Question about tagging elk in Idaho

odha · 09-11-2004, 08:33 PM

I'm reading the regulations for proper tagging and transporting elk in Idaho.
My question is if/when my brother and I pack out an elk on our backs how do we stay legal. It states that the head and front quarter must stay together. I'm thinking that would be to much weight to pack out in one piece. Or leaving the sex organs attached to part of the carcuss.
How do you guys in Idaho pack your elk out on your backs and stay legal?
We are also going to have to transport it all the way back to Arkansas.
Thanks

Hikchick · 09-12-2004, 02:01 AM

Odha,
From what I understand, as long as you leave proof of sex attatched to one of the hind quarters you are fine. Don't worry about trying to pack the front out along with the head. Also, if you don't know how to bone out an elk, learn. It will go a long way in helping to keep the meat fresh as well as not having to pack the weight of all the bone with it. BTW, what zone are you hunting elk in?

charlie brown · 09-12-2004, 08:49 AM

I just read the regs regarding the evidence of sex also. It seems kind of difficult to keep the head attached to the front quarter and pack it out on your back. I would just take a couple of sandwich baggies and some rubber bands to tie around the sex organs when you get an elk down. As for transportation to Arkansas, with all of the CWD things going on, your safest bet is to have the animal processed before you leave the state. Once you have it in coolers, just keep the tag with the majority of the meat, and you will have no problems. Another thought, since you said you will be packing an elk out on your back, you will not be able to get it in one trip. I would get some generic tags with wire ties on them, so you can hang the remaining quarters in a tree, and put the name, contact, and license info on it in case a game warden comes along, he is not looking at another wasted game animal. Put the date, so they know you are on your way back. I would also learn to bone an elk out in the field to save as much weight as possible when packing out.

I like Nevada's regs much better concerning sex ID of animals:

"...maintain possession of at least the portion of the cape or scalp that includes the ears to the base of the muzzle and any antlers or horns. The cape or scalp and any antlers or horns from the animal must be possessed in such a manner that they remain or are kept together with the carcass of the animal."

This allows a person to not even bother with the sex organs, and allows the cape and quarters to be separated in a situation such as yours.

odha · 09-12-2004, 07:16 PM

Thanks for the info. I'll be hunting the pan handle units.
I've boned and pack out whitetails before. Figure an elk is just a whole lot more of the same.
My brother and I halved a small buck once. We just cut it in half. He got the front half and I got the back. Sure didn't like those sex organs bouncing around the back of my neck. After a few steps they had to go.

BrutalAttack · 09-13-2004, 09:18 AM

Hi, it's not that big a deal. Just leave the pecker or nuts on the hind quarters.

pheasbo · 09-13-2004, 03:20 PM

Leave the sex organs attached to one quarter. If you want to put a zip loc plastic baggy over the sex organs and zip it as far as it will close. When I was in college I would volunteer for check station duty in the Panhandle Region. A group from Washington rolled in and in the process of checking game it came to our attention that there was no evidence of sex attached to any of the elk. They had some sex organs in a plastic bag, but not enough to match up with the kills. They were hunting in an area that had staggered seasons and you could shoot only cows up to a certain date and then either sex after that so there was some confusion as to what was harvested when. They also got into a pickle for not tagging properly. Tag the section with the sex organs and make sure you notch the CORRECT date of the kill. I have killed an elk in the Panhandle, Unit 6. Unless you are lucky, you will probably need to bone it out. Just depends on how far back in you are and what you are comfortable with packing, i.e. distance\weight. I killed a cow, I boned it out and left the udder attached. That is the portion I tagged.