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Author Topic: Tagging and pack-out question  (Read 7686 times)

Offline DaveMonti

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Tagging and pack-out question
« on: December 12, 2015, 12:36:23 PM »
I have a question regarding packing out and transporting game.  I hunt on my own and have wondered what is the correct way to pack out and transport a deer should I get one.
I will not be able to pack out an entire deer on my own in one trip.  Therefore, I am wondering what is the proper way to tag and transport the quarters and head if I have to make multiple trips, or even if I pack out part of the deer late in the evening and need to leave a few quarters hanging overnight in the field, and retrieve them the next day.

Is it legal to pack out and transport part of a deer and leave the rest in the field overnight and retrieve it the next day?  If so, how do I handle the tag situation?  Do I take the tag with the first pack out trip, come back the next day and retrieve the rest without a tag? 

Thanks,
Dave

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #1 on: December 12, 2015, 12:39:47 PM »
Read page 88 of the regs. Essentially, the tag stays on the largest piece of meat.
You can leave it overnight, legally.
If you aint hunting, you aint livin'

Offline DaveMonti

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2015, 12:46:13 PM »
Thanks Timberstalker,
I had trouble downloading the PDF from the website.  Thanks for your help!
Dave

Offline Timberstalker

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2015, 02:05:20 PM »
You bet! Now go tag something! :tup:
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Offline Fletch

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2015, 05:38:05 PM »
 Make sure you leave proof of sex when quartering/halving/boning and tag according to previous post. As long as tag is notched appropriately I have never been hassled . Will keep it in my pocket so it isn't lost then attach at pickup ...have been checked x2 and they say  :tup:

Offline DaveMonti

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2015, 05:44:29 PM »
I guess I don't understand what I need to do if I put the tag on the biggest quarter and leave proof of sex, but I don't pack out the entire deer at the same time.  If I take the hide and head, but hang the rest to retrieve it the next day, I'm carrying a head and hide with no tag (presuming I leave it on a hind quarter).  If I drive home that night with an untagged portion of a deer, and I get stopped, I have no transport tag on the portion of the deer I have in my possession.  I wonder what the legal answer for this situation is...
That all being said, I did not have to worry about it tonight.  I only came home with a few extra pounds or rainwater soaked into my clothes after tonights hunt!

Offline bobcat

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #6 on: December 12, 2015, 05:51:17 PM »
I don't think it's possible to always be 100% in compliance with the law as written, unless you kill your deer right next to your truck. You just have to hope the game warden will believe that you're not attempting to poach an animal.

Offline DaveMonti

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2015, 11:48:30 AM »
I hope the warden believes.  I'd hate to lose my truck due to a "misunderstanding" while transporting part of a legally taken deer! 
That being said, today is the last day I have to get out and tag something.  Late archery in my local unit ends on Tuesday.

Offline dscubame

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #8 on: December 13, 2015, 03:07:46 PM »
I hope the warden believes.  I'd hate to lose my truck due to a "misunderstanding" while transporting part of a legally taken deer! 
That being said, today is the last day I have to get out and tag something.  Late archery in my local unit ends on Tuesday.

And your on Huntwa rather than deep in the timber......  Just flippin it to ya.   :chuckle:
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Offline Hunterman

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #9 on: December 13, 2015, 03:24:35 PM »
How far back into the woods are you to have to quarter a deer, and have to leave it overnight?

Hunterman(Tony)
SOMR PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT THEIR WHOLE LIFE TO MEET THEIR HUNTING BUDDY. I RAISED MINE.

Offline bigbeamhunter

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #10 on: December 13, 2015, 03:41:07 PM »
I usually stuff my tag in the ear. I hunt by myself 90% of the time
I had a group try to steal my bull. I gutted it tagged it. When I came back this group said it was theirs and I was out numbered I went to the top of the hill called the warden who I know personally. He said to meet him at the trailhead. He's the one that told me to hide the tag so about two hours go by and here comes the group with my elk. The warden said nice bull can you lay it here in my bed so I can check the tag they said sure. I thought I was funny when the guy seen me. And laughed at me. He went to show the warden his tag and he said know I want the one that's in its ear from the guy who shot it. He pulled it out and who should have seen their faces. The warden says do you want to press charges I said no. Just have them put it in my truck. End of story.

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #11 on: December 13, 2015, 04:17:16 PM »
I usually stuff my tag in the ear. I hunt by myself 90% of the time
I had a group try to steal my bull. I gutted it tagged it. When I came back this group said it was theirs and I was out numbered I went to the top of the hill called the warden who I know personally. He said to meet him at the trailhead. He's the one that told me to hide the tag so about two hours go by and here comes the group with my elk. The warden said nice bull can you lay it here in my bed so I can check the tag they said sure. I thought I was funny when the guy seen me. And laughed at me. He went to show the warden his tag and he said know I want the one that's in its ear from the guy who shot it. He pulled it out and who should have seen their faces. The warden says do you want to press charges I said no. Just have them put it in my truck. End of story.
perfect!! I would have pressed charges for sure, probably not the first time this azz holes did that and now they will just look for those hidden tags. 
“In common with”..... not so much!!

Offline lokidog

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #12 on: December 13, 2015, 04:34:41 PM »
My thoughts are that they have to talk to me to ticket me, so as long as I am traveling with part of the animal, the tag will be with me.  Not a bad idea to do something similar to the above posts though you don't necessarily need to use your tag.  Something smaller would be easier to hide.

