Which states prohibit or limit field-quartering of big game?

[Jethro]

PA regs are vague on the subject. Elk it is stated you can, but provides no guidelines that need to be followed (perhaps hunters that draw tags are provided more specifics). Our bears need to be registered and 99.9% are brought in whole, gutted. But it says can just bring head and hide so I assume field quartering would be ok.

Deer it doesn't say anything either way. I do gutless on my deer and pack out. I pack out the whole head because 1 of our laws is the tag has to be on the ear. I've been thinking of skinning off the head and carrying out the scalp with my tag on it, but haven't done it yet. I'll post up some screen shots when I switch to my phone.

 

[Jethro]

PA elk


PA bear

 

[Macintosh]

PA regs are vague on the subject. Elk it is stated you can, but provides no guidelines that need to be followed (perhaps hunters that draw tags are provided more specifics). Our bears need to be registered and 99.9% are brought in whole, gutted. But it says can just bring head and hide so I assume field quartering would be ok.

Deer it doesn't say anything either way. I do gutless on my deer and pack out. I pack out the whole head because 1 of our laws is the tag has to be on the ear. I've been thinking of skinning off the head and carrying out the scalp with my tag on it, but haven't done it yet. I'll post up some screen shots when I switch to my phone.

This is what I found--from this link dated 2021: https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/game-commission-details.aspx?newsid=518

looks like an official game commission press release to me:

"Hunters can quarter or debone a deer in the field. They still must carry out the properly-tagged head for disposal. Hunters who take a buck also have the option to remove individual antlers or a cleaned skull cap of a deer and bring those out of the woods, with their tag attached to those antlers."

 

[Jethro]

This is what I found

That is a good find, thank you. I didn't see that tucked in with our CWD rules.

 

[LongWayAround]

I had a LEO in South Dakota insist that if I killed a doe whitetail, I was to pack out the head.

I found that strange.

 

[Lwilliams]

We quarter here in WY

 

[TheM1DoesMyTalking]

Washington allows quartering and provides guidance here:
https://www.eregulations.com/washington/hunting/tagging-transporting-game

 

[Rifleman86]

Ohio requires game to be “checked” via the online portal prior to processing IIRC. So it’s fine to quarter if you have cell service, but if you don’t you are SOL.

I actually plan on bringing this up at the next wildlife meeting. Quartering in the field should be encouraged as a means to reduce CWD spread.

 

[Dougsch28]

Here in NJ they added "unlawful for any person to place, leave, dump or abandon .....Carcass or parts ...along a public right of-way etc." To our Wanton Waste law. Though this technically makes packing out illegal, it was written to stop lazy hunters from dumping carcasses in parking lots after butchering. CO's have discretion and all I have talked to would not write the ticket for packing out a deer or bear. I have not dragged whole deer out of the woods in many years and would enjoy the chance to argue that ticket if needed. However, 99% of hunters still drag here. Packing has never been a part of the hunting culture here. Makes no sense to me and YES there are plenty of places in NJ where big bucks are killed miles from the trail head.

 

[huntineveryday]

Nebraska's regs state you can't separate into less than bone-in quarters prior to check-in. During rifle season that is done at check stations, other seasons it can be done via phone or website.

 

[Macintosh]

My state (VT) apparently allows it in some cases, but it is universally ambiguous and there is zero clear published guidance. I am initiating the process with the board that does hunting and fishing regulations in my state to clarify the existing regs and try to make sure that any clarification allows field quartering--even the state deer and moose biologist says its a non-issue for them. All of the other states I've big game hunted allow this and have clear guidance on any rules that need to be followed (what parts need to come out, leaving proof of sex, etc). For example, a friend in Maine sent me their verbiage which reads:
“Prior to registration, bear, deer, and moose may be dismembered for ease of transportation, all edible meat, the head and evidence of sex must be presented for registration. The viscera, hide, lower legs and rib cage, including the ribs, spine and pelvis, are not required to be presented for registration but must be disposed of where they are not visible to a person traveling on a public or private way.”
I'm also aware of a few states that either dont allow it or have weird requirements that either make it difficult, unrealistic or bothersome. Which states prohibit or limit this? I'd love to hear any details as well as reasoning as to why those regs exist.

edit: Major bonus points for a link to your states regulation about this!

Well, some good news. I initially posted this specifically to get some verbiage and insight into this topic across the country that I could use to request that my state explicitly allow this. I and a few friends did formally request that our department clarify regs to allow this. The 2025 Vermont syllabus was recently published, and it does now include verbiage that allows quartering deer and bear in the field in all seasons, regardless of whether or not you have cell service.

 

[West.mass.hunter]

Massachusetts. Besides gutted, deer and bear need to stay intact until processed.

 

[tim tarras]

This is Wisconsin's rules. Kinda dumb that you have to leave the head attached to a quarter. I believe bear is the same way and hide must be kept intact to measure length for the minimum size requirement.

Edit: just reading it again I realize the whole rib cage needs to be packed out…

Yes and No. The law also states that once the deer is register you can process it. So if you are able to register in the field you can then process it in the field. I did verify this with the warden in my area.

 

[Weldor]

All very interesting, I love how the state game agency's just assume everyone has a cell phone to e-check animals. I know plenty of hunters who don't use a cell or want one.

 

[BucksNBulls]

All Western states that I know of,
California
Nevada
Idaho
Oregon
Washington
Montana
Wyoming
New Mexico
Arizona
Utah
Colorado
That I've hunted. Are all States that you can field Quarter your animal. Just leave evidence of sex and or bring out the head.

We use the gutless method always.