Again, we need an alternative for tagging trophy game.

[Pathfinder76]

After packing out another animal on my back this season the need for the ability to tag a trophy animal on the head comes to the forefront once again. Yes, there are many creative ways to keep the tag, evidence of sex, and species together on one quarter, but it is not ideal.

On a trophy animal there is no reason why they cannot be tagged in similar fashion to a trophy sheep. Or at least make it an option. It makes deboning meat more practical. Keeps hair and hide off the meat, and I'm not shooting a buck because of what is between his legs. It's what is on the head that counts.

Who do I need to talk to to get them thinking about this?

[Gary K]

i disagree with what your saying, just saying.

[Hooter]

Originally Posted by Gary K

i disagree with what your saying, just saying.

Care to elaborate on why?

[Prairiekid]

^x2

[alacringa]

It is puzzling that the regs state that an animal is taken as "antlered" or "antlerless" but also require that the scrotum/mammaries remain attached. Especially with the consideration that some does grow antlers, and some bucks don't.

[saskwhitey]

I like what saskatchewan does. 3 tags - antlers, meet, and hide.

[Coiloil37]

I agree it's a pain in the butt to leave the tail, scrotum and tag on one leg. Every time I've done it I leave the bone in as well which adds more weight to an already heavy pack.
I even made the comment this fall when we got back to the truck that nobody would have a boned out doe with a fresh bucks head in the back of their truck just to get a little extra meat. If the day comes they (F&W) really think something is fishy they could have it tested. It's an archaic system we are running and it wasn't that long ago we were tagging around the antler with a metal tag.

However, simply having the option to tag through the nose would be ideal.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by alacringa

It is puzzling that the regs state that an animal is taken as "antlered" or "antlerless" but also require that the scrotum/mammaries remain attached. Especially with the consideration that some does grow antlers, and some bucks don't.

In the case where antler specification are part of the legality, it needs to be retained to provide proof of sex and legal antler/horn configuration. Not only for transport to ones home but also the tag needs to accompany the carcass to a butcher. A butcher cannot legally accept a carcass without proof of sex.

LC

[HowSwedeItIs]

It makes too much sense Chuck- it'll never happen

[Coiloil37]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

In the case where antler specification are part of the legality, it needs to be retained to provide proof of sex and legal antler/horn configuration. Not only for transport to ones home but also the tag needs to accompany the carcass to a butcher. A butcher cannot legally accept a carcass without proof of sex.

LC

The butcher will accept boneless trim without a tag, nevermind proof of sex. When I'm packing an animal out on my back it's broken down to boneless trim plus one leg with the tag, sex and species in case I get stopped on the way home.

[Gary K]

Originally Posted by saskwhitey

I like what saskatchewan does. 3 tags - antlers, meet, and hide.

never knew they did that, i like that as well.

as to elaborating, i just think it creates another tool for people to try and pull one over on the fish cops.

[H380]

Originally Posted by HowSwedeItIs

It makes too much sense Chuck- it'll never happen

Exactly , what was wrong with the stamps in a small booklet and metal tag like we used to have ? Now you need a briefcase to carry your licence .

[alpineguy]

I agree Chuck. Why could it not be legal to tag a trophy deer, moose or elk in the same manner as a ram. An intact head (skull with antlers) give you all the evidence required to prove species and sex and as you say, prevent hair and possible contamination of meat.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by Coiloil37

The butcher will accept boneless trim without a tag, nevermind proof of sex. When I'm packing an animal out on my back it's broken down to boneless trim plus one leg with the tag, sex and species in case I get stopped on the way home.

Yes he will....because at that point it's "processed". Like mentioned the hind with proof of sex and a tag still is required.

I don't make the rules, I just follow them.

LC

[brendan's dad]

What would you do with mule/WT hybrids? I believe legally it is the tail that defines species.

[DiabeticKripple]

Originally Posted by brendan's dad

What would you do with mule/WT hybrids? I believe legally it is the tail that defines species.

Antler characteristics don’t matter (other than length) so yes the tail is the identification.

