Packing out your animal legaly?

[Steve G]

I am a backpack hunter. Whether I am solo or with a partner we will have to make several trips to pack out an animal.

So lets assume that I and my partner pack out a portion of the animal on trip number one which has the tag attached, put it on ice in camp and are stopped and checked by a warden during the second trip carrying out meat and no tag. Lets further assume we are 2 miles from camp where the tag is appropriately attached to the appropriate part of the animals anatomy. What should I expect to happen? Has this happened to anybody on this board? What was your experience?

Thanks.

[ishy]

Never seen an officer off road anywhere I hunt. Think tag goes with the biggest piece of meat though, double check your regs where you hunt. I would think if he was set on checking you (some fish and game officers operate on a guilty until proven innocent mindset) he better be willing to hike the two miles to check or he wouldn't have a case.

[Swede]

Certainly one tag can not be in two places at one time. I have never heard of any trouble on that point. Just make sure the tag is with some of the meat, and is dated for time of kill.

[under H2O hunter]

I have been checked while packing out an animal. All they did was make sure I had a tag which they did that through through their radio and my drivers license. They never wanted to see the whole animal. I made sure that I had evidence of sex on at least one of the hind quarters and I had my tag attached to the head.

[Indian Summer]

Truthfully... you stand a better chance of winning the Powerball or getting hit by lightning, twice, than see a conservation officer off of the road. Just make sure the tag is filled out prior to moving anything and take it out with the first load and you'll be fine.

[Steve G]

Thanks guys.

Perhaps I'm just a bit jaded as a result of being a California fisherman and hunter where attitudes of the wardens are increasingly aggresive towards those of us who partake (Not all wardens but an increasing percentag).

Glad to hear that all of your experiences have been positive.

[planebow]

I would check with the state regs. In Montana the tag remains with the largest portion of meat and in some states the tag has to go on the horns.

[Lefty]

Ive always taken the tag out with the first portion of meat.
Ive heard horror stories of others taking heads and full carcasses of deer, Take a pictures at the location and camp of your kill with the notched tag
I havent done this with an elk tag. But I do make copies of my license, keep one in my truck another in my boat/ or ATV or blind bag
i print it on colored paper so it wont pass as even a lame attempt as a copy.
Ive run into some Fed Fish and wildlife guys a long ways from the truck.

[ferris bugler]

I think the rules differ by state.

[Indian Summer]

In Montana tag goes on a quarter... not with the head/horns.

[Wyo67]

Wyoming regulations: "If the coupon is removed for transportation of the carcass or hide, it must be completely filled out and in the possession of the person accompanying the carcass or hide at all times. While quarter or pieces of an animal are being packed from the field, the carcass coupon shall remain with the person transporting the animal."

So we fill out and punch the tag and keep it with us while packing out. Once we're in camp, we attach it to the game bag with the proof of sex or the antlers.

[Rangerz]

Call a Warden in the State in question and ask them. In Nevada they are very helpful and want to help you avoid violations

[twinkieman]

Usually we pack the whole elk out (mules), so tag is not an issue. When we have packed on our backs, tag stays with meat, never had a problem. This is a good thread, makes us all think about checking the regs in the state we are hunting in.

[Gselkhunter]

Steve in CO the carcuss tag is to be attached to the first quarter to come out, which also has to have sex organ for identification. After that you carry the rest of the license proving you have one. Seeing that the license is dettached the officer most likely will follow you back to your camp to see that the first piece is indeed taged correctly then say good bye and congratulations.

[dtrkyman]

I would fill it out, notch it or whatever is required and keep it in my pack so it is with me until I am finished packing!