Transport after the kill

[sneakyjake]

I think we covered this last year, but I couldn't find it.  Wardens were setting up road blocks and checking birds by Colville last year.  I called around and got different answers.  I think the final say was that you just have to leave a gobblers head attached to the bird.  Even if it is skinned out with the legs tossed and no beard.  Any takers?

[BPturkeys]

No no no, the beard is the key! Leave it attached to the largest chunk of meat and you'll be good to go. NEVER remove the beard until you're safe at home. I do not think the head is proof of sex at all..legally speaking that is.

[wastickslinger]

Leave the beard. Especially if you shoot a bearded hen.

[turkey slayer]

Leave the head and beard attach and if you can leave the feet with spurs on also until you get home.

[sneakyjake]

All right, no more guessing, I want it in writing.  My computer crashed so I lost my data from last year. I had a friend get a ticket for this.  We called, wrote and complained to everyone we could.  We were pointed to

3. Evidence of Animal's Sex:  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 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, must accompany the carcass while in transit or in possession. The feathered heads of game birds must be attached to the carcass when they are in your possession in the field or are being transported.

The comical thing is we all suggested they put it in the turkey regs.  Did they?  I think not.

[wastickslinger]

I have one.

What if you camp for a week. You shoot a few birds early in the week and want to process them. Does transport mean just to camp or could they get me from camp to home at the end of my week. If I ever get stopped leaving camp they will only see precessed turkey's in a cooler, cut off beards and spread out fans on cardboard. They cant expect me to leave evidence of sex or bear on it for 5-6 days can they?

[MtnMuley]

Common sense plays a big role to me.  If I'm camped for a few days and harvest a bird on the first day, I will process it and leave it in the cooler and have the fan, wings, legs, and beard (trimmed up and ready for the wall) in another bag in the cooler.  I'll play the odds that the game warden will see that I'm a serious, legal hunter that takes care of his animals.  I will explain my situation and let him decide from there.  All the wardens I know are good people and like honesty.  If he chooses to write me a ticket, so be it. I doubt it will happen or have a chance of sticking in court.    

[wastickslinger]

Common sense plays a big role to me.  If I'm camped for a few days and harvest a bird on the first day, I will process it and leave it in the cooler and have the fan, wings, legs, and beard (trimmed up and ready for the wall) in another bag in the cooler.  I'll play the odds that the game warden will see that I'm a serious, legal hunter that takes care of his animals.  I will explain my situation and let him decide from there.  All the wardens I know are good people and like honesty.  If he chooses to write me a ticket, so be it. I doubt it will happen or have a chance of sticking in court.    

I agree. I doubt it will happen either. But I have heard of some pretty stupid tickets written in this state. I will continue to do it but I just wanted to know my leagal responsibilty for transport.

Stupid ticket example- two of my buddies were pheasant hunting near pullman on private property. They were parked on the edge of wheat stubble. Came back to the truck for lunch. Leaned the guns againt the front tire. Warden stopped to visit. The warden was walking by the guns and they said carefull that gun is loaded, as a safety precaution. They got cited for loaded weapons in a vehicle.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Stupid ticket example- two of my buddies were pheasant hunting near pullman on private property. They were parked on the edge of wheat stubble. Came back to the truck for lunch. Leaned the guns againt the front tire. Warden stopped to visit. The warden was walking by the guns and they said carefull that gun is loaded, as a safety precaution. They got cited for loaded weapons in a vehicle.

Stupid ticket, I agree.
Or was it a ticket for stupidity?
 I mean loaded weapons LEANING on the front tire?
I think they cover that in hunter safety.......

[wastickslinger]

Stupid ticket example- two of my buddies were pheasant hunting near pullman on private property. They were parked on the edge of wheat stubble. Came back to the truck for lunch. Leaned the guns againt the front tire. Warden stopped to visit. The warden was walking by the guns and they said carefull that gun is loaded, as a safety precaution. They got cited for loaded weapons in a vehicle.

Stupid ticket, I agree.
Or was it a ticket for stupidity?
 I mean loaded weapons LEANING on the front tire?
I think they cover that in hunter safety.......

When you stop to take a piss in the woods and lean your gun against a tree do you unload it? How about if you stop for a sandwich on a hike and lean you gun up do you unload it? Just asking.

[Machias]

Stupid ticket example- two of my buddies were pheasant hunting near pullman on private property. They were parked on the edge of wheat stubble. Came back to the truck for lunch. Leaned the guns againt the front tire. Warden stopped to visit. The warden was walking by the guns and they said carefull that gun is loaded, as a safety precaution. They got cited for loaded weapons in a vehicle.

Stupid ticket, I agree.
Or was it a ticket for stupidity?
 I mean loaded weapons LEANING on the front tire?
I think they cover that in hunter safety.......

