5x5 skull & antlers

[Sigma7]

While still hunting some dark timber in NW CO I came across a skeleton of a 5x5 that had been pretty well polished up by the local critters. I was considering bringing it back. I called DOW (not sure why the cell phone worked up there but it did) and the secratary who answered indicated that i would have to tag it like an animal that I killed. Does anyone know the real story here - as far as what is legal? I left it there not wanting to tag it so I could keep hunting. I did take a photo though. My second consideration was for CWD - the skeleton had no obvious trauma (though it could have been injured and killed by coyotes - don' t know) and I also did not want to transport a skull unnecessarily.

[rather_be_huntin]

The law in Utah is the skull plate cannot be attached to the horns and the only horns you can have that you didn' t tag is sheds. Trust me they know the difference between sheds and antlers that have been sawed off. Thats the written law.

The unwritten law is if the thing looks like its been out for a while no one really cares. The law is aimed to catch poachers and poachers aren' t killing animals and letting them sit for a year or two. How old does it look? I' d say as long as it doesn' t look like a fresh kill you' ll be fine. Of course I' d wanna check that with some locals.

[asadryfire]

I found a 4X4 mulie last season in colorado by the time i got there the head and some bigger bones were all that was left it looked like someone shot the big guy from the road maybe as it was bedded down but they didnt go across 300 yards of a private meadow and 150 yards or so up the hill to get him i found the horns and brought them back to camp where we had a retired game warden hunting with us he said that since they were old no one would care im not sure if the colorado game wardens see it that way but as long as they are older i dont think anyone would raise a fuss about you bringing them out

[skeeter 7MM]

Law here in Sakatchewan are if attached to the skull plate it must be tagged or you can apply for a permit to keep those antlers. However the application is at the discreation of the DNR and they can refuse to grant you that permit without explanation. I lost a B&C buck I found hit by a vehicle and when refused a permit, I asked about this law or reg and it was stated that being a renewable resource the animals are considered state property & having an untagged set is unlawful. Buying a tag then harvesting an animal legally allows you to take ownership of that animal (lawfully), finding sheds are not considered living and free game. Boils down to possession really, if you possess a rack attached to the skull plate off a once living animal it must be lawfully tagged or granted to you via permit(records). The only reason I am sure I lost this animal was because he was record class and what burns my butt even more is he is hanging in the DNR office today. I did everything by the book, called the DNR and waited for them to arrive and investigate the scene. They took the animal and I filled out the paperwork(paid the admin fee as well). I was told by the officer that it would propably be a month or so until I heard what the results was, after waiting 6 weeks I called and got the bad news....no explanation was given[:' (]. The guy said next time I should tag it to ensure it remains mine[X(]! Easy to see why guys don' t do the right thing!!! The next time it happens I am not sure what I would do, this system makes poachers out of guys who are honorable and want to play by the rules[:' (]

[Sigma7]

The whole skull was attached minus lower jaw. We had quite a debate in camp about when he was killed. There was still a circle of hyde around the antler bases and it stunk pretty bad so I figured he was killed in late august - maybe september. The antlers were well polished though which made my partners think he was killed last year. I know the scavengers do a pretty good job cleaning up on a carcass so my vote it still this year. Due to the uncertainty, it just wasn' t worth it to me to bring them out - they were not a trophy by any means - just something cool to have. I did not want to come across a game warden having a bad day and end up with a felony or some lesser ticker and lose my hunting privileges in CO - - possession is possession and game wardens have plenty enough power to ruin your day if something is not right - no matter how correct or ethical everything else was. So a good story and a picture will do. If i am lucky enough to go back one day and they are still where I stashed them next to the carcass, maybe I will think about it again.