View Full Version : Wounded or Dead elk?
brokenscout
09-29-2013, 08:13
If I find them one my property can I take the antlers? Apparently the bow hunters here can't shoot for shit.
You are supposed to call the DOW and have them take the carcass. It will be up to the game warden that comes if you can keep the rack. Generally, they don't allow it. If you get caught with it later with no tag filled, and no supporting documentation you can be charged with poaching.
They generally don't let you keep the rack or any meat, because there is no way for you to prove that you didn't kill/wound it. So allowing you to keep the rack provides a loop-hole for poaching, whenin some shady person shots a bull for the rack illegally, then reports it as a found carcass, doesn't get charged but gets to keep the rack.
brokenscout
09-29-2013, 08:49
That's what I was thinking. Thank you. Its so wasteful ,pisses me off.
you could salvage some of the meat though. backstraps in the freezer are better than a wasted carcass IMO
morals are a big part of it. you didn't wound it, you didn't kill it. you don't have a tag, but I hate to let meat go to waste. true that mother nature will take care of it and it all goes back into the system some how. But I just hate watching meat wasted and rot away.
gnihcraes
09-29-2013, 19:01
If I find them one my property can I take the antlers? Apparently the bow hunters here can't shoot for shit.
My fathers hunt group, hit a couple elk, he said they should be dead, but never was able to track them because of rain and more rain and more rain. sucks.
Yup call the DOW.
Nothing is wasted in the wilderness.
You are supposed to call the DOW and have them take the carcass. It will be up to the game warden that comes if you can keep the rack. Generally, they don't allow it. If you get caught with it later with no tag filled, and no supporting documentation you can be charged with poaching.
They generally don't let you keep the rack or any meat, because there is no way for you to prove that you didn't kill/wound it. So allowing you to keep the rack provides a loop-hole for poaching, whenin some shady person shots a bull for the rack illegally, then reports it as a found carcass, doesn't get charged but gets to keep the rack.
That is the Samson rule and applies for road kill or found in the woods kill. The option to let you keep the antlers, or not, rests with the responding officer. I've kept the entire animal after being given a carcass tag.
I saw a guy in the median of I-70 once going west, frantically sawing the head off a road-killed bull like he was expecting Satan himself to come over the hill. I wondered if it was legal.....
brokenscout
09-30-2013, 14:18
I usually just waited for the coyotes to come:) but didn't know what the "legal" thing to do was
If it is wounded near your home, just drag it into your living room and claim self defense.
If it is wounded near your home, just drag it into your living room and claim self defense.
Or you can pull a ronin and claim it was attacking your vehicle. Just jam an antler into a panel or put a nice hoof print on the hood
spqrzilla
09-30-2013, 21:06
You know that these Parks and Wildlife guys go all sooper CSI on ya, don't ya?
P&W is shut down, animal on your property,,,is your property.
P&W is shut down, animal on your property,,,is your property.
Uh, no. Parks and Wildlife is not shut down, and wildlife on your property belongs to the people of the State of Colorado.
It's easy enough to get a salvage permit with a simple phone call and maybe a trip to a Parks and Wildlife office.
They said on the news due to gov shut down P&W employees are on unpaid furlow.
And if an animal dies on your property even P&W has to ask permissoin to come on your property.
And you would need to contact them in order for them to even be aware.
They said on the news due to gov shut down P&W employees are on unpaid furlow.
And if an animal dies on your property even P&W has to ask permissoin to come on your property.
And you would need to contact them in order for them to even be aware.
Wrong-o, my friend. Colorado Parks and Wildlife employees including officers aren't directly affected by the federal government shutdown. Federal parks and wildlife refuges are closed but most US Fish and Wildlife LEO are still on the job.
Wildlife officers certainly can enter private property to investigate a wildlife death or if there's reasonable suspicion a wildlife crime has been committed. To enter a domicile they will generally obtain a warrant but aren't required to in all cases.
You never know who's watching, it's better to stay on the right side of the law. CPW officers generally won't let you keep antlers from road kill or other found dead animals, especially trophy animals, but it's pretty easy to get a salvage permit for the meat. Happens every week.
Watch out for the Drones, that is probably what they will be most utilized for, fish and game violations.
spqrzilla
10-01-2013, 18:01
They said on the news due to gov shut down P&W employees are on unpaid furlow.
And if an animal dies on your property even P&W has to ask permissoin to come on your property.
And you would need to contact them in order for them to even be aware.
[Bang]
I stand corrected you are right, the FED is outa work not the sneaky wardens.
However ya still have to call em unless the critter is wearing a collar.
Rucker61
10-01-2013, 20:29
I stand corrected you are right, the FED is outa work not the sneaky wardens.
However ya still have to call em unless the critter is wearing a collar.
Where can I buy a collar?
The CO DOW is not your friend...
Sure they are, they are a gubment agency and Barack is your friend, praise alah.
gnihcraes
10-02-2013, 20:17
The CO DOW is not your friend...
Yup. I know someone who shot a legal animal (bear I think) and took it to DOW as required for whatever reason. Turns out he shot it on the wrong side of the road unknowingly. Honest mistake. Ended up with a 2 year suspension of all hunting privileges, 10k fine I believe.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2026 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.