Montana game warden show

[butcherboy]

^
Yep, one of the craziest regulations we have.

 

[Andrew12gauge]

Huh? If it’s a whole elk as you say then proof of sex is the antler attached to the carcass.

And I’d love to see someone drag a bull elk out whole. Sounds like quite the story you’ve got yourself…

What state?

Antlers are not proof of sex in Idaho, I know we’re talking Montana here but just to point out how different states have different laws and interpretations


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[Ucsdryder]

Antlers are not proof of sex in Idaho, I know we’re talking Montana here but just to point out how different states have different laws and interpretations


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If you have a whole carcass with the antlers attached and no male parts, the antlers don’t count as proof in Idaho?

 

[Jason Snyder]

@Andrew12gauge

Idaho Admin. Code r. 13.01.08.350 - IDENTIFICATION OF SEX, SIZE, AND/OR SPECIES IN POSSESSION AND DURING TRANSPORTATION OR SHIPMENT
State Regulations
Compare
01. Evidence of Sex. Evidence of sex must be left naturally attached to the carcass of any big game animal until the carcass reaches the final place of storage or consumption or a commercial meat processing facility as follows:
a. In antlered or male only seasons, the evidence of sex requirement is met when the head, horns, or antlers are left naturally attached to the whole carcass or to a front quarter. If the head, horns, or antlers are removed, some other external evidence of sex (either scrotum, penis or testicles) must be left naturally attached to the carcass or to a hind quarter; and the horns or antlers must accompany the carcass while in transit.
b. In spike elk or two-point (2) deer only seasons, the evidence of sex requirement is met when the head with both complete unaltered antlers are left naturally attached to the whole carcass or to a front quarter. If the head or antlers are removed, some other external evidence of sex (either scrotum, penis or testicles) must be left naturally attached to the carcass or to a hind quarter; and both complete unaltered antlers naturally attached to each other must accompany the carcass while in transit.
c. In antlerless, doe/fawn or female only seasons, if the head is removed from female elk, moose, deer, pronghorn, or bighorn sheep, some other external evidence of sex (either udder or the vulva) must be left naturally attached to the carcass or to a hind quarter.
d. The entire head of antlerless male elk, moose, deer, or pronghorn, or a male lamb bighorn sheep killed during an antlerless, female, doe/fawn or ewe only season, may be left naturally attached to the carcass or to a front quarter. If the head is removed, some other external evidence of sex (either scrotum, penis, or testicles for males or udder or vulva for females) must be left naturally attached to the carcass or to a hind quarter.
e. For black bear, grizzly bear, mountain lion, and gray wolf, external evidence of sex (either scrotum, penis or testicles for males, or udder or vulva for females) must be left naturally attached to the hide until the mandatory check has been complied with.

 

[Rich M]

I think you are mistaken on what I’m saying.

I’m not arguing that anything is just or in just.
But another member indicated him and his entire camp and the majority or hunters never ever slip up even a little.

And I think that’s naive and laughable.

And I was just showing 1 very easy way that I think a lot of people could get pinched on. Because in most states I’ve ve hunted it says immediately tag.

Again I’m not saying it’s right or wrong. I’m saying there are a lot of little places a person could slip up and not even realize.

I gotcha. Kinda like using folks driving the speed limit.

True.

Sorry - i did misunderstand.

 

[def90]

I would find that hard to believe. Most guys I know follow the letter of the law. Maybe report some of these violators?

How many guys do you know vs how many tags are issued in your area per year?

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Thread 'Game laws that might mess you up.'

Oct 8, 2025

Each state has some big game hunting laws that are a little different from the others. What unique game laws have you seen that people from out of state get in trouble for or are unaware of? The intent of this is to encourage people to read regulations where they hunt, but also I think it will be entertaining to see some regional differences in hunting laws.

For example, in Alaska, the Head and Hide comes out of the field only once all edible portions of the animal are brought out.
In Colorado, the carcass tag is not to be attached to the antlers (if detached from the animal), but major...