When you stop to take a piss in the woods and lean your gun against a tree do you unload it? How about if you stop for a sandwich on a hike and lean you gun up do you unload it? Just asking.

No but there is no law against having a loaded gun against a tree but there is against a loaded firearm on your vehicle.  It's spelled out in the regs.  Not a stupid ticket at all, glad they were fined.

Loaded Firearms in a Vehicle
It is illegal to carry, convey, transport, possess,
or control a loaded shotgun or rifle in or on any
motor vehicle. A rifle or shotgun containing shells
or cartridges in either the chamber or magazine, or
a muzzleloading firearm that is loaded and capped
or primed is considered loaded.

Common Violations
To avoid the most common violations:
Have valid and appropriate licenses, tags,
and permits on your person when you hunt.
Don't have a loaded shotgun or rifle in or on
a motor driven vehicle.
Immediately and completely remove the tag
notches that indicate the month and day the
animal was killed.
Immediately attach your appropriate tag to
the animal you've killed.

[wastickslinger]

My bad. I forgot everyone on here knows how to enterpret every law and all are perfect. Makes so much more sense to lean it against the tree 2 feet away or throw it on the ground just to be legal. Never mind what is more safe.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Leaning it against a tree to take a leak is different than leaning it against a vehicle and taking a break for lunch.
I don't know about you, but I sometimes forget about my damn trailer hitch and walk into it, causing great pain and discomfort, and it is ALWAYS there, I just forget about it....
now just imagine all the different scenarios involved by temporarily forgetting that your LOADED rifle/shotgun is leaning against your vehicle...
A little common sense can prevent a lot of accidents and that is what stupid laws like that are for, to protect the idiots and their victims.

[wastickslinger]

The difference is that I NEVER forget my gun is loaded and to me a tire is the same as a tree. 

Sorry for thread jack. No more from me about stupid laws. Back on track about transporting.

Since a few of you know all the laws. Please define transport for me ince that is what the thread is about. It is from the kill to my camp or from my camp to home?

Thanks

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

WAC 232-12-267 No agency filings affecting this section since 2003 
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.
LOOK AT #1 (b)

[Machias]

My bad. I forgot everyone on here knows how to enterpret every law and all are perfect. Makes so much more sense to lean it against the tree 2 feet away or throw it on the ground just to be legal. Never mind what is more safe.

A tire is the same thing as a tree.   

[wastickslinger]

Leaning it against a tree to take a leak is different than leaning it against a vehicle and taking a break for lunch.
I don't know about you, but I sometimes forget about my damn trailer hitch and walk into it, causing great pain and discomfort, and it is ALWAYS there, I just forget about it....
now just imagine all the different scenarios involved by temporarily forgetting that your LOADED rifle/shotgun is leaning against your vehicle...
A little common sense can prevent a lot of accidents and that is what stupid laws like that are for, to protect the idiots and their victims.

You are telling me that you forget that you gun is loaded. hmmm

[wastickslinger]

Stupid ticket example- two of my buddies were pheasant hunting near pullman on private property. They were parked on the edge of wheat stubble. Came back to the truck for lunch. Leaned the guns againt the front tire. Warden stopped to visit. The warden was walking by the guns and they said carefull that gun is loaded, as a safety precaution. They got cited for loaded weapons in a vehicle.

Stupid ticket, I agree.
Or was it a ticket for stupidity?
 I mean loaded weapons LEANING on the front tire?
I think they cover that in hunter safety.......

When you stop to take a piss in the woods and lean your gun against a tree do you unload it? How about if you stop for a sandwich on a hike and lean you gun up do you unload it? Just asking.

No but there is no law against having a loaded gun against a tree but there is against a loaded firearm on your vehicle.  It's spelled out in the regs.  Not a stupid ticket at all, glad they were fined.

Loaded Firearms in a Vehicle
It is illegal to carry, convey, transport, possess,
or control a loaded shotgun or rifle in or on any
motor vehicle. A rifle or shotgun containing shells
or cartridges in either the chamber or magazine, or
a muzzleloading firearm that is loaded and capped
or primed is considered loaded.

Common Violations
To avoid the most common violations:
Have valid and appropriate licenses, tags,
and permits on your person when you hunt.
Don't have a loaded shotgun or rifle in or on
a motor driven vehicle.
Immediately and completely remove the tag
notches that indicate the month and day the
animal was killed.
Immediately attach your appropriate tag to
the animal you've killed.

Funny thing is that the judge ageed that the law is a bit vague. "on or in" as it is defined. Well I guess it should say against as well. Leaned against is a bit grey. Judge threw it out just in case you wondered. Must not be a real clear law if it cnt hold up in court.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Leaning it against a tree to take a leak is different than leaning it against a vehicle and taking a break for lunch.
I don't know about you, but I sometimes forget about my damn trailer hitch and walk into it, causing great pain and discomfort, and it is ALWAYS there, I just forget about it....
now just imagine all the different scenarios involved by temporarily forgetting that your LOADED rifle/shotgun is leaning against your vehicle...
A little common sense can prevent a lot of accidents and that is what stupid laws like that are for, to protect the idiots and their victims.

