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Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: andersonjk4 on July 16, 2013, 02:26:51 PM


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Title: Modifying a set of antlers.... legal?
Post by: andersonjk4 on July 16, 2013, 02:26:51 PM
I was thinking about taking an old set of white tail antlers from a buck my uncle shot (he passed a while back) and making a set of rattling antlers out of them.  To do this would mean cutting the antlers off of the skull plate.  I have scoured the WAC's and RCW's and the hunting regulations and can't find anywhere where it is illegal.  I know for proof of sex the antlers need to be attached to a skull plate, but this animal has long been consumed so that's not an issue.  I know that having a set of sawn antlers might look bad, but from what I can tell its not illegal as long as the deer was legally taken.  Anybody ever ran into this? 

And I know I could just use a set of sheds for this, but I want to use this set of antlers for two reasons.  The first, and most important, is to have them with me as a reminder of past hunting trips with my uncle and to have a little piece of him with me while I'm out there hunting.  And the other is this is a good set for the purpose.  Its a mature 3x3 with fairly good mass but not a big frame so they will pack easier but still have the sound of big mature bucks.     
Title: Re: Modifying a set of antlers.... legal?
Post by: BULLBLASTER on July 16, 2013, 02:30:46 PM
I can't see that as illegal. I have numerous antlers around that are sawed off.the skull plate. You own it so you can do what you want with it! Rattle em in!
Title: Re: Modifying a set of antlers.... legal?
Post by: huntnnw on July 16, 2013, 02:31:20 PM
Nothing illegal .. Chop them into a thousand pieces if you want. Those laws are for transporting of your currently harvested buck or bull from woods to home
Title: Re: Modifying a set of antlers.... legal?
Post by: Jonathan_S on July 16, 2013, 03:50:42 PM
I doubt anyone would give any guff  :twocents:

I think his biggest worry is that it would look like he took it off a dead-head.
Title: Re: Modifying a set of antlers.... legal?
Post by: Old Man Yager on July 20, 2013, 01:36:33 PM
Cut em
Title: Re: Modifying a set of antlers.... legal?
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on July 21, 2013, 10:20:27 AM
Your fine to do that......I had a warden waiting at my rig for me last year for that very reason....I had a set of 3 pt blacktail antlers in my truck and were partially covered and wanted to know what they were from and I pulled them out to show him they were from 2 years prior and were for rattling, they were tied together also and that was that...we ended up bs'n for 20 min and we went on our way
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