Evidence of sex in Colorado

[LongWayAround]

I just try to skin around the pussy or ball sack and leave it attached to the first rear quarter. If you screw up on the first quarter, you have a second attempt.

If you screw up on the second one, just cut it off, bag it, throw it in. The wardens know if you're being a shithead or just made a mistake.

Sure, they could write a ticket but I'm doubtful. Just do the best you can. It seems tricky at first.

A detached head does not count as evidence of sex.

 

[Gerbdog]

I always leave the vulva or balls attached to a quarter in the back. I hate it, its the worst thing to work around when your tired and skinning an animal out, but i understand why they do it.

 

[Marshfly]

I'm glad that Montana dropped the "attached" part. I clean the entire thing and then the last thing I do is cut the testicle or some nipples off and then while holding that, remove my latex glove inside out so it is inside the glove. Then I toss the glove into one of the game bags.

I have confirmed this is 100% ok multiple times at different game checks. In fact, I have also confirmed that a male head with antlers is enough and you don't actually need the testicle for males.

 

[PredatoryProwler]

I've talked to CPW officers about this a few times because I seem to get tag-checked about every other year. Bear in mind they're looking for poaching and so on. So their goal is to look for mix-and-match cases where you might be trying to sneak out a bull quarter on a cow tag. They generally know what they look like, but a 5yr old cow rear quarter looks a lot like a 2yr old bull so...

I think they have several videos on YouTube talking about this exact topic (not "influencers" - actual CPW officers) but what they told me was:

1. 1 testicle on each rear quarter OR penis on one and testicles on the other OR split the udder in half.
2. Cape OR antlers IF it was a bull
3. Tag on one of the rear quarters or the base of an antler (not required, but recommended).

In cases where you may have made a mistake (cutting the evidence off accidentally, etc) or just aren't sure, take several good photos with at least one with WITH YOU IN IT (so you aren't photographing someone else's kill). A year ago I took a calf that had very little udder development and I did this and they accepted the photos as part of evidence-of-sex to support what I claimed I took (I was on a cow tag) even though I had not packed out the head.

This clears it out a whole lot. Thank you!

 

[PredatoryProwler]

So from what I understand, the head only counts if it is attached to the rest of the carcass and otherwise we need to keep it attached to one quarter and have the tag on that quarter. Please correct me if I have anything else confused

 

[Gunnersdad49]

So from what I understand, the head only counts if it is attached to the rest of the carcass and otherwise we need to keep it attached to one quarter and have the tag on that quarter. Please correct me if I have anything else confused

The tag doesn't have to be on that quarter, but it simplifies things when getting checked. On cow elk I usually split the udder and leave two teats on each hind quarter. I know it isn't required, but saves me the headache if I accidentally cut one of them off at some point.

I used to hunt an area where we got checked a lot, and evidence of sex and carcass tag on antlers were the only things I ever saw tickets written for. The CO seemed really steamed about the tag on the antlers for some reason. There was a guy that shot a spike bull instead of a cow. He turned himself in, had to pack the meat out, donate it, and punch his tag. Warden didn't cite him.

 

[Coveyleader]

A tip for those who've never done it, I recommend you try including EOS on the first rear quarter just in case you screw up. If you do, you have another chance when you flip the elk over.

 

[Legend]

I'm glad that Montana dropped the "attached" part. I clean the entire thing and then the last thing I do is cut the testicle or some nipples off and then while holding that, remove my latex glove inside out so it is inside the glove. Then I toss the glove into one of the game bags.

I have confirmed this is 100% ok multiple times at different game checks. In fact, I have also confirmed that a male head with antlers is enough and you don't actually need the testicle for males.

Marshfly if you are correct this would be very helpful.
I have never heard of this approach. @mtwarden do you have an opinion on if this would pass the test in Montana?

 

[Marshfly]

Marshfly if you are correct this would be very helpful.
I have never heard of this approach. @mtwarden do you have an opinion on if this would pass the test in Montana?

Read the MT regs. There is zero mention of attached anymore.

That said, it seems CO has a hard on for this so I would go above and beyond there.

 

[sndmn11]

So from what I understand, the head only counts if it is attached to the rest of the carcass and otherwise we need to keep it attached to one quarter and have the tag on that quarter. Please correct me if I have anything else confused

Elk - In the Field

Elk - In the Field

cpw.state.co.us

There's a bunch of FAQ type things about 80% down the page.

 

[Laelkhunter]

On a lighter note, it's a good thing the elk is dead, because if you get stopped and have a bull tag but the bull keeps saying that he identifies as a cow, you could be in deep doo doo with the game warden.

 

[06 SB]

Several years ago my son and I were in a otc unit in CO. Son kills a 5X5, we pack it out with eos attached to a rear quarter. All legal. Next day in camp we processed the meat into gallon ziplock bag portions. Five or six steak size portions left whole per bag, quarter mussels off the bone and cut to manageable size pieces, stew meat, roast everything packaged to be further processed at home. The eos still attached to a piece of mussel in a ziplock. Stopped at a campground on the way home to shower, get more ice etc. The ones in the group that finished showering went fishing in the nearby lake. CO stops by to check fishing liscense. Notices that my son's liscense was marked as having killed a bull. He went into a spiel about how was eos attached etc. We explained it was still naturally attached but on a smaller than quarter piece of meat. He smartly informed us that the eos had to remain attached to a MAJOR PORTION until processed for consumption. He did not ticket us but seems he thought he could have.

Would that happen to be near Dolores CO? If so, I know the “enthusiasm” with which they interrogate sportsmen. It is not fun.