You are telling me that you forget that you gun is loaded. hmmm

Read the whole sentence...

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I see no reason to debate, or make something out of this conversation that is unnecessary, I will follow safe, and legal practices, you do whatever you want.
But back to topic....
As far as transporting a Wild Turkey Carcase, as long as you have all the parts together, or evidence of a legal bird and you are not a smart/dumb-ass with a WDFW enforcement officer you should not be hassled.

[jackelope]

should I clean this mess up?

[wastickslinger]

WAC 232-12-267 No agency filings affecting this section since 2003 
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.

So then plucked and in the cooler at camp is stored for consumption. I dont have to leave the head or beard attached for the ride home later in the week?  I have never been stopped but it is nice to know the law for when you do get stopped.

[sneakyjake]

I'm pretty sure they don't consider that stored for consumption.  If you look like you are driving home from hunting, you are still transporting.  I don't think we can pick and choose which regs to follow based on being polite to a warden.  We did get tickets, they did contest them, still got fined,,,,and they  were polite.  I even asked the commis if that meant I had to have a feathered bird head after a week, he said yes. 


This thread is meant to also educate new turkey hunters and keep children from getting tickets.  I think we have all seen it in print.(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.

Choose to follow it or not, but they do issue tickets for it. 

[wastickslinger]

They expect me to leave a feathered head on my turkey in a cooler for a week? That will be tough since I cut out the breast and cut off the legs and wings. I wish we could get a better ruling on this for those who camp for a week.

[woodywsu]

I guess you can always eat it in camp. 

[wastickslinger]

I guess you can always eat it in camp. 

Take the smoker and smoke 6-8 birds!! Now we are onto something. Muleysniper, forget the rib steaks we are eating turkey this year. 

Seriously though. I am not putting 6 half butchered/flea infested turkeys in my cooler for that long.

[jackelope]

I pluck all mine and leave the beard stuck to the skin still on the bird then into the cooler..
 
not sure how I'd do this if I was breasting them out.

On a semi-related note I was thinking about deep frying one in camp this year for our big saturday night dinner.

[wastickslinger]

I pluck all mine and leave the beard stuck to the skin still on the bird then into the cooler..
 
not sure how I'd do this if I was breasting them out.

On a semi-related note I was thinking about deep frying one in camp this year for our big saturday night dinner.

Do you leave the head on it, feathers and all?

Deep fried turkey is the best.

[yelp]

They expect me to leave a feathered head on my turkey in a cooler for a week? That will be tough since I cut out the breast and cut off the legs and wings. I wish we could get a better ruling on this for those who camp for a week.

I camp for more than a week..I gut Turkey well.removing innards, lungs, crop, etc..I then skin or pluck bird so it can cool leave all meat on carcass. I take ice and put it in a ziplock and stuff it in the cavity.  I put it in a cooler, I leave beard attached, head attached and legs attached with spurs and notched tag. Once carcass cools down I put in kitchen bag and add ice around it in cooler.  I let cooler drip..removing melting water.  I take fan off and separate it keeping it dry and so it doesn't get damaged.  

If it is unseasonably warm I will try and get bird home asap or we will send it home with my wife.  Giving her permission written out to transport my animal to my fridge.  

If weather is cooler it is easy to keep bird cool for more than a week.

There are also butcher shops that may allow you to freeze birds for a fee. YOu can freeze the head attached..but I do recommend skinning or plucking the turkey prior to freezing.  

Game wardens wrote several citations last year for this very thing.  There is game check on Mile/Creston and Hwy 2

[wastickslinger]

They expect me to leave a feathered head on my turkey in a cooler for a week? That will be tough since I cut out the breast and cut off the legs and wings. I wish we could get a better ruling on this for those who camp for a week.

I camp for more than a week..I gut Turkey well.removing innards, lungs, crop, etc..I then skin or pluck bird so it can cool leave all meat on carcass. I take ice and put it in a ziplock and stuff it in the cavity.  I put it in a cooler, I leave beard attached, head attached and legs attached with spurs and notched tag. Once carcass cools down I put in kitchen bag and add ice around it in cooler.  I let cooler drip..removing melting water.  I take fan off and separate it keeping it dry and so it doesn't get damaged.  

If it is unseasonably warm I will try and get bird home asap or we will send it home with my wife.  Giving her permission written out to transport my animal to my fridge.  

If weather is cooler it is easy to keep bird cool for more than a week.

There are also butcher shops that may allow you to freeze birds for a fee. YOu can freeze the head attached..but I do recommend skinning or plucking the turkey prior to freezing.  

