Is this legal?

[Wahoo]

During modern elk season on the east side I ran into a day or two earlier spike elk kill site that left me wondering when I left the site. I was 4 miles in as the crow flies per my GPS so completely understandable the elk had been boned out. However, they left the head and cut the horns out leaving a v-shaped hole in the head. What I am wondering is if you leave the male identity (scrotum) attached to the meat is it legal to then just take horns detached from the head or by law are you supposed to leave the horns attached to the head for identification purposes.

Just want to clear this up as this is the way to go weight wise if it is legal.

[92xj]

The balls identify the sex not the antlers. Leave balls attached to meat and do whatever you'd like with the antlers.

[bobcat]

Yes it's legal and in that case you do need to bring out the antlers for proof that it was a spike.

[Timberstalker]

How did you know it was a spike?

[Wahoo]

Size of the elk carcass and head. I can't be 100% sure but I believe the size made the probability very high.

[NRA4LIFE]

Perfectly legal:

3. Evidence of Animal's Sex (WAC 232-12-267):
It is illegal to possess or transport big game animals unless evidence
of the animal's sex is left naturally attached to the carcass until the
carcass is processed or stored for consumption. Evidence of sex means:
••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.
••Female - the head or udder must be naturally attached to at least one
quarter of the carcass or to the largest portion of meat.
Big game taken in antler or horn restriction areas: The head or
skull plate, with both horns or both antlers naturally attached,

[Stein]

I would never pack out the head unless I was going to get it mounted.  That's a ton of weight that can be dropped easily.