Evidence of sex in Colorado

[Jethro]

I've never saved the testicles for bulls in CO or NM, I understood it as the antlers were the proof. I deboned in the field.

What defines a carcass when you debone the entire animal? To me, the collection of game bags of meat is the carcass and the antlers are there with it. I could see an issue like Mtwarden said if there is significantly more meat than the one animal you have eos for.

In NM the antlers/skull cap are proof. Deboned meat just has to have the tag accompanying it.

In CO horns not proof unless you have the head attached to a shoulder or you have the elk whole. Deboned meat still has to have tag attached to a “major part of carcass”. What that means is up to interpretation.

 

[CMF]

Since cows and does do occasionally grow antlers, antlers aren't necessarily "evidence of sex." Some states make this clarification by defining deer as "antlered" or "antlerless".

I went back and read through CO regs and faqs, I'll definitely leave the testicles on from now on.
I think I only read the reg book. The link sndmn11(below) posted has more info and clarification.
I think MT and NM has it right though, If I have a legal bull head, I shouldn't need the nuts.

https://cpw.state.co.us/hunting/big-game/elk/in-the-field#4257225834-3757117666

I don't know anything about New Mexico. As far as Colorado, how did you reach that understanding?

I don't remember, lol. I hunted NM first so, maybe I assumed...

 

[taskswap]

I've never saved the testicles for bulls in CO or NM, I understood it as the antlers were the proof. I deboned in the field.

What defines a carcass when you debone the entire animal? To me, the collection of game bags of meat is the carcass and the antlers are there with it. I could see an issue like Mtwarden said if there is significantly more meat than the one animal you have eos for.

IMO, this does not comply with CPW's "evidence of sex" requirements, and you're taking a risk.

We're going back and forth in this thread so let's reset with the actual language from "the man":



I think a lot of folks read just the first few bullets and don't read the rest. For a bull, the antlers CAN be evidence of sex, BUT that's only for an intact animal. If you quarter it out, "If a carcass is cut in pieces..." applies and "evidence of sex needs to be attached to quarter..."

Leaving the head attached to a front quarter would be a pretty insane pack-out, so the standard seems to be "one testicle per rear quarter" as the easiest option. I've spoken with two separate CPW officers about this and both said they consider the rear quarters to be the high-value meat from the animal. If your evidence is naturally attached to those, you're good to go. (And they want it on both.)

 

[CMF]

IMO, this does not comply with CPW's "evidence of sex" requirements, and you're taking a risk.

Agree, plan to leave the nuts going forward...

I think a lot of folks read just the first few bullets and don't read the rest.

I may have done that, along with hunting in other states and assuming regs were the same..

 

[Laelkhunter]

IMO, this does not comply with CPW's "evidence of sex" requirements, and you're taking a risk.

We're going back and forth in this thread so let's reset with the actual language from "the man":

View attachment 818521

I think a lot of folks read just the first few bullets and don't read the rest. For a bull, the antlers CAN be evidence of sex, BUT that's only for an intact animal. If you quarter it out, "If a carcass is cut in pieces..." applies and "evidence of sex needs to be attached to quarter..."

Leaving the head attached to a front quarter would be a pretty insane pack-out, so the standard seems to be "one testicle per rear quarter" as the easiest option. I've spoken with two separate CPW officers about this and both said they consider the rear quarters to be the high-value meat from the animal. If your evidence is naturally attached to those, you're good to go. (And they want it on both.)

Your last sentence "And they want it on both". By "they" you mean the two Officers you spoke to, or "they" meaning CPW? #4 above states that it needs to be attached to "a" quarter. I take that to mean either quarter, but not both. If it was required to be on "both" quarters, I'm sure it would be written that way.

 

[Laelkhunter]

And #4 also reads, attached to a quarter or another major part of the carcass. How could it be attached to another part of the carcass?? Where else might the testicle or penis be attached if not the quarter??

 

[Jethro]

so the standard seems to be "one testicle per rear quarter" as the easiest option.

You got balls (pun). Doubling down on your split testicle theory.

 

[cnelk]

Ive never split the nut sack or mammary or even skinned them out. Just leave it attached, skinned around.
Been checked plenty and if you have the EoS quarter/ game bag readily accessible you will be on your way within minutes.

 

[cnelk]

My Colorado cow moose from last fall.
Mandatory check in with no issue after it was quartered

 

[bz_711]

It's funny to think how better you get with this over time...my first bull was basically cock and balls with a little meat in a game bag

Last bull was perfectly de-skinned testicle attached to major portion of deboned rear quarter.

 

[Jethro]

I've never killed an elk in CO, so I haven't actually left EOS attached. Last year in WY I had a cow down and was going to leave it attached for practice. I need more practice because I ended up with the udders off and in my hand. Bagged them and accompanied the quarters.

 

[LongWayAround]

And #4 also reads, attached to a quarter or another major part of the carcass. How could it be attached to another part of the carcass?? Where else might the testicle or penis be attached if not the quarter??

The opportune word is "major." As in, not just a little chunk of boneless meat.

 

[KsRancher]

Ive never split the nut sack or mammary or even skinned them out. Just leave it attached, skinned around.
Been checked plenty and if you have the EoS quarter/ game bag readily accessible you will be on your way within minutes.

^this. Got checked in 2021. The warden looked into game bag with the EoS and said "looks good". The tag was also in that bag in a zip lock bag.

 

[Cheesehead]

My evidence of sex in Colorado was a couple used Trojans and a disappointed woman

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I just leave his nutsack on a quarter wherever I am. I carry a small plastic bag and a zip tie to keep the hair at bay.

 

[PredatoryProwler]

My Colorado cow moose from last fall.
Mandatory check in with no issue after it was quartered


View attachment 818586

Was Hair on meat not a bigger problem from that or did you put it in something like a ziplock?

I am thinking for bulls from what I am hearing from everyone is that it would be best to just put one ball on each hind quarter either skinned or in a zip lock.

 

[cnelk]

Was Hair on meat not a bigger problem from that or did you put it in something like a ziplock?

I am thinking for bulls from what I am hearing from everyone is that it would be best to just put one ball on each hind quarter either skinned or in a zip lock.

Not sure why everyone thinks hair from the scrotum or teats will get all over the meat.
The cutting is all done. No different than skinning the animal.
I ain’t carrying a flimsy plastic bag and a zip tie just for that.

Over the years we’ve pulled over a hundred elk out the hills without a problem