Tips to retain evidence of sex for Fish and Game
Hunters are required to retain evidence of sex on all harvested big game animals.
Failure to leave evidence of sex and species naturally attached to a big game animal remains one of the most common violations detected at Idaho Fish and Game check stations, so in order to help hunters, Fish and Game staff have created a helpful video that walks them through how to leave evidence of sex and species intact on a big game animal. Find it online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uFN4hE0acg.
In the 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 chronic wasting disease regulations) naturally attached to the hind quarter.
Determining if the evidence of sex requirement has been met is one of the first tasks completed by Fish and Game staff when pulling into the check station with your animal.
When filling a tag this season, do two things immediately upon downing the animal:
• First, correctly validate your tag and attach it to your animal.
• Then determine a plan to leave evidence of sex and species attached.
Idaho Fish and Game regulations require evidence of sex and species to be left naturally attached until the carcass is delivered to a meat processor or until 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 Idaho Department of Fish and Game to check the animal.
With 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 brochure online at idfg.idaho.gov. For information, call the Clearwater Regional office at 208-799-5010.
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Connor Liess is a public information specialist with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.