• Gunnersdad49
• Replies: 198
• Forum: General Discussion Forum

• 

If you’ve never violated any fishing or hunting reg, you must not hunt or fish much…

 

[Speaks]

I would estimate that at least half of all big game animals are taken with some violation.

Im sure there may be huge numbers of accidental trivial violations but I have trouble believing half.

Might be partly regional though.

 

[AHayes111]

He mentions a tack compartment so Im guessing he had horses, but it seems a little fishy to me that you would drag a bull whole, then half it at the truck just to shoe horn it into the tack room of your horse trailer instead of the bed of your truck.

likely had the goose neck hooked up in the bed of the truck.

 

[mike.adams.467]

How many guys do you know vs how many tags are issued in your area per year?

I know many guys and the area is a general season unit for the most part. What's your point?

 

[BRTreedogs]

I can tell you the archery stamp almost got me on my first out of state hunt.

I thought I was good to go and I believe I seen it talked about on here and was like wtf.

I don’t mind paying. But just include it in the dang price of the tag, especially in MT $10 like who would risk getting in trouble over $10

 

[mt terry d]

No, this would have been legal under the old law. If the head was attached to the front half there is and was ever a legal requirement to have proof of sex on the other half.

According to the warden he could fine him and confiscate the animal

After a half hour of argument the warden “let him off” with a warning

Two horse trailer pulled by a van

My friend was an old WW2 veteran who would buy the nonresident tag, haul his horses out and basically just ride and camp while a couple friends and I would hunt
His odds had to have been 100:1 against ever killing an elk
He drug it out right into the Corral Bar parking lot where a bunch of other hunters all came out to congratulate him.
At his funeral his son said it was one of the proudest moments of his life

Then…….
He never bought another tag. Swore MTFWP would never get another penny from him.

 

[Pony Soldier]

Just a note- cows or does can have horns. Males of either species can be hornless even at older ages. It kind of complicates the issue.

 

[mt100gr.]

Just a note- cows or does can have horns. Males of either species can be hornless even at older ages. It kind of complicates the issue.

In a thread about technicalities, you should mention antlers, too!! The only cows and does i can think of with horns are domestic. Those will get you pinched.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Just a note- cows or does can have horns. Males of either species can be hornless even at older ages. It kind of complicates the issue.

Cows with horns are legal in bull units in all states I believe.

 

[Pony Soldier]

Antlers are an issue of hormones. It's not often but browtine bulls are possible without balls. It tends to complicate the program.

If the testicles are damaged after they shed, they can't grow another set. If they are damaged during velvet, they may never be able to shed them.

 

[DangerRanger]

In the east where I am I bet less than 10% of private land owners wear orange.

I’ve also had multiple guides tell/try to make me remove all orange while elk hunting on private and public

 

[mt100gr.]

Hence the terms "antlered" and "antlerless" for making that determination in the field. And then there are, of course, the specifics: point number, point length, branched, brown tine, etc. I've seen a "buck" with doe plumbing shot by a hunter, there was no citation.

 

[Jason Snyder]

According to the warden he could fine him and confiscate the animal

After a half hour of argument the warden “let him off” with a warning

Two horse trailer pulled by a van

My friend was an old WW2 veteran who would buy the nonresident tag, haul his horses out and basically just ride and camp while a couple friends and I would hunt
His odds had to have been 100:1 against ever killing an elk
He drug it out right into the Corral Bar parking lot where a bunch of other hunters all came out to congratulate him.
At his funeral his son said it was one of the proudest moments of his life

Then…….
He never bought another tag. Swore MTFWP would never get another penny from him.

Not disputing your recollection, but the law says what it says and the head/antlers attached to the largest portion of meat is and always was sufficient evidence of sex of animal.

Either there is more to the story or the warden was wrong.

 

[DaMitch]

Not disputing your recollection, but the law says what it says and the head/antlers attached to the largest portion of meat is and always was sufficient evidence of sex of animal.

Either there is more to the story or the warden was wrong.

A lot of interesting threads regarding wardens and the difference in laws state to state