Question about Found Downed Animals

D

Dewfus

Guest
So, I have a question for you guys. With all the talk of lost bulls/bucks out there, I was wondering the legality of cutting the head off a a dead bull or buck that you didn't shoot and it's clear the shooter hasn't been able to find it. Obviously, it's not very sporting and arguably unethical (I wouldn't do it), but is it legal?
 
In Utah it is UN-ETHICAL/IMMORAL & ILLEGAL!

I love not acting my age,
Damn I love my NASCAR race,
And Hell yes I love my Truck!
 
depends on the state in idaho i believe it is legal after a certain time frame but wyoming you can't even pick up a dead head without obtaining a tag from game&fish
 
>In Utah it is UN-ETHICAL/IMMORAL &
>ILLEGAL!
>
>
>I love not acting my age,
>
>Damn I love my NASCAR race,
>
>And Hell yes I love my
>Truck!

Hey bess, being un-ethical,immoral, and illegal just makes it alright to do here in Utah!

Traditional only >>>------->
 
I know in NM it's not(even if it's a skull with antlers/horns).

The only way,is if you report it and for you to keep it you would have to put your tag on it.

Hope this helps.

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you think their right"

-Joe E Sikora
 
Cost me $400.00 and 6 months probation in Oregon. For an elk that had hung in my garage for 15 months. (you read that right..found a dead elk, cleaned it up, hung it in my garage, 15 months go by, OSP find out, and I get the above fines.)
 
Long,that sucks.When you say cleaned him up and hung in garage are you speaking of a euro mount?


Thanks Joe.

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you think their right"

-Joe E Sikora
 
If you find one in Utah, it is illegal to even touch it or move it because it is a potential crime scene. But if you report it to the DWR, take an officer to the kill site and let them investigate it, you can petition to have them give you the head. Depending on the situation, there is a possibility that you could then legally keep it. But if there is the least bit of evidence that there was foul play, you can forget it. The head becomes evidence.
The thinking is this keeps poachers from killing, hiding and retrieving later.
 
That actually makes sense to me. I haven't found anything so far this year, but was just curious in case I did.

What about roadkill? I've come across bucks that have been hit and are laying dead on the side of the road that have had their antlers cut off (don't recall seeing a head cut all the way off though).
 
Joe, yes, cleaned the bird dung off the antlers and did a euro on it. It was about 3 1/2 weeks old (dead) when I found it. 2 miles from where the guys that wounded it, shot it.
It was worth more then the $50.00 dollars finders fee they wanted to give me, so I wouldn't give it (to the guys that shot it.) So they turned me in thinking they would get it. WRONG. State confiscated it. Now, every time I see crows I think of those 2 douche bags.
 
Hek no you shouldnt cut his head off.You should spread the word and help some guy or gal find there wounded elk they have waited so long for.I wounded a bull on sept 15 and posted sighns on all trail heads and on oct 5 i posted on here mm and was called 2 hours later and was told exactly where my bull was.I was stoked after over 2 weeks and still keep hoping and my wish was granted even to find a piece of my arrow in his body to confirm it even more that it was mine..SO i think to all of you who would cut there heads off and take them,think about if someone else is doing the same thing to you in the future.Karma can be good but also can be a #####!!
 
+1 elknr

Someone elses antlers are NOT worth that much to me. They are of GREAT value to them.

My 2 cents

Zeke
 
Just adding a little more for you!! Idaho has the same laws as some of the previously mentioned. You must contact IDF&G for any antlers attached to a skull before you can haul them out. They may or may not come investigate, but that is up to their discresion. As far as I know, they are pretty good about letting you buy a salvage tag, as long as no foul play is suspected. Sadly, however, this doesn't deter too many from taking them illegally anyway!! Unfortunately, I have never seen a Fish & Game agent in the field in my life. Too bad everyone's not totally honest.
 
> It was worth more
>then the $50.00 dollars finders
>fee they wanted to give
>me, so I wouldn't give
>it (to the guys that
>shot it.)

Guess you should have done the right thing and just gave it to them...that's karma for ya.
 
Sounds Like them not getting it either was KARMA, they should of paid me for the cost of a really NICE European mount. Whats that worth these days? They offered me 50 bucks for something they would of never ever found are you kidding me? Karmas right! Not once did they feel bad about shooting a large bull in chest with an arrow, and letting all that meat waste. Oh I keep forgetting Birds gots to eats too! Just what was the bigger crime here? Them taking a Horrible shot on an animal and wounding it, to die later (which went 2 miles from where they shot it in rough country) or me finding an dead animal, and hanging it in my garage? Hopefully they will learn what shot on an elk not to take, and how to track wounded animals.
Doubt it though...................................
 
I wounded an animal the last morning of a hunt, searched until dark and contacted the DWR which is a pain since they are closed on Fridays. Finally a Field Agent called me and explained that I could not carry a weapon to dispatch a dieing animal. And if I discovered the carcass, since my hunt was now over I needed to have him investigate and upon approval from the area office I COULD have the amimal dontated to me by the State. Better to be Honest and find out the rules than loose the right to hunt. Great Question!
 
fullofbull;
Great story.It's a scenario I never thought of.

What does happen in other states when your hunting last day and can't find your wounded animal and your season ends the next day?

What state were you hunting?
I'm going to pose that very question to NMG&F and see what they say.I'll post any answers I get.

Thanks for sharing.

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you think their right"

-Joe E Sikora
 
In Arizona the antlers need to be bleached out like they would be on sheds. You can keep it then but I would still call game and fish to let them know just to be on the safe side.
 

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