Unclear about evidence of sex on processed meat?

punkwood2k · Oct 12, 2017

Clarify something for me please?

Say that we Fill one of our tags, bring it back to camp, and process it.. debone, skin, cut up, into bags into cooler.. But my tag is supposed to be attached to the quarter that has proof of sex.. How do I do this if we butcher the meat at camp, and get stopped at a roadside DOW checkpoint? Am I supposed to leave the quarter with the tag untouched or something?

Brochure and regs are unclear..

HiMtnHntr · Oct 12, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-17 AT 05:04PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-17 AT 05:00?PM (MST)

Leave the beanbag attached naturally to the quarter at the kill site and in transit. That's it. It's easy. Once you process the meat and package ditch the naughty bits unless you want to eat em. While in camp I would keep it attached.

txhunter58 · Oct 12, 2017

"You must attach a carcass tag to animals you kill per instructions on tag. Tags must be immediately signed, dated, detached from the license and attached to the carcass of the animal ? not to detached hides, horns, antlers or carried separately. Tags must stay on until meat is processed and remain with meat until consumed."

"If a carcass is cut in pieces or deboned, evidence of sex needs to be attached to a quarter or another major part of carcass. All portions must be transported together"

Those two regs are pretty clear that you have to keep the proof of sex attached until you do final processing. I am pretty sure you can not "process" the animal fully in camp. That has to be done at a processer or your home.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

txhunter58 · Oct 12, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-17 AT 05:32PM (MST)[p]As an interesting sidenote, in the past, when you packed out an animal, you could detach, sign and cut out the date of your tag and keep it in you pocket until you get all of the meat back to your truck and then attach it to the carcass. Looks like they changed their mind on that.

The above reference says:

"Tags must be immediately signed, dated, detached from the license and ATTACHED TO THE CARCASS of the animal ? not to detached hides, horns, antlers OR CARRIED SEPERATELY"

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

txhunter58 · Oct 12, 2017

Also, nowhere does it say that you have to attach the tag to the meat with the proof of sex, just to a quarter or major portion of the meat.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

coloradoman · Oct 12, 2017

I'm fairly sure (not 100%) but I asked a game warden this a few years ago and he said....if you debone the animal leave the proof of sex naturally attached to a big portion of the hind quarter meat.

Magicman · Oct 12, 2017

It is not difficult to leave a skinned out testicle to a major portion of a hindquarter. Matter of fact I leave one attached to each hind quarter just in case. I attach the carcass tag to one of them and bag it up. I insure that that is the top portion in the cooler so that I can quickly find it if/when I am checked.

punkwood2k · Oct 13, 2017

Thanks for the advice guys!

txhunter58 · Oct 13, 2017

I sent them a question about the carcass tag and where it should be during a pack out and this was the answer I got:

Thank you for contacting Colorado Parks and Wildlife. When you have successfully harvested your animal you must detach the carcass tag, sign, and date it. The first piece of meat you get back to your vehicle or camp should have evidence of sex naturally attached and the carcass tag tied to it. During trips to and from the kill sight you will keep the hunting license on your person till you have retrieved the rest of the meat.

If you have any further questions please use the information below.

Thank you and make today a great day.

Navarre Roybal
Hunt Planner/Communications Center

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

Trevor · Oct 19, 2017

Good to know txhunter. I was wondering about packing out the animal in multiple trips. Sounds like the carcass tag stays with the meat with the evidence of sex and the license can stay with the person for the rest of the pack out trips. Thanks for sharing that info!