how to prove a stolen animal is yours

[YoterHunter]

i read this in a magazine years ago.if you shoot animal.and have to leave it after you tag and prepair it. take a coin and make a small cut some where on the head.put the coin in the cut.if some one trid to claim your animal while you were gone .dont argue call a sheriff or gammy. when they ask how can you prove it tell them there is a coin in its head .that will pretty much prove you were at the animal befor they were. this happend in montana years ago .two guys went to jail and the lady got here elk back. thought this was a pretty smart idea.

[gonehuntin68]

never had an animal stolen and now i never will

[YoterHunter]

its a great idea if you have kids .and had leave the kid there while you go to get your rigg or what ever.

[gasman]

I herd about cutting the tounge off and keeping it to match teh carcus.

[Bunny Thumper]

How about just cutting a notch out of the tongue instead of packing the whole tongue around.

[rosscrazyelk]

Make small fortune cookie size paper with a saying on it. or your name and hide it in the ear.

[sisu]

    moose tongue, caribou tongue 

[fair-chase]

I carry a small set of leather punch pliers that are similar to a paper hole punch. Works well for a multi use tool. Punches my tags neatly; emergency boot, belt, tent repair; and if I am forced to leave an animal I make a series or pattern of holes in an inconspicuous area of either the hide, ears, tongue, cheeks, etc.

[Gringo31]

Am I the only one that finds this thread depressing?

[DOUBLELUNG]

Am I the only one that finds this thread depressing?

No, but it is reality.  A very good game warden I had the privilege to work with in the 90s carried Mercury dimes in his pocket.  All the local taxis knew to call him if they found a Mercury dime - and did.  (That's the kind of cooperation that cannot be compelled, requires the respect of your local community to work.)  Those dimes made a lot of good cases, on the kind of hardcore a-holes who shoot and leave big critters on the winter ranges.

[DOUBLELUNG]

We also had a unique mark for the critters we dumped, so a coworker would know it was not a poached critter.

[GreatWhiteHunter]

Sad when these types of measures have to be taken. Right up there with theft in the woods. Trail cams, salt licks, supplies, wood, etc. Who would steal something like that? Worthless punks. A friend of mine watched a guy shoot his elk after it was already down at point blank range and claim it was him. Almost turned into a gun fight.

[ORCA_SIX]

What I do is strategically place a grenade underneath (so I can disarm it) my animal if I have to go, with the pin out and leave a note not to touch it. So when they drag it or move it, it goes BOOM.  Then no one has to worry about it or the people who tried to steal it. It is called WINNING!! LOL

But, seriously I have only had to leave an animal twice. Luckily it was several miles back and pretty inaccessible. I worried more about Bears, etc. than humans. It is definitely something to think about though. Some people have no class. I like the idea of the tongue, the penny, and punch pliers. Maybe even take the eyeball out. But maybe you want to keep your mark hidden so they wont notice. At the end of the day though, what are you willing to do to get it back and is it worth it?  Especially if you have a tough time getting a game cop out to your location.

[HntnFsh]

Ive marked my animals a few different ways.

Only had 1 guy threaten to steal an elk from me.And he was notoious for that kind of crap.

He backed off when I told him that if anybody ever tried to steal an animal from me their body would be found laying next to the gutpile!

I know an animal isnt worth that.And i wouldnt do it or recomend it.But he headed the message.

[Fish4Fun]

I herd about cutting the tounge off and keeping it to match the carcus.

Funny you bring up the tounge, years ago when I was 15 or 16 I dumped a bull about 1/2 mile from camp. It was right at the end of the road we were camped on. With plenty of guys around and me needing help, I pulled the tounge out and cut it off then closed the mouth and went for help. My old man was peeved that I left the bull, then I pulled the tounge out of my pocket. He dang near crapped himself, I said let them explain how I have the tounge and they have the animal.     got back to the bull and my Old Man ended up knowing the guys and they helped us get it to the truck and loaded.