I've been looking into going to CO to hunt elk and came across this tid bit on page 13 of the reg book where it talks about leaving evidence of sex attached to the carcass.
"4. If a carcass is cut in pieces or deboned,
evidence of sex only needs to be attached
to a quarter or another major
part of carcass. All portions must be
transported together."
If I read and understand this right a guy hunting solo back packing his elk out in multiple trips would not be legal....Is this right?
You might want to check with the DOW, but I don't think carrying the animal out of the woods is considered transporting.
Maybe just me, but I feel that CO is a VERY hunter friendly state and I think if you walked back to the area of the kill with sex evidence it would be OK.
But, better safe than sorry, call DOW, they are very firendly and knowlegable.
You can make more than one trip, way I understand it though, it is advisable to pack out the piece of meat with evidence of sex attached to it on the first trip and put it where it is safe, then bring the rest of the meat out, that way if critters get to the carcass before you have it all packed out, you will have evidence of sex for trasnporting it down the highway, and antlers don't count for evidence off sex. That was a really long sentence:) Glad we don't get graded on here for grammar!
yes the evidence is to be attached to one of the hind 1/4s. Hauling the meat out of the woods in packs will take a numbers of round trips. And then all the meat needs to be kept together while transporting home/to the processors.
You will love hunting elk.
If the CO has a problem invite him up the hill to give you a hand!
Str8jct - That sentence is not written very well. From harvest site to camp evidence of sex does not need to be on EVERY quarter. However, once the meat is centrally located IE camp or vehicle there must be evidence of sex on one quarter of your animal.
Injoy yourself but beware it is very additive. As long as you have it attacted to one hind leg you will be fine and yes Co is very out of state friendly that is one of the reasions I hunt there. The real trick is geting one into stickbow range I have no problem getting them into compound or muzzle loader range but stickbow is harder for me but I keep trying someday it will happen will I guess it already did I passed up a 8yrd shot at a calf two years ago. Widow
Rosco thats what I was thinking. Thanks for the input guys, Im adding this to list of questions to ask when I call.
Check this out it's a real good video and Fred explains it well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGCAY5Amvn4
My 3 DYI trips this issue has yet to come up as I did not get close enough (though I did get 50-80 yd range each trip). I think just get it down the hill the best you can. As long as it is attached on one of the hind quarters you are ok. They did not specify in what order you bring it off the mountain. As long as it is somewhere. On the other hand talking to different locals about this they give me a blank stare. No local I have talked to abides by this rule. That being said just because locals don't do it doesn't mean you should be an outlaw.
I want to add one more thing. The first couple years I hunted my unit you had a choice of a cow tag or for more money an either sex tag. The last few years it has been an either sex tag only. If you have bought the more expensive either sex tag "Who cares?". As long as it is an elk you couldn't have broke a law.
You can shoot either with an either sex tag, but trust me, you still need to abide by it. Its probably the one of the most commonly broken and ticketed wildlife laws in Colorado.
If you get checked with a carcass, its very likely they will check evidence of sex. Its their discretion as to a warning or citation, but they usually check it from what I've seen.
Easy enough law to follow, but I've accidently disconnected the evidence a couple times. After dark, on the side of mountain, dressing a critter by headlamp, it's easy to cut just a little more than you intended.
Not much you can do at that point other than put it in with the meat and hope for the best if you meet the wildlife officer.
I totally agree you need to abide by it. But your senerio of quartering an elk on the side of a remote mountain rings true with me. Every time I elk hunt in the back of my mind I wonder how in the #%^* am I going to get an elk out of here. In fact I have passed up on some great spots as I know I can't do it. I just question a law that states you have to show evidence of sex when you have the more expensive either sex tag? if you carry a cow only tag it makes perfect sense. With an either sex tag who cares? You would be legal either way unless you are trying to pass off a mule deer or a bear as an elk.
Brazos, you have to do it so you don't go back and shoot a cow after you have shot a bull, or more likely scenario, you shoot a cow and see a bull packing it out. Plus you can debone your meat and leave the proof attached to a large chunk of meat, I make sure I have a big ziploc for this piece of meat and keep it segreated from the loose meat in the canvas bag. I won't pack bones out of the hills unless they have a whopper set of antlers attached to them and that ain't happened yet.
That was a cool video...
How would taking two elk out at once and only keeping proof of sex for one elk be any different then shooting two elk and filling out your either sex tag saying it was one or the other? Neither of us work the CWD so arguing doesn't do any good. I still stand by my statement that keeping proof of sex when you hold an either sex tag is stupid. Think about it. If you shoot a cow and have an either sex tag why would you lie to the game warden and say you shot a bull? If you shot a bull and had an either sex tag why would you lie and tell the warden you shot a cow? Taking multiple elk out with one proof of sex is exactly no difference then taking out multiple elk out with one license/tag. Either way it's illegal. Again just do what CWD says and you will be fine. I just think its stupid if you hold an either sex tag. If it went to court what are they going to charge you with? Shooting a bull with an either sex tag or shooting a cow with an either sex tag?
your preaching to the choir:) that's just the only thing my mind has come up with since I started hunting here 5 years ago to explain it. Thought that just crossed my mind though is that they just want to make one rule for transportation for all the types of seasons. Most rifle tags are for one sex. That probably makes more sense than my original idea. Some of the seasons do overlap too. And also in some areas, you can get an either sex tag and a cow tag, that might play in it too.
