Regulations clarification

[Mulie87]

From how I read they big game regs, to bring a deer head into Washington from out of state (Montana) i have to cape the head and remove brain and eyeballs. Is this correct?

 I’m going to Montana this weekend for deer hunting and if I want to bring the head and keep backing to Washington for Taxidermy reasons I want to make sure I’m doing it right and not get refused at the taxidermist.

[MerriamMagician]

I faced a similar problem going to hunt Colorado last week. Its all part of the CWD containment process. I ended up not taking a buck large enough to take to the taxidermist. But it does seem to be a pain to have to deal with all of that if you shot a wall hanger and wanted to export it home for a shoulder mount.

[vandeman17]

I might be wrong but I believe it is location dependent as far as requirements to bring back into the state

[Bob33]

A deer from Montana is subject to these requirements: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=220-413-030

"Soft tissue" would include the brain and eyes. The cape must be detached from the head.


Importation and retention of dead nonresident wildlife.

(1) It is unlawful:

(a) To import or possess dead wildlife, taken in another state or country, into Washington unless such wildlife was acquired lawfully. Proof of legal acquisition must be retained during the period of retention of the carcass or edible parts.

(b) For a person who imports a dead bighorn sheep, mountain goat, cougar or bear to fail to report such importation to the department in writing within ten days of the importation. The report must contain the name and address of the importer, the location where the dead wildlife is being stored, and general information describing where and how the wildlife was obtained.

(c) To import or possess deer, elk, or moose, or parts thereof, harvested in Pennsylvania, Texas, Missouri, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Illinois, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, New York, West Virginia, Virginia, North Dakota, Alberta, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Mississippi, Iowa, Arkansas, Michigan, Saskatchewan, and Tennessee with the following exceptions:

(i) Meat that has been deboned in the state or province where it was harvested and is imported as boned-out meat;

(ii) Skulls and antlers, antlers attached to the skull plate, or upper canine teeth (buglers, whistlers, ivories) from which all soft tissue has been removed;

(iii) Hides or capes without heads attached;

(iv) Tissue imported for use by a diagnostic or research laboratory; and

(v) Finished taxidermy mounts.

(2) Violation of subsection (1) of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.290 Unlawful transportation of fish or wildlife—Penalty.

(3) It is unlawful for an importer or receiver of deer or elk to fail to notify the department within twenty-four hours if a state or province alerts the importer or receiver that a harvested animal has tested positive for chronic wasting disease. Violation of this subsection is an infraction punishable under RCW 77.15.160 Infractions.

[Mtnwalker]

Just skin out the head and skull cap it before you come back. That’s what we did. I guess if you wanted to do a Euro then it would be a bit of a pain

[vandeman17]

So is this saying if you drag your deer out and gut out you could bring whole carcass home?

(iii) Hides or capes without heads attached;

[BULLBLASTER]

Just skin the head off and clean the skull before you head home. Takes a hour or 2 tops

Our not supposed to bring the whole carcass home. Has to be boned out meat, clean skull and skin. All separate.

[MerriamMagician]

Just skin out the head and skull cap it before you come back. That’s what we did. I guess if you wanted to do a Euro then it would be a bit of a pain

The problem with this approach if taking your animal to a taxidermist is that many taxidermists would prefer to skin out the head themselves based on methods they are used to. Its a bit of a tricky process that your average hunter is not going to be an expert on, myself included. The last thing I would want to do is ruin the face of a cape if it was a real nice animal that I intended to have mounted.

[BULLBLASTER]

Just skin out the head and skull cap it before you come back. That’s what we did. I guess if you wanted to do a Euro then it would be a bit of a pain

The problem with this approach if taking your animal to a taxidermist is that many taxidermists would prefer to skin out the head themselves based on methods they are used to. Its a bit of a tricky process that your average hunter is not going to be an expert on, myself included. The last thing I would want to do is ruin the face of a cape if it was a real nice animal that I intended to have mounted.

It’s really not hard to cape a head for a shoulder mount. Just go slow and make sure you keep all the correct items on the skin. Maybe look into a local taxidermist if you intend to have it caped and aren’t comfortable doing it yourself.

[vandeman17]

Just skin the head off and clean the skull before you head home. Takes a hour or 2 tops

Our not supposed to bring the whole carcass home. Has to be boned out meat, clean skull and skin. All separate.

I am curious how many people adhere to this, let alone know its a law

[BULLBLASTER]

Just skin the head off and clean the skull before you head home. Takes a hour or 2 tops

Our not supposed to bring the whole carcass home. Has to be boned out meat, clean skull and skin. All separate.

I am curious how many people adhere to this, let alone know its a law

No idea. Any buck I’ve killed in a cwd state has always come off the mtn as boned out meat. Caped the head at camp and either cleaned the skull or skull capped.

[Bob33]

Just skin the head off and clean the skull before you head home. Takes a hour or 2 tops

Our not supposed to bring the whole carcass home. Has to be boned out meat, clean skull and skin. All separate.

I am curious how many people adhere to this, let alone know its a law

Good question, but I suspect there is little leniency if caught.

[vandeman17]

so its new for 2019?

[BULLBLASTER]

You should also think about any states you are traveling through as well. They may have differing laws, though I think wa is more detailed than Idaho for example.

[baseballnut]

I took a nice buck in Montana last year and didn't feel comfortable caping it out myself. we found a taxidermist in post falls Idaho and took our bucks there. beats driving back to eastern, mt.

[BULLBLASTER]

I took a nice buck in Montana last year and didn't feel comfortable caping it out myself. we found a taxidermist in post falls Idaho and took our bucks there. beats driving back to eastern, mt.

Idaho has cwd rules about what can be brought in as well.

[Bob33]

so its new for 2019?

Montana was added to the list of states in November 2017.

[vandeman17]

so its new for 2019?

Montana was added to the list of states in November 2017.

Gotcha. For some reason I could have sworn I read it was just eastern montana

[Mulie87]

Ok, I read them right then. Well I guess i’m gonna learn to cape a head and get the brain out if I shoot a wall hanger. Thanks for all the advice.

In past years in Montana I haven’t shot a wall hanger and just skull capped it. In 2016 this wasn’t a rule and didn’t have to worry about it.

I’ll go slow and try not to eff up the face. Of so, it’ll be a European.

[h2ofowlr]

Bring a crab cooker and pot.  45 mins and it will be all boiled.   Stop by the car wash and pressure wash it clean after boiling.

[Mulie87]

Great Youtube video on skinning a head.

[Mulie87]

[vandeman17]

If we bone out and take antlers off skull plate, do we still need to leave evidence of sex?

[sagerat]

I would, it’s really not that difficult