[Full Curl Earl]

Sask 3 tag system is good. But isn't there some rule about having to keep the hide in Sask as well, and have it tagged? Maybe not as its been a few years since I've hunted Sask.
Regarding a system like sheep tags, I believe the only reason we tag through the eye socket and nose is the nose is the cape tag and eye socket tag replaces an antler tag as the horn sheath can be removed.
I walked a new hunter this season through the process of leaving the tail, evidence of sex, on one quarter that we packed out in pieces. It's not easy to do even with guidance from someone who's done it plenty. I I
imagine if it was your first animal and you were alone, the task might result in an unlawful act. And yes, I know hunters need to know the rules, so lets get that outta the way.
It sure seems difficult to get change in our present system.

[wcbarker]

when I pack it out I put tail and balls in ziplock bag still attached to hind quarter. I also tape the top of the ziplock bag to prevent it from sliding open on pack out. seems to work just fine

[Lefty]

I agree I don't like the law in regards to this. I would like to see a change for animals period, not just trophy ones. Where I shot my elk this year we went boneless and leaving evidence of species, sex, and tag on the hind quarter was a pain, and a lot of extra work. If there is any doubt by Fish and Wildlife if they stop you, surely a sample from the head and meat along with a dna test would show exactly. Also in warm weather putting an elk, or moose leg into coolers is a pain too.

[Scruffee]

Originally Posted by saskwhitey

I like what saskatchewan does. 3 tags - antlers, meet, and hide.

This ^

Makes it simple and easy to seperate head, cape and carcass. All you have to do is leave one hind leg for proof of specy...

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

In the case where antler specification are part of the legality, it needs to be retained to provide proof of sex and legal antler/horn configuration. Not only for transport to ones home but also the tag needs to accompany the carcass to a butcher. A butcher cannot legally accept a carcass without proof of sex.

LC

Yea, we get that. But it’s stupid.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by brendan's dad

What would you do with mule/WT hybrids? I believe legally it is the tail that defines species.

If you have that question then retain the tail. But your problem applies to a very small number of game animals harvested.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Gary K

never knew they did that, i like that as well.

as to elaborating, i just think it creates another tool for people to try and pull one over on the fish cops.

How does it creat this “tool” exactly?

[Gary K]

tool may have been the wrong word, just something else to exploit.

Take a buck, tag the antlers and leave the rutted out meat there. take a doe on the way out. idunno.

[thumper]

Chuck, if you're presenting your argument to our masters (government), you may wish to mention that the more they can encourage the 'gutless method' that you practise, the less bone-in carcasses there will be transported across the province, the less butchery there will need to be done in peoples garages, and the less ungulate ribs, spines & central nervous systems there will be disposed of willy-nilly across the country-side (usually in the dark of night), to potentially spread CWD to every part of the province our travelling hunters live.

What I'm saying is that the government believes that you live to serve them, and they will never make a change that'll simply simplify your peasant life - particularly if it could even remotely, possibly lessen their law enforcement opportunities to lord over you.

But, if you can link your argument to their stated goal of 'controlling' CWD, they may adopt your suggestions as their own, and make the changes effortlessly!

Good luck. I agree with you, there has to be a better way. I still fumble around with deboning a deer in the field while leaving evidence of sex and the tail attached to the tagged quarter - and I've been 'doing the gutless' for every ungulate I've killed over the past 20 years.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Gary K

tool may have been the wrong word, just something else to exploit.

Take a buck, tag the antlers and leave the rutted out meat there. take a doe on the way out. idunno.

Sounds logical.

Have you boned out an animal in the field? Ever?

[Gary K]

Originally Posted by chuck

Sounds logical.

Have you boned out an animal in the field? Ever?

never felt a need too, and wouldn't have to in the situation i proposed either.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Gary K

never felt a need too, and wouldn't have to in the situation i proposed either.

Well then move on to the next topic.

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by Gary K

never knew they did that, i like that as well.

as to elaborating, i just think it creates another tool for people to try and pull one over on the fish cops.

How do you see this pull one over on the fish cops would happen?

[Huevos]

I agree that Alberta tag system isn't ideal. We used to pack duct tape to protect the tag. Now if you want a tag model to follow, I would look at BC. No tags on any part of the animal. You just notch your paper tag and put it back in your pack.