Game wardens wrote several citations last year for this very thing.  There is game check on Mile/Creston and Hwy 2

Good to know. I guess I wrongly assumed that leaving the feathered head an feet on in a cooler could create a foul taste after a week. I just always wanted it all the way cleaned up. Guess I will leave the head on from now on.

[yelp]

If the head is pretty mangled which most are..I will take plastic grocery sack and wrap head in it to keep it from contaminating anything. 

Consuming your quarry before you head home..may present issues to Game Wardens.  You would have beard, fan, spurs/legs with tag attached as proof of harvest.
 
The eating a bird in camp is an interesting issue.  You show up at a game check with the wishbone with a beard attached? Pictures of the mashed potatoes and corn? LOL

[bow4elk]

The eating a bird in camp is an interesting issue.  You show up at a game check with the wishbone with a beard attached? Pictures of the mashed potatoes and corn? LOL

...and sucking the grease off your fingers...

[sneakyjake]

Just asking, but why do people leave the legs and beard on the turkey if it is not required by law.  The head is proof of sex.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Because the legal bird is defined as having a "visible beard"

[TrkyBob53]

After a very upsetting stop at the miles creston game check a few years ago, I have given this topic a lot of thought.  I was told at that time that you must leave the featherd head attached to the bird.  You have to look in the bird pamphlet to get that info.  But as was said, a legal bird is one with a visible beard. I hate leaving the bloody head on.  If it takes a visible beard to make it legal, then that should be was is left for proof. It was a very valuable lesson learned.  In my case I did know better, just never gave it a thought to leave the head.  Also, if you dont bring ALL the edible parts of the bird home, it is considered wasting of game.  Trust me on that one.  Stupidity on ones part can be costly.

[sneakyjake]

So, to clarify, it is a legal bird if it has a beard.  It probably also has spurs and gobbler's noggin.  The transport rule says to leave the head on.  Not the beard, not the legs.  We have a few stories of people getting tickets for just this.  Have we cleared this up yet? Not trying to be a jerk about this, it shouldn't be difficult, and we shouldn't even have to have this discussion.  Obviously they don't want to clarify it in the turkey regs.

[Tom Tamer]

  If these enforcement guys are interpretting how the law reads then you shouldn't have to leave the head on......Gobbler heads aren't feathered
  yet again if they force the beard to be left on, a legal turkey does not have to have a beard, The rul states: Gobblers or bearded turkeys


Clear as mud


 

[TrkyBob53]

One of the problems as I see it is that you must look at two different hunting pamphlets to figure out how to transport a turkey.  Since it must have a tag, use the big game pamphlet.  Its a bird so use the bird pamphlet.  Yup. Clear as mud.

[sneakyjake]

tru dat

[yelp]

One of the problems as I see it is that you must look at two different hunting pamphlets to figure out how to transport a turkey.  Since it must have a tag, use the big game pamphlet.  Its a bird so use the bird pamphlet.  Yup. Clear as mud.

 I know that game wardens will sometimes use any means to write a citation. I know the main reason for the rule was probably for waterfowl not wild turkey, but because of the generalization of "bird" it gets lumped in.  Waterfowl hunters have specific limits only so many pintails, scaup, canvasback, etc..which is why the feathered heads are necessary.  If you had a choice as far as transportation for Wild Turkeys..What would the requirement be.besides a notched tag.. that a beard and or spur be left attached..During either sex fall seasons..it probably is a mute issues..Breast feathers can be used to identify sex in adult birds, some young birds jakes may have buffed edges to breast feathers..any thoughts?

[ratherhunt]

This is a really helpful thread, I was not sure what to do to be legal now I know, this is a great site Thanks

[TrkyBob53]

I would think that for the spring season, a beard and leag and foot attched would do.  Would make for a cleaner cooler.  Neve gave much thought for the fall season, as it is not my cup of tea.  Other than that I dont have any good ideas.  Others dont need the same misfortune as me.

[Tom Tamer]

One of the problems as I see it is that you must look at two different hunting pamphlets to figure out how to transport a turkey.  Since it must have a tag, use the big game pamphlet.  Its a bird so use the bird pamphlet.  Yup. Clear as mud.

 I know that game wardens will sometimes use any means to write a citation. I know the main reason for the rule was probably for waterfowl not wild turkey, but because of the generalization of "bird" it gets lumped in.  Waterfowl hunters have specific limits only so many pintails, scaup, canvasback, etc..which is why the feathered heads are necessary.  If you had a choice as far as transportation for Wild Turkeys..What would the requirement be.besides a notched tag.. that a beard and or spur be left attached..During either sex fall seasons..it probably is a mute issues..Breast feathers can be used to identify sex in adult birds, some young birds jakes may have buffed edges to breast feathers..any thoughts?

Sounds pretty logical too me.......