OAR 635-065-0765: Tagging, Possession, Transportation and Evidence of Sex

(1) Except for subsection (14), the provisions of this rule do not apply to carcasses or parts thereof from deer or elk salvaged pursuant to a Roadkill Salvage Permit; see OAR 635-043-0175 for deer and elk salvage rules. (2) When the owner of any game mammal tag kills a game mammal for which a paper tag is issued, the owner shall immediately validate the tag by writing on the tag, in ink, the date and time of harvest, and the Wildlife Management Unit where harvest occurred; and attach the tag in plain sight securely to the game mammal. (a) Paper tags are not valid until signed. (b) It is unlawful to have in possession an unsigned tag and/or reproduction/photocopied tag(s). (3) All electronic tag holders, immediately after taking a game mammal for which the tag was issued, must validate the tag by pressing the “validate” or “tag” button on the image of the tag in the Department’s Electronic Licensing System mobile application. Once validated a confirmation number will become visible. The tag holder must then securely affix a physical record to the game mammal. That record must include: the tag owner’s name, date of birth, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife identification number, harvest date, and confirmation number. That record must be written legibly in permanent ink, and may be on any suitable material and attached in plain sight securely to the game mammal. (4) The required information, or paper game mammal tag, must be maintained in legible condition at all times. The tag shall be kept attached to such carcass or remain with any parts thereof so long as the same are preserved. (5) It is unlawful to possess the meat or carcass of any deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, or Rocky Mountain goat without evidence of sex while in the field, forest, or in transit on any of the highways or premises open to the public in Oregon, except processed or cut and wrapped meat. Hunters must choose one of two options for providing evidence of sex for deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, or Rocky Mountain goat: (a) Option 1: The animals head or scalp from the eyes to the ears for females, and antlers or horns for males, or; (b) Option 2: A reproductive organ (a testicle, penis, udder or vulva) attached to a major portion of meat. For White-tailed Deer and Mule Deer Only Hunts, the tail must be retained for proof of species. (c) Option 1, (4)(a), must be used for hunts with antler point restrictions. (6) When any game mammal or part thereof is transferred to the possession of another person either an electronic record shall be recorded in the Electronic License System or a written record shall accompany such transfer and include: (a) A description of the game mammal or part being transferred; (b) The name, address, and ODFW ID number of the person whose tag or required information if an electronic tag was originally attached to the carcass; (c) The issued date and time of a paper tag or the confirmation number of an electronic tag; and (d) The date and time of harvest. (e) The written record shall remain with such game mammal or part so long as the same is preserved or until replaced by a tag or seal of the Department. (7) All game mammals in possession in the field or forest or in transit more than 48 hours after the close of the open season for such mammal must be tagged with a tag or metal seal by the Department or by the Oregon State Police. (8) It is unlawful to receive or have in possession any game mammal or part thereof which: (a) Is not properly tagged; (b) Was taken in violation of any wildlife laws or regulations; or (c) Was taken by any person who is or may be exempt from the jurisdiction of such laws or regulations. (9) No person shall possess any game mammal or part thereof which has been illegally killed, found or killed for humane reasons, except lawfully obtained shed antlers, unless they have notified and received permission from the Department or personnel of the Oregon State Police prior to transporting. (10) No person shall possess the horns of bighorn sheep or Rocky Mountain goat that were not taken legally during an authorized season. Any horns of bighorn sheep or Rocky Mountain goat obtained by the Department may be made available to scientific and educational institutions and for ceremonial purposes. (11) Except for the following parts, importation or possession of a cervid carcass or parts of a cervid carcass from another state or country is prohibited: (a) Meat that is cut and wrapped commercially or privately; (b) Meat that has been boned out; (c) Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached; (d) Hides and/or capes with no head attached; (e) Skull plates with antlers attached that have been cleaned of all meat and brain tissue; (f) Entire skulls that have been processed to remove all meat and brain tissue; (g) Antlers removed in the pedical area or naturally shed with no brain tissue attached; (h) Upper canine teeth (buglers, whistlers, ivories); (i) Finished taxidermy heads and European style skull mounts. ( 12 ) The parts and carcass import ban in subsection 11 does not apply to parts or carcasses shipped to the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory (Ashland, Oregon) for the purpose of law enforcement investigations. ( 13 ) Cervid carcasses or parts of cervid carcasses found in Oregon in violation of the parts and carcass ban in subsection 11 shall be seized and disposed of in a manner as follows: (a) Brain tissue, spinal columns, and whole heads or heads minus the cleaned skull plate and attached antlers, shall be disposed of either by incineration at temperatures exceeding 1800° F or at lined landfills registered by Oregon Department of Environmental Quality capable of accepting animal carcasses without environmental contamination; rendering is not an allowed means of disposal. (b) The person(s) who imported parts in violation of the parts and carcass ban in subsection 10 shall pay for appropriate disposal of cervid carcasses or parts of cervid carcasses. (14) The operator of a vehicle that is transporting wildlife or parts of wildlife , whether taken in Oregon or in another state, is subject to administrative inspection of the wildlife or parts of wildlife when arriving at a wildlife inspection station. The purpose of the inspection is limited to collecting biological samples and inspecting for disease in order to protect and maintain the health of wildlife in Oregon by preventing diseased wildlife and wildlife parts from entering the state. (a) Inspection stations are identified by a sign stating “Wildlife Inspection Station” or “CWD Check Station”. (b) This subsection does not apply to the transporting of wildlife parts that have been processed by a food establishment.