Found a dead deer

[Stretcher Guy]

We found dead 9 pointer this morning. A bow hunter shot it as there was an arrow next to it. Guess they couldn't find it. Its starting to decompose. Do I need to report this to the DEC? I took GPS coords just in case.

[arrow nocker]

if you want the head and rack for a european skull mount,you can call dec for a found carcus tag for the head and rack.That way you aren;t leaving the woods with a head with out a tag on it.Otherwise you don't need to report it.The cyotes and other critters will do their work.

Those horns would make good rattling horns for ya.Take fine tooth saw and cut them off.The deer mice and porky pines will have them chewed up after a while.

[sidewinder]

hate finding those out in the woods but it happens. like stated above if you want the rack or head call dec so they can tag it for ya. if not let ma nature do her thing.

[Stretcher Guy]

Its on Long Island so no yotes or porky pines. It is about 70 miles from home so won't be able to get back anytime soon. But is a found tag needed to cut off the rack? Wanna do everything by the books.

[sidewinder]

i am unsure about the found tag issue/question so i can only tell you to call a game officer and ask them that question. sry i could not be of more help to you and good luck shame to let all go for nothing.

Edited November 23, 2012 by sidewinder

[HuntOrBeHunted]

I would just leave it to be honest it may sound harsh but the dec wont do much im thinking. It's horrible but after a while of hunting we all might loose a deer or 2.. I luckly have never lost a deer that I know I hit.

[wooly]

It is about 70 miles from home so won't be able to get back anytime soon. But is a found tag needed to cut off the rack? Wanna do everything by the books.

If you wanted to keep the deer or rack after reporting it, a CO may require you to put any un-used tags you may have on it.

He/she could issue you a carcass tag for a found deer.... OR they may not issue you anything and confiscate the deer if anything looks suspisious.

I pick up a lot of dead deer skulls post season while shed hunting and never had a problem. I doubt I'd be hauling any out of the woods while it's still season though. I'd be afraid just looking guilty of foul play would get me in unecessary trouble. Good chance he'll still be there post season. Critters will have him cleaned up real nice by then if you still want the skull.

[Stretcher Guy]

So there will be no problem if I go back post season and pick up the skull? That is if its still there.

[wooly]

I took home 15 buck skulls this past off season with no problems.

[arrow nocker]

I took home 15 buck skulls this past off season with no problems.

holly crap.hope they weren't all from the same area.LOL.

[WNY Bowhunter]

Back in October I found a large 8-pt while out scouting one afternoon. I contacted the Region 8 office several days later and talked to an ECO for 10 minutes on the phone. He told me thad their job is to regulate the "deer on the hoof" (what's in the freezer), not the antlers. He said this subject has a lot of gray areas but it's best to call them in a situation like this. In a nutshell, he said that it would be up to the investigating officer's disgretion. At the end of the conversation he went on to say that this deer sounded like a car kill so it would be OK to go ahead and remove the antlers. I told him that I already had and he responded by saying to contact them first in the future. Honestly, after talking to him I was more confused about this matter than I was before???

I emailed another Region 8 ECO and here is the reponse that I got : "Hello Jason, there are no regulations that prohibit the removal of antlers from a dead deer provided the deer was not illegally killed."

Edited November 23, 2012 by WNY Bowhunter

[rong]

legally you cant cut horns off dead deer,you need a tag to possess any part of a deer,road kill found in the woods etc...i doubt eco will give you a tag to take the horns

[WNY Bowhunter]

legally you cant cut horns off dead deer,you need a tag to possess any part of a deer,road kill found in the woods etc...i doubt eco will give you a tag to take the horns

Not true. It is illegal to posses the meat, hide or hoofs. It is not illegal to possess the antlers.

[rong]

must be a gray area,I found a road kill yrs ago,still in velvet,took horns to taxi to mt on a plate and he wouldnt do it ,had to have carcas tag,looked in regs and cant find anything on it

[shawnhu]

Did you keep the arrow?

[Stretcher Guy]

Yes I kept the arrow. It was lying on the ground next to the deer. I didn't want anyone to get hurt by it.

[greensider]

looks like he had a lot of potential real nice for a yearling

[Five Seasons]

Its on Long Island so no yotes or porky pines. It is about 70 miles from home so won't be able to get back anytime soon. But is a found tag needed to cut off the rack? Wanna do everything by the books.

was a little surprised to see it still there and that explains it. I'd just cap it and leave it be.

[arrow nocker]

cut them horns off.You will be glad you have them next yr to rattle some bucks in with.Fine tooth hack saw works well.

[Guns&ReligionCop]

Yes I kept the arrow. It was lying on the ground next to the deer. I didn't want anyone to get hurt by it.

Your a nice guy taking the arrow for safety reasons, I would have just taken it finders keepers

[Larry]

I would put a trail cam over it to see what comes to it for a snack

[erussell]

Wouldnt want anyone to trip and fall on an arrow laying around the woods. Sorry ive been told im a real smartass.