Offline lamrith

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #13 on: December 13, 2015, 06:12:11 PM »
My thoughts are that they have to talk to me to ticket me, so as long as I am traveling with part of the animal, the tag will be with me.  Not a bad idea to do something similar to the above posts though you don't necessarily need to use your tag.  Something smaller would be easier to hide.
That is what I was getting ready to respond with..  Keep the tag with you, the key is keeping YOU out of trouble..  Then also do something hidden if possibly to mark your  meat, either to the meat itself or to the game bags you have it in.  I doubt most theives will search deep in the bag or rebag it, they will grab it and go.

Great deal BigBeam.  Glad you had an idea where those clowns would be coming out!  I would have been on fence bigtime about pressing charges, but least they hauled it out for you!  Did the Game warden take their tags from them?  Figure at least one of them notched to claim your meat..

Offline DaveMonti

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #14 on: December 13, 2015, 09:22:19 PM »
Thanks Folks,
Hunterman, I'm typically hunting 2-5 miles back in, and I ride a mountain bike to get there.  Dragging is not really an option!  I wouldn't leave anything over night unless I tagged late in the day and it was going to be cold enough to cool down the meat.
I'm not really concerned about anyone stealing my game, I just want to avoid any "misunderstandings" if I do end up with multiple parts of a deer. 
I did think of making sure I have the tag with me at all times, and that is probably what I'd do.  Take the tag with whatever I pack out at night, then come back with the tag the next day and put it on a quarter that is left. 
Anyhow, unless I get out of work early on Monday or Tuesday, I won't have to worry about it this year!

Thanks to all that responded!
Dave

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #15 on: December 13, 2015, 09:43:55 PM »
Like I said Dave call me and I'll come with the taxi service

Offline lokidog

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #16 on: December 14, 2015, 04:46:40 AM »
Another thought would be to take a photo of your notched tag if you have to be away from it.

Offline DaveMonti

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #17 on: December 14, 2015, 11:29:31 AM »
Thanks Jake,
I'm sure I'd let you know if I got a deer with an "as he lays" field shot, but I don't expect you to drop everything or be available all the time! 
I guess it won't be a problem this year as late archery ends tomorrow and I don't anticipate getting out today or tomorrow.  Hopefully by next year I'll have a bike trailer that will make the pack out much easier!

Loki, thanks for the great ideas!

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #18 on: December 14, 2015, 12:17:27 PM »
If it were me, I normally quarter and then pack the rear quarter with tax and evidence along with the horns for my first trip out.  The next day, I would come back with the first quarter on ice in the truck and get the rest.  I also have the GPS coordinates of the kill obviously.

As long as you have all the parts with one of them tagged and proper evidence, I can't imagine anyone giving you a hard time.

Offline 7mmfan

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #19 on: December 14, 2015, 01:13:13 PM »
I packed my deer out 2 years ago on my back. First trip I took the head/horns, both hind quarters and backstraps. Left the front quarters and scrap there. Because the bulk of the meat as well as the horns were in camp, I left the tag with the meat (largest portion of meat). On my way out with the 2nd load, I came to a game check station. I told the game warden that I was packing my clean up load out and that I had left the tag with the largest portion of meat back in camp. He said good job and I was on my way.
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Offline Bob33

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #20 on: December 14, 2015, 01:25:55 PM »
I would never under any circumstances leave a notched tag on an animal that I didn't have control over, short of being at a professional meat processor.

If you wish to mark a portion of an animal you are leaving in the field as "yours" there are plenty of ways to go it without a tag: make a small mark somewhere like on a hoof with a knife, cut two pinholes in an ear, drop a penny down the throat, use a Sharpy and put your initials in an obscure location, etc.
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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #21 on: December 14, 2015, 01:41:06 PM »
i wish tags came with about 6 bar codes to put on any one item such as the head and or a pack...seems simple  :dunno: feels weird having a head with no tag

Offline lamrith

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #22 on: December 14, 2015, 02:27:13 PM »
i wish tags came with about 6 bar codes to put on any one item such as the head and or a pack...seems simple  :dunno: feels weird having a head with no tag
Not a bad idea...  If nothing else they could just add a bunch of .5"-1" wide sections at the bottom with the tag number on it that you could cut off and mark with.  Like Bob33 mentioned, shove one down throat, in ear etc.  You could even tuck it under muscle of the sections you leave behind so if have an issue of someone snagging it when you call a game officer to site you can identify your game, lots of options..

Offline erk444

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #23 on: December 15, 2015, 12:21:34 PM »
I heard of sticking a coin in the gland near they eye.

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Re: Tagging and pack-out question
« Reply #24 on: December 15, 2015, 12:52:39 PM »
Another thought would be to take a photo of your notched tag if you have to be away from it.

I do this every time I have to leave an animal, or parts of, in the woods. Zoomed out to show the whole animal, but with the tag numbers/name visible. Even better if I can be in the photo.

I don't worry about the constable doing his job. His is to question to validate. If he's confused, the rule is so absurd that a reasonable court of law would laugh this out of the courtroom as long as a hunter has made him/herself as credible as possible. The burden of proof of poaching is on the state.  The legal hunter using a little smarts will prevail.

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