Is it legal in your state to gut a deer on public land?

[huntin_addict]

Everyone I know guts their deer where it falls in PA, but I don’t know anyone who quarters it and packs it out or if that’s even legal and I can’t find anything about it in the game commission digest.

It is legal to quarter and carry in PA.

 

[huntin_addict]

I gut the ones on private near the road. I toss the boys back into the woods. I don't want anyone to know I shot a buck. Wouldn't leave them on display in public either. If I did I would hang them next to someone else's set up.

I did exactly that 2 years ago. Hung a set of nuts about 10 feet from someones blind window. I figured with all the litter he left laying, a set of buck balls wouldn't be a problem.

 

[boyne bowhunter]

I believe Michigan read you can't leave the carcass. I don't recall anything about the gut pile.

The newer Michigan regulations are clear as mud. I had posted in a similar thread a few years back that the 2018 Hunting Guide used this exact verbiage:

Direct from the 2018 Guide:

"Deer Carcass Disposal
Dumping of deer carcasses or other wild animals is unlawful, can spread disease,
and may result in a ticket. Hunters who process their deer should properly
dispose of all parts. The hide, brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, tonsils, bones, and
head should be disposed of in an approved landfill. "

I don't find any reference as to carcass disposal in the new guide except as pertains to moving carcasses with respect to CWD core areas. I also checked the actual Wildlife Conservation Orders and didn't find any reference in there. I highly doubt that means it would be considered legal to go dump a carcass on public land though.

 

[GeoFish]

KY. Yes, also quarter, debone as long as you telecheck before processing or proff of sex must be keep.

 

[DroptineKrazy]

The newer Michigan regulations are clear as mud. I had posted in a similar thread a few years back that the 2018 Hunting Guide used this exact verbiage:

Direct from the 2018 Guide:

"Deer Carcass Disposal
Dumping of deer carcasses or other wild animals is unlawful, can spread disease,
and may result in a ticket. Hunters who process their deer should properly
dispose of all parts. The hide, brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, tonsils, bones, and
head should be disposed of in an approved landfill. "

I don't find any reference as to carcass disposal in the new guide except as pertains to moving carcasses with respect to CWD core areas. I also checked the actual Wildlife Conservation Orders and didn't find any reference in there. I highly doubt that means it would be considered legal to go dump a carcass on public land though.

Tonsils? Seriously?

 

[arrow30]

I’m in Missouri and the answer is No.

really? i do! and have been for ever.

 

[Topdog]

Many many moons ago we used to have to leave the male organs on the skin but you could gut it. Thankfully they have stricken that from the rules. Its unclear in the NY regs as far as I can tell. I know in our hunter and bowhunter classes that are a requirement of the state, field dressing and game care is an important topic..... deducing from that, I would think "gutting" or field dressing is certainly allowed. I am unclear about quartering but I know some guys who do. I think it all comes down to the impact on wanton waste. They want to make sure people just aren't hunting to kill and let it waste away. I would think a carcass with just bones and a gut pile would satisfy that requirement but who knows.

It was my understanding that up until last year when NY finally made some new rule changes we didn’t even have a wanton waste law, can you imagine.. I asked a CO a couple years ago about cleaning fish, I like to clean my brookies before I head home and that law has always confused me, he told me the fish cleaning rules were because of the Salmon River and people making a huge mess in the parking lot all the time, just don’t do it near the boat launch he said.

 

[GCTerpfan]

In MD you can quarter and pack out your deer as long as it has been checked in. You can check in your deer via phone or with an App, so the only limiting factor is having cell service.

 

[LtMoe66]

really? i do! and have been for ever.

No meaning you can gut your deer on public ground. You are not allowed to dispose of any part of the animal in waterways, and of course there are the CWD zones which have regs also. Maybe I read the initial question wrong. I DID! Thought it said illegal! Sorry!

 

[LtMoe66]

Could you point me to that in the regs? I havent been able to find it.

See my edit my bad! Thought it said illegal

 

[LtMoe66]

Before I get bashed too bad for reading the initial question to fast! I went back to edit my post. I miss read and thought it said illegal. My bad! It is definitely legal to gut deer in Missouri on public! Otherwise I should have been arrested many years ago!

 

[slonstdy]

Is in legal in your state to gut a deer on public land?
It's really not your fault for misreading the title as the OP may be back on the sauce...

 

[LtMoe66]

really? i do! and have been for ever.

Please see my edit. Sorry.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Is in legal in your state to gut a deer on public land?
It's really not your fault for misreading the title as the OP may be back on the sauce...

Guess it depends on what their definition of "in" is, lol.

 

[Rickor]

N.J. yes on gutting deer on public land,(County, State, and Wildlife Management.) Not sure about conservation land.

 

[Tim0712]

I gut the ones on private near the road. I toss the boys back into the woods. I don't want anyone to know I shot a buck. Wouldn't leave them on display in public either. If I did I would hang them next to someone else's set up.

I’ve never heard it put like that around here the superstition is hang the nuts for good luck

 

[Spartan]

Legal in my state of MD. If it's good hunting land, that gut pile will be completely gone by the next sunrise anyhow, nothing more than a stain on the ground, so I've never given it much thought.

 

[TooheyBirdie]

In Minnesota, only thing you can leave behind are the guts and stuff in the chest cavity... I take my heart and liver but not everyone does... you can quarter the deer out if you want but the head can't be detached and u can't leave the carcass after quartering and pulling the backstraps and tenderloins... because of this I don't think quartering is worth the trouble... so either drag it out or make a deer backpack Clay Newcomb style....

 

[Iron_llama]

In Minnesota, only thing you can leave behind are the guts and stuff in the chest cavity... I take my heart and liver but not everyone does... you can quarter the deer out if you want but the head can't be detached and u can't leave the carcass after quartering and pulling the backstraps and tenderloins... because of this I don't think quartering is worth the trouble... so either drag it out or make a deer backpack Clay Newcomb style....

Being a MN hunter, the idea of not gutting a deer where it falls - or reasonably close to that place - is baffling to me. Especially in someplace as hot as Alabama, I'd think to prevent spoilage (and wanton waste) you'd be encouraged to gut and cool the carcass ASAP. Every now and again you'll find a ribcage or processed bones near an access point, which I've always thought was tacky and trashy. I'll either take mine to the dump or, more likely, dump the bones in my woods where I can keep an eye on what critters are nibbling on it.

Coyotes, crows, and other scavengers will make quick work of a gut pile, they'll rarely last more than 12 hours in my experience. I wonder what advantage Alabama sees to this restriction.

 

[LtMoe66]

FYI-One rule I would be aware of in Missouri is that you can not quarter your deer out unless it has been completely telechecked in. Not Notched but completely checked in and given a confirmation number. You still have to provide proof of sex also.