what i have learned about people ...

[BrianL]

Deer, beer, money, opposite sex, sports, business, religion (or lack there of),..............

[Killer]

Isn't the definition of integrity of doing the right thing when nobody is watching?

[30-30]

I wouldn't push this theory during deer season. It could cost you some jack. The best thing to do is leave it laying. Head and all.

Yep. It won't fly if a game warden finds out you shot the deer those antlers belonged to.

[denowt]

I wouldn't push this theory during deer season. It could cost you some jack. The best thing to do is leave it laying. Head and all.

It's not a "theory".

pg 64 of the annual
If the animal is a deer and the head is severed from the carcass (body), then the appropriate tag or applicable permit must remain attached to the carcass

To clear up any questions with a GW encounter, take a picture of the carcass before you take the head/antlers.
I do this all the time with skulls/carcasses that I find of deer that are hit by cars, then die on my land.

[Razorback01]

Well- good thing it wasn't a button buck mistaken for a doe.

Killer, your definition is correct.

[dustoffer]

Isn't the definition of integrity of doing the right thing when nobody is watching?

Absolutely! And it applies to hunting, fishing, driving, at the supermarket checkout (when the clerk gives you too much change by mistake), etc.

[GarGuy]

Yep. It won't fly if a game warden finds out you shot the deer those antlers belonged to.

Actually my information on this origionated from a game warden. I posted on the other thread that a guy in camp with me shot a deer in the morning. We found it around 11am and coyotes had eaten most of it. There was a gamewarden in the group and he advised that the deer need not be tagged as the tag was for the meat which couldn't be recovered.

Shooting deer and intentionally letting them spoil to get the head is illegal and highly offensive to me.

[PondPopper]

It's not a "theory".

pg 64 of the annual
If the animal is a deer and the head is severed from the carcass (body), then the appropriate tag or applicable permit must remain attached to the carcass

To clear up any questions with a GW encounter, take a picture of the carcass before you take the head/antlers.
I do this all the time with skulls/carcasses that I find of deer that are hit by cars, then die on my land.

I understand that(pg 64) but you cant just go around picking up heads. Even if you DO sever it from the dead rotting body......

You might get away with this with your game warden but it will be a risky practice for most.

[DeadeyeDeb]

I too am amazed at what deer hunting does to some folks' integrity. To me a deer is just not worth it but to some folks the integrity switch flips and the "do as I say not as I do" rears its ugly head. Many a friendship and trust has been ruined because of whitetail deer ANTLERSand its a **** SHAME..

Fify

[LogFlinger]

Karma.....

[denowt]

I understand that(pg 64) but you cant just go around picking up heads. Even if you DO sever it from the dead rotting body......

You might get away with this with your game warden but it will be a risky practice for most.

Why not?
Picking up an animal's skull on your private property is not illegal.
As I stated before, I would definitely snap a picture of the rotting carcass before you remove the head, just in case a warden questions you about it later.