...Or maybe they just want to keep track of the animals killed.
QuoteOriginally posted by SCATTERSHOT:
...Or maybe they just want to keep track of the animals killed.
NAH! They do that with after the season (scientific) polls! There's no check in stations or anything, just occasional email polls.
I think it's just an old rule that has never been updated. It made sense in the old days when you had a buck tag or a doe tag. But if they sell you an either sex tag then the rule really doesn't apply. I think that is why when I ask locals what they do they look at me funny and say they don't do it. It makes sense for them if you think about it. They can buy an OTC archery tag good for one month for approx $30 for cow or $60 for an either sex. No brainer brainer for them to spend a few extra $$. For us out of state guys we spend 10x that. We have to make a choice. I have not shot an elk yet nor do I live in Colorado but my guess is a GW wouldn't hassle you too much if you had an either sex tag. It's a loosing deal for him as he would loose in court. What is a game warden going to tell the jury? You shot a cow elk with an either sex tag? I would have to dig thru my hunting stuff to make sure but I am fairly certain my license had my unit number on it. Not trying to start an argument as it won't change things. When I shoot an elk I will have sex attached even though I think it is stupid.
There is no way you can be illegal, because it is IMPOSSIBLE to take the elk out in one trip. We hunted back country last year and it would have taken 2 of us over 3 days to get the elk out.
Transport is defined as moveing the carcas a signiticant distance by vehicle. packing does not fall under the transport clause.
If you shoot a bull and bring out the rack with the meat is that not proof of sex, or do you still have to have proof atatched to one quarter?
If you shoot a bull with an either sex tag that doesn't meet the antler restrictions and you say it is a cow you are breaking the law.
I've called the CO on this before. Evidence of sex has to be attached to 1 qtr until you get it back to camp and before you butcher. You can cut up your elk into smaller packages at your camp (in my case was just off the road) which will eliminate the evidence of sex. I would verify with the local CO if you plan to do this.
If you shoot a bull (verified by the evidence of sex) then you need to meet to 4 pt rule if hunting in those areas, thus the evidence of sex is needed for compliance with the law.
QuoteOriginally posted by Brazos:
I think it's just an old rule that has never been updated. It made sense in the old days when you had a buck tag or a doe tag. But if they sell you an either sex tag then the rule really doesn't apply.
Actually in the case of either sex licenses having evidence of sex naturally attached is more important. Consider that most CO elk units have 4-pt restrictions and since non-attached antlers are not proof that the meat in your possession and said antlers came from the same animal (they can be matched by DNA testing but GW's don't have that equipment in their trucks). The difference between testicles from a yearling bull and a breeding 2 year old bull are distinctly different and readily apparent. If they weren't required to be naturally attached there would certainly be many illegal (less than 4-pts) bulls carried out of the woods.
It's not that difficult to leave some evidence of sex, I have packed several animals out of the woods in CO. For males, I simply split the scrotum and leave a testcle attached to each ham. Cow elk are a little messier, especially if there is milk in the udder. You just need to think about what you are doing when you start the field dressing process. Skinning out a testcle or part of an udder is not that tough. When you bone out the hams, just be careful not to cut your evidence of sex off, and go slow when you slip the meat into your game bags. I've been checked twice and wardens not have any issues. Good luck.
I think its a good rule and never been one that has caused much concern. Certainly very easy to follow.
For those who would find ways to subvert evidence of sex as a way to take more than one animal, well, those people don't follow laws anyway, no matter what they are or how well they are written. Let the wardens worry about them.
Joshua
Ok Geezer you are the one that may have found the flaw in my theory. I admit it had not occurred to me in that if I shoot a bull I want it to be respectable, something I would mount. Otherwise I just assume shoot a cow. For example here in TX I have not shot a buck whitetail since 2004. If I am not going to mount it then I let it walk. Once you shoot it the horns stop growing. So what Geezer is saying makes sense and messes up my argument. Since in most of CO they have antler restrictions there is the possibility you could shoot a young bull that does not meet these restrictions, toss the horns, and say you shot a cow. Hat off to you Geezer as you make sense.
Just read the regs and they say evidence of sex attached. They say the antlers or horns has to be attatched to carcass.
So sounds cut and dry, a person has to leave evidence of sex attatched to quarter.
Or good chance you get ticket. We all hope that no one will try to pass off a bull for a cow.
I agree DGW the law is quite clear and never have I suggested doing otherwise. I personally sidetracked this thread as I felt, still do, it is stupid (if you carry an either sex tag, a sex specific tag totally different). Even as vocal as I have been on this thread Geezer corrected my theory. To the OP keep evidence of sex attached! Even though I personally don't necessarily agree with it I would do it without question. I think the bigger question for the OP is what is allowed once you get your elk off the mountain and back to camp and beyond.
The Colorado rules say once your animal has been 'processed' it must still meet evidence of sex requirements. Obviously, if commercially processed there is just no way to no what it is. In this case, benefit goes to the hunter who is doing his best to take the best care of his meat possible. If not commercially processed; say, if cut and wrapped in camp, then evidence of sex should still remain with a large cut of the hind quarter. Unless a Colorado GW suspects a crime they usually won't hassle you. Now, for instance, if evidence of sex is cut and left in the woods then standard operating procedure is to issue a citation for EOS, take a sample of meat for DNA analysis. If DNA shows it is the wrong sex, someone will come visit about illegal possession.