Just some thoughts, here' s how we handle it and know we can count on it....
(1) If you are in an elk camp with multiple elk taken then you can end up with multiple body parts and multiple heads " floating around" and if you aren' t careful as to which is which and what is what it can all become confused so that if one animal comes back positive for CWD, then you will have to throw away ALL the meat to be safe.
(2) We use a camp notebook with copies of everyones license/carcass tag docs with the " who" and the " what" hand written in the margin so you can quickly tell who and what it is for. We also have the " permission slips" filled out so someone else can " drop off" the heads besides the hunter.
(3) We " issue" each hunter a set of 8 cable ties that are the same to each other but unique to the other sets issued within our group. You can buy a " bin" of cable ties of all different lengths and colors; plus you can create unique marking patterns on them with a Sharpie if you need more variations. We also describe the unique cable tie " set" assigned to each hunter in our group by hand writting it' s description in the margin of the copy of his license in our " camp notebook." We put the cable ties and the licenses together in an envelope and seal it so it is all with the hunter when it is show time. [1 for each bagged quarter, 1 for the backstraps/tenderloins bag, 1 through the ear (to always remain with the head), 1 for around the antler (remember, these will get cut off), and 1 for a spare].
(4) If you do your own butchering, then be sure to code the packages with some system as to which animal it is and then record the same " code" on the notebook sheet. If you have your meat processed, then you will have to work out something with them for coding. [When it comes to " your" hamburger --- good luck!]
(5) When you turn in the heads CDOW will give you a little 1" by 4" yellow slip of paper with the CWD code number and it DOES NOT describe your critter in any way -- SO BE ON YOUR GAME! Again, don' t let things get confused simply because you got casual. Keep track which is which and write the number on the corresponding notebook page. When I turned in our elk heads for testing we did the paper work on one, went out and got the head for that one, and then they handed me the tag for that one, and I recorded that one -- otherwise if you are turning in 4 or 5 at a time, then I' m betting you may find your paperwork resembling a covey of freshly flushed quail. This one area where if you are going to take the time (allow plenty -- 1 to 2 hours) and pay expense ($15 per head) then pay attention and use a system you can absolutely rely on should one of your animals come back positive for CWD and now its time to sort out the bad stuff!
We don' t consume any meat until we have received the results of the CWD tests as we turn in all the elk heads for testing. We turned heads in on the 14th of October and we have the results back on ours (27th). All tested clean.
Check out CWD and CWD testing at:
http://wildlife.state.co.us/cwd/
Never Go Undergunned, Always Check Your Sight In, Perform At Showtime,
EKM
Pitfall: CWD Testing With Multiple Animals Taken
