Elk NetworkHow to Preserve Evidence of a Big Game Animal’s Sex and Species

General | October 18, 2022

Below is a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Failure to leave evidence of sex and species naturally attached to a big game animal, remains one of the most common violations detected at Fish and Game check stations, so in order to help hunters, Fish and Game staff have created a helpful video below that is especially important for those hunting within a CWD Management Zone, which is currently Units 14-15.

Determining if the evidence of sex requirement has been met is one of the first tasks completed by Fish and Game staff when you pull into the check station with your animal.

So if you are fortunate enough to fill your tag this season, do two things immediately upon downing the animal. First, correctly validate your tag and attach it to your animal, then determine how you plan to leave evidence of sex and species attached.

In the following video, Clearwater Regional Conservation Officer, George Fischer demonstrates how to leave sex organs (nipple or testicle) and evidence of species (skinned tail-to comply with CWD regulations) naturally attached to the hind quarter. Idaho Fish and Game regulations requires evidence of sex and species to be left naturally attached until the carcass is delivered to a meat processor or it reaches the final place of storage for consumption.

In the case of mountain lions and black bears, external sex organs must be left naturally attached to the hide until it has been checked by a Fish and Game Officer or an individual approved by the Department of Fish and Game to check the animal.

If you have any questions regarding what the requirement of preserving evidence of sex and species on harvested big game animals entails, please review the big game rules section of the regulation booklet. For further information, call the Clearwater Regional office at 208-799-5010.

(Video source: Idaho Department of Fish and Game)