Gutless method for deer and elk. Anyone know for sure if it's legal?

[DoubleJ]

This is still a pretty big gray area for me.  I have asked WDFW and gotten no answer.  Does anyone know for 110% certanty that this is a legal practice in Washington?

[boneaddict]

I'm not sure if peeing behind a pine tree in the woods is legal or not.  I'm sure some would say its indecent exposure or a health hazard, while others wouldn't even bat an eye.


I don't see why not if you get most of the meat.  I don't like the method for the accute lack thereof of tenderloins/tender nuggets.

Some wouldn't strip the rib meat like they should.

[NWBREW]

I wouldn't know why not.   As long as you take all the meat possible with proof of sex (OF THE ANIMAL THAT IS   ) attached in some way I would think it was legal.

[jackelope]

I don't think it's an issue of whether the actual practice is legal...I think it comes more of an issue of wasting meat. Get as much meat as possible, don't do a sloppy job of it and you should be good to go. It's the meat wasting that will get you in trouble.
I personally would take the rib meat and the neck meat(all 1 piece with the cape and head).

[bobcat]

Boning a deer in the field is no different than boning it out at home. You have to do it at one time or another. I will get the same amount of meat off it either way. It's definitely legal. Otherwise, how do people get their deer out of the woods? Of course there are different degrees of boning out a deer. I don't usually bone out a deer completely. But I will break it down into the two hind quarters, the shoulders, the back strap, and whatever meat I can get off the ribs and the neck (which isn't much.) So I leave the rib cage, the backbone, the neck, and the head in the woods. I prefer to leave the bone in the hind quarters, and the shoulders. With an elk I would be much more likely to completely bone in out in the field, especially if I have to pack it uphill.

Either way, it doesn't matter, it's legal any way you do it, as long as you leave evidence of sex attached to a portion of the meat.

[washingtonmuley]

I'm not sure if peeing behind a pine tree in the woods is legal or not.  I'm sure some would say its indecent exposure or a health hazard, while others wouldn't even bat an eye.


I don't see why not if you get most of the meat.  I don't like the method for the accute lack thereof of tenderloins/tender nuggets.

Some wouldn't strip the rib meat like they should.

Bone,
You can reach in between the ribs and remove the tenderloins. I have done this on several animals in alaska when boning out animals were your only choice and the gutless method being the best in my opinion.

[ridgefire]

thats all we do now is the gutless method. anyone that says you waste any meat doing it this way has probably never done it or didnt want all the meat. there is no difference in getting the meat off a elk or deer whether it has its guts in it or it doesnt, you can still get all the rib meat and the tenderloins as well as all the other meat.

[bigtex]

I don't think it's an issue of whether the actual practice is legal...I think it comes more of an issue of wasting meat. Get as much meat as possible, don't do a sloppy job of it and you should be good to go. It's the meat wasting that will get you in trouble.
I personally would take the rib meat and the neck meat(all 1 piece with the cape and head).

 

[DoubleJ]

Just didn't know if I ran into a game warden and he asked "What's in the bags?" and I showed him if I'd get into trouble.  I've had guides telling me I couldn't do this because of legal reasons and that I had to gut and drag or at least gut, quarter, and drag.

[couesbitten]

Haven't gutted an animal in about 10 or 12 years, never lost a tenderloin, and never once had anyone question my method (course I've never seen the Warden either). The only meat that gets left behind is the blood shot stuff.

[Elknut1]

 Gutless is 100% legal, the only step eliminated is the "gutting" there is no meat loss! Everything else that one would do to break down a critter is exactly the same!

  ElkNut1

[ICEMAN]

Gutless Method:

Wouldn't leaving the heart and liver be considered wasteage?

It is in my book. 

[PA BEN]

So, if the head isn't attached to the largest portion of meat then the pecker or nuts. Those are the first to go to get them away from the meat.

. Transporting Wildlife:
You must transport any big game animal with
the proper tag attached. The properly validated
tag must remain with the meat until it is eaten
(including cold storage).
If quartered, the tag should remain with the carcass
or largest portion of the carcass. If you need to
take the head to a taxidermist and the meat to
be processed, you can complete a taxidermy
ledger or invoice, providing information outlined
under "Possession and Use of Wildlife" for the
taxidermist, and keep the tag with the meat at the
processor.
The tag should remain attached to the hide of a
bear or cougar until it is tanned.
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.

[Elknut1]

 No, heart & liver are organs & not needed to meet requirements. Personally I am not fond of organs! (grin) On top of that you do not need to gut an animal to retrieve either one!

  ElkNut1

[PA BEN]

I just watched that video and in my opinion there is to much meat left behind. Not illegal, just a lot of burger meat left. Also, if you want to cape your elk you need to make different cuts on the hide.