Transporting head and cape out of Montana

[pbg]

Since Montana has lifted restriction's on transporting Deer, Elk and Moose carcasses from CWD areas in the state dose that mean you can take your head and cape out of the state to your taxidermist ? I would think that you couldn't. I hunt in a area that has not had any CWD case's and I take my heads to a local Taxidermist to remove the cape from the head to be sure that I'm not bringing anything back to Washington and I plan to do the same this year if I find that Booner but just curious if anyone know's if you can bring the head out now. 

[vandeman17]

https://www.mtpr.org/post/cwd-transport-rules-changed-ahead-hunting-season

[92xj]

If you plan to hunt deer, elk, or moose in the following states or provinces, there are rules (WAC 220-413-030) regulating how you can bring your meat and trophies home:

Arkansas
Colorado
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Alberta, Canada
Saskatchewan, Canada
Extensive information regarding all aspects of CWD can be found at the CWD Alliance website, including a comprehensive FAQ and list of CWD Regulations by State and Province.

To reduce the risk of spreading CWD, If you harvest deer, elk, or moose in these states or provinces only the following items may be imported to Washington:

Meat that has been de-boned in the state or province where it was harvested and is imported as boned-out meat.
Skulls and antlers, antlers attached to the skull plate, or upper canine teeth (bugler, whistlers, ivories) from which all soft tissue has been removed.
Hides or capes without heads attached.
Tissue imported for use by a diagnostic or research laboratory.
Finished taxidermy mounts.
Violation of this rule is a gross misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine or one year in jail (RCW 77.15.290).

[syoungs]

Good info. There has to be tons of people ignorant to the rules about this. Ive been there.

[dilleytech]

I always wondered about like bone in shanks or ribs. I guess it’s technically illegal depending on how you label it lol. But the bones are being cooked so obviously there’s no real concern. Bummer of a law for us bone stock lovers.

[Skyvalhunter]

Does that mean no European mounts to be done here in WA when shot in say MT? So if you want a European mount on an animal shot in MT the taxidermy work or you do it has to be done there?

[HillHound]

Correct. We just bring the burner, pot, and pressure washer and do them in the parking lot of the motel we stay at. We do have pretty understanding hosts in the little one horse town we stay in

[Stein]

I always wondered about like bone in shanks or ribs. I guess it’s technically illegal depending on how you label it lol. But the bones are being cooked so obviously there’s no real concern. Bummer of a law for us bone stock lovers.

You can't legally bring any bones back except a clean skull plate.  You also can't kill CWD by boiling it which is the reason for the rule.  It does suck but it would suck worse to be the guy who introduced CWD into WA.

I'm in the same boat, I get the testing done in MT but don't know the results for 5-6 weeks.  I bone everything out which makes some cuts impossible as well as generally a worse end product and no marrow or stock bones, but it's what we need to do now.

[screedler]

I always wondered about like bone in shanks or ribs. I guess it’s technically illegal depending on how you label it lol. But the bones are being cooked so obviously there’s no real concern. Bummer of a law for us bone stock lovers.

But is it legal to make the broth in Montana and transport precooked wild game bone broth across state lines? Freeze it up and bring home coolers full at a time

[Stein]

Technically you could, but then it creates a problem if you find out in 5-6 weeks (or never) that your deer was infected.  The best advice I read was to not cut any bones, use gloves, etc.

[dilleytech]

Technically you could, but then it creates a problem if you find out in 5-6 weeks (or never) that your deer was infected.  The best advice I read was to not cut any bones, use gloves, etc.

If it tested positive I would certainly still eat it. Wonder what the odds are of cooked bones buried in the dump is of spreading CWD seems pretty unlikely. Way more likely that a skull gets stolen by a dog and drug into the woods or something.