Controlled Muzzle Loader Deer Hunt

[Articcat]

Congrats to you and your. That's awesome

[G.S.]

Excellent hunt, Congrats!

[Bo D]

We were talking about getting or trying to pick up a cooler ourselves this year up at the camp. Our butcher is an hrs drive from our camp and round trip is two hrs. We lucked out this year with the weather and not having to bring the deer up to him almost on a daily basis. Seeing your set up is definetly the way to go. Congrats on a sucessful hunt 9 for 9 is very impressive...

[gbk]

There were 9 of us.

Wow-awesome. While vague-the regulation states ,that the tag needs to be on the animal (if no tag owner present)unless the animal is processed.
I do think-processing means-meat in the freezer or in sausage casing.
Cheers and keep it up.

[Pioneerfreq]

Ok, to avoid further speculation, I looked it up. Hadn't read this section in a while and I know things change so it was a good refresher. From page 20 and 21 of the 2023 Regulations Summary (the last paragraph is and the table on page 21 is key):

Page 20
Attaching Your Tag: You are not required to attach the tag if you are both immediately accompanying the animal and immediately available to produce the tag for inspection. For example, the tag holder may carry the notched/invalidated tag in a pocket while bringing the harvested animal out of the bush provided that the tag holder remains with the animal while it is being moved.
However, you must attach the tag if you are not immediately accompanying the animal or immediately available to produce the tag for inspection. For example, the tag holder must attach the tag if they leave the harvested animal at any time, including:
• transporting the animal in one vehicle while the tag holder is in another vehicle
• leaving the animal at camp while the tag holder goes out party hunting
• leaving the animal at a butcher for processing
Important: If you are unsure about whether or not to attach your tag, you should attach it.
Make sure to follow the instructions that come with the tag. Your tag should be accessible and visible for inspection purposes even when the tag is attached to the harvested animal.
The tag must remain on your person, or attached to the animal (when required), until it has been transported to the site of processing and is being prepared for long-term storage. The animal is being prepared for long-term storage when it is being cut, wrapped and frozen/preserved.

Then on page 21:
Species......................Tagging Location and Identifying Features
White-tailed deer......Attach the tag to either the antler or the ear, keeping the head with the animal

So the way I interpret this:
Tag must be attached to ear or antler if the hunter who's tag is being used is not with the deer.
Head must remain attached (along with the tag) until the deer is being cut up and wrapped for the freezer.

The other thing that is interesting: I guess you would need to have your deer cut and in the freezer before taking the head to a taxidermist. If you were going to hang your deer for a few days, I wonder if that would negatively impact the quality of the finished mount seeing as how the head (and cape) would need to stay attached while hanging.

[delmer]

Good job.

But hard to tell a doe from a buck in that pic. ,,CO may have a problem with them.

As I mentioned, our controlled hunt allowed for any deer (antlered or antlerless) to be taken, so there was no need to be able to identify the sex of the animal. But yes, that could be an issue in cases where the sex of the deer needs to be determined.

[gbk]

Ok, to avoid further speculation, I looked it up. Hadn't read this section in a while and I know things change so it was a good refresher. From page 20 and 21 of the 2023 Regulations Summary (the last paragraph is and the table on page 21 is key):

Page 20
Attaching Your Tag: You are not required to attach the tag if you are both immediately accompanying the animal and immediately available to produce the tag for inspection. For example, the tag holder may carry the notched/invalidated tag in a pocket while bringing the harvested animal out of the bush provided that the tag holder remains with the animal while it is being moved.
However, you must attach the tag if you are not immediately accompanying the animal or immediately available to produce the tag for inspection. For example, the tag holder must attach the tag if they leave the harvested animal at any time, including:
• transporting the animal in one vehicle while the tag holder is in another vehicle
• leaving the animal at camp while the tag holder goes out party hunting
• leaving the animal at a butcher for processing
Important: If you are unsure about whether or not to attach your tag, you should attach it.
Make sure to follow the instructions that come with the tag. Your tag should be accessible and visible for inspection purposes even when the tag is attached to the harvested animal.
The tag must remain on your person, or attached to the animal (when required), until it has been transported to the site of processing and is being prepared for long-term storage. The animal is being prepared for long-term storage when it is being cut, wrapped and frozen/preserved.

Then on page 21:
Species......................Tagging Location and Identifying Features
White-tailed deer......Attach the tag to either the antler or the ear, keeping the head with the animal

So the way I interpret this:
Tag must be attached to ear or antler if the hunter who's tag is being used is not with the deer.
Head must remain attached (along with the tag) until the deer is being cut up and wrapped for the freezer.

The other thing that is interesting: I guess you would need to have your deer cut and in the freezer before taking the head to a taxidermist. If you were going to hang your deer for a few days, I wonder if that would negatively impact the quality of the finished mount seeing as how the head (and cape) would need to stay attached while hanging.

Great job posting this.Thanx

No expert,but i think head can be removed.Any time.

You just need to prove the sex of the animal(matching the tag).

Leave a piece of "sex organ "on the game-as a proof(see moose regulation for tagging bull or cow).I am willing to bet-that will take care of everything.
cheers

[Pioneerfreq]

Great job posting this.Thanx

No expert,but i think head can be removed.Any time.

You just need to prove the sex of the animal(matching the tag).

Leave a piece of "sex organ "on the game-as a proof(see moose regulation for tagging bull or cow).I am willing to bet-that will take care of everything.
cheers

Here is the part you are referring to on page 21:

Note: Be sure to reference your tagging instructions that are provided with your tag for more details.
Whether you have attached your tag or not, you must keep the relevant age and sex identifying features
with the animal (applies to deer, moose and elk only).

The confusing part is it says "with the animal" not "attached to the animal".

Now I want to do Ask a CO just because I'm curious...

[Ahuntr300]

As I mentioned, our controlled hunt allowed for any deer (antlered or antlerless) to be taken, so there was no need to be able to identify the sex of the animal. But yes, that could be an issue in cases where the sex of the deer needs to be determined.

Sorry but doesn't matter. If a CO cannot identify the sex, they have every right to seize the animals and issue you an infraction.

[gbk]

Here is the part you are referring to on page 21:

Note: Be sure to reference your tagging instructions that are provided with your tag for more details.
Whether you have attached your tag or not, you must keep the relevant age and sex identifying features
with the animal (applies to deer, moose and elk only).

The confusing part is it says "with the animal" not "attached to the animal".

Now I want to do Ask a CO just because I'm curious...

Great idea- please ask then let us know.

I did not read that detail on pg 21 in the Regulation-but makes sense.

Hovewer-if You do not mind,while asking ,ask please what is the relevance and HOW to prove age of the animal.
Likely will not matter for elk and deer-but would for moose!
Even though the size of a calf is hard to compare to the size of a cow.Thanx