.

Most states require the head OR attached body parts. It's because most states start with the assumption that most hunters are trying to follow the law and they want to make it easier to do so. It's faulty logic to think that making it more difficult to follow the rules will reduce poaching. Poachers don't follow the rules and don't even pretend to. It's more likely that making it more difficult to follow the rules will create more violations and therefore, more income through ticketing. For a department concerned about falling hunter numbers, this isn't a good path.

I'm wrong. At least MT and ID require the same. Previous rant retracted.