Elk Drops? Sheds?

justaMAINEguy · Nov 9, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Nov-10-09 AT 00:34AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Nov-10-09 AT 00:33?AM (MST)

Hi first time poster, long time reader.

This year my father and I had cow elk tags for unit 31 in the great state of Wyoming. We were both successful and hope to be back again real soon! My question is it legal to pick up elk drop horns? We were hiking in a canyon that was thick with juniper and sage trees. We found close to 20 to 25 elk antlers in about an hour. My father said it was illegal to pick them up but I disagreed. So can someone answer this question for us? We couldn't find it in the elk regulations that are attached to the elk map.

It sure would of been nice to bring an elk shed back to Maine to remember the trip by!

-Tom

I tried to upload a picture of the biggest shed we foudn but can't figure it out. It has 8 points and had the best color of them all!

REDDOG · Nov 9, 2009

Your father was correct. you should send me gps coordinates to that area and I will make sure the Wyoming G&F are aware of them;-)

really, you could have taken as many as you could have carried. Dead heads are the only thing restricted to pick up. ( unless you are in a national park)

justaMAINEguy · Nov 10, 2009

Oh man I wish i would of brought them out. Maybe in 2011 we will find some more! Thanks!

Abomb · Nov 10, 2009

>Your father was correct. you should
>send me gps coordinates to
>that area and I will
>make sure the Wyoming G&F
>are aware of them;-)
>
> really, you could have taken
>as many as you could
>have carried. Dead heads are
>the only thing restricted to
>pick up. ( unless you
>are in a national park)
>

You are allowed to retrieve "dead heads" or winter kills.

Cannon · Nov 10, 2009

I think he means,
You can NOT pickup anything in a National Park.
Not even a rock or pick a flower!

On public ground you can pickup sheds but NOT dead heads/winter kills (antlers attached to skull)

I'd like to know if you can pickup winter kills on private land?

CANNON

REDDOG · Nov 10, 2009

I did mean dead heads on the public too. I was unaware of Wyomoing laws on them. some states don't allow it. best thing to do is check the regs in the state your in, they can vary...except for the NP's, not even a flower, lol!

Abomb · Nov 10, 2009

Cannon:
You can pick up winter kills in WY, you just need to take them to a GFD office and get them tagged. I lived in WY and used to horn hunt extensively in the spring. I still have friends who take all spring off to shed hunt out of Cody, WY.

Cannon · Nov 11, 2009

Abomb,
I only know that years ago I had a dead head (Elk) from Colo private property and a few dead Elk in the back of my pickup. We stopped in Monticello, Utah for breakfast, and when we came out of the restaurant the local F&G was in our truck and had some of our stuff out on the sidewalk. (pissed me off) He could have came in the restaurant and ask who's truck it was? anyways he was an A$$!! when it was all said and done he tried to give me a ticket for the dead head, at the time I'd never heard of such BS. He radio in and next thing I know he comes back and said have a nice day, and left! Our stuff was scattered all over the sidewalk. No sirens, no sorry, just left??

It was a Colo Elk hunt and I think it was Deer season in Utah. I have been going thru there for 30 years and that was the only time I ever had any problems with any F&G and it was not a problem in the end just a bad way to come out of the restaurant and find some jacka$$ in the back of your truck with some of your stuff out on the side walk, when he had to know we were in the restaurant??

I don't know what changed his mind or attitude but we loaded up and got the hell out of Monticello!LOL

CANNON

scottr · Nov 11, 2009

In New Mexico you can't pick up dead heads of any game animal. However, I have spoken to a couple G&F officers and they said you can go to an office to get a carry permit which will allow you to take the head.