CO antler/skull find regulations

[hobbes]

Since there was an at lenght discussion on this after I posted a previous photo, I thought I would post to make those of you from CO aware of the response the DOW gave me on this issue.


I had spoken with the CO DOW about the antler/skull because I could not find anything in the regs regarding antler/skull finds. The employee on the phone had to check, becuase they did not know the answer. They called me back and said the warden had said they wanted/preferred finds to be reported. They reasoned that there could be an ongoing investigation and the find could be evidence that they may need to examine. I thought that sounded like a reasonable explanation. They didn't however tell me if it was listed in the regs and I failed to ask, so I was planning to make an additional phone call to find out.

Well, I had also emailed the question on the CO DOW web site and just now noticed the response that was sent to me a few days ago. The following response was sent. I have removed the officers name.

"Thank you for taking time to send us your email question. At this time there are no regulations that would prohibit you from possessing those antlers.

I hope this information was helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact us again if you have additional questions."


That makes me feel much better about bringing it home!

 

[HiMtnHntr]

That's right, you don't have to report these finds or get a tag for the skull. It's nice to be able to keep the finds, but at the same time the relaxed rules certainly seem to cater to those bad apples that are up to no good. Imagine a guy with no self worth, not an ethical, moral bone in his body, that wants that big buck that has come down from the high country to winter. All the guy has to do is wait until the coast is clear, sneak a bullet into said buck, and then come back and find the skull. Providing no one has witnessed this act and the guy has half a brain, he can pass the trophy head off as just another cool find that he ran across. The DOW won't ask questions. I'm not saying there should be more law in CO regarding the issue, but a little more investigating might not hurt. We found a nice ram one time and the DOW officer we spoke with didn't want to see it or the kill site.