Idaho Road kill elk

[meathunter]

Went archery deer hunting the other day and came across a truck that was halfway in the highway wrecked and a cow elk also in the road. An Idaho Transportation person was there and we helped him get the elk off the highway. The elk had a couple of broken legs, but otherwise was in good shape (other than being dead). The Transportation official said for me to call the local Idaho F & G for a salvage permit, which I did.

We quickly got a salvage permit and did a gutless quartering of the elk. While we didn't harvest a deer, we came back with an elk! The meat is great, although somewhat tenderized, no wasted bullets, salvaged an elk that would have gone to waste or fed predators. Easy pack out. Anyway, easy to do in Idaho if you ever come across fresh roadkill. Just happened to rest my bow on the "kill" lol

 

[Ikeepitcold]

That's cool they let you take the meat.

 

[JimP]

That's the way to do it. I'm kind of surprised that they allowed you to salvage the meat on the side of the road. Most areas require you to move the whole animal to another location before you even clean it. This cuts down on the number of scavengers that will come into a gut pile or a pile of bones and some meat right on the side of the road and create another accident.

Just as a fyi for others, a lot of states allow you to take game animals with a salvage permit even if you are not the person that hit the animal. You just need to contact the proper authorities to get it. Some states require you to contact the fish and game department and others you just need to get a permit from the officer on the scene of the accident.

 

[meathunter]

Yes, I was surprised too! The ID F & G Game gave me a permit number over the phone and sent the actual permit to my email. Didn't even have to go to the office. No tag, or fees! You're right, JimP, about leaving the carcass on the side, I should have taken it away and disposed of it better.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

That's the way to do it. I'm kind of surprised that they allowed you to salvage the meat on the side of the road. Most areas require you to move the whole animal to another location before you even clean it. This cuts down on the number of scavengers that will come into a gut pile or a pile of bones and some meat right on the side of the road and create another accident.

Just as a fyi for others, a lot of states allow you to take game animals with a salvage permit even if you are not the person that hit the animal. You just need to contact the proper authorities to get it. Some states require you to contact the fish and game department and others you just need to get a permit from the officer on the scene of the accident.

Used to be able to do it here in Colorado, but they changed the rules a few years back. In the past if you hit a game animal or saw one hit, you could get a permit from the State Hwy Patrol to salvage the meat/animal. . Now you can't even do that. I don't know how many deer I see just rotting on the road. IMHO it is a shame to see it all go to waste.

 

[JimP]

Used to be able to do it here in Colorado, but they changed the rules a few years back. In the past if you hit a game animal or saw one hit, you could get a permit from the State Hwy Patrol to salvage the meat/animal. . Now you can't even do that. I don't know how many deer I see just rotting on the road. IMHO it is a shame to see it all go to waste.

I'll have to talk to my neighbor, he is a retired state patrol man and see what he knows about it. I know that when he was active he gave out quite a few permits.

I know that usually a with a deer there usually isn't anything left to salvage, but a elk is a different animal so to speak.

 

[kidoggy]

Used to be able to do it here in Colorado, but they changed the rules a few years back. In the past if you hit a game animal or saw one hit, you could get a permit from the State Hwy Patrol to salvage the meat/animal. . Now you can't even do that. I don't know how many deer I see just rotting on the road. IMHO it is a shame to see it all go to waste.

I agree it sucks to see all the dead animals ,I can no longer kill myself but NATURE lets nothing go to waste. it may not get consumed by A human but it will get consumed by something, even if that something is maggots.

 

[SGM]

You can still get road kill meat in Colorado just need to jump thru a hoop to do so. Not really a big deal to get.

Per Colorado Wildlife Commission Regulation No. 016 C3 Dated Jan 11, 2017

#016 - PROCEDURES FOR DONATION OF EDIBLE PORTIONS OF WILDLIFE BY THE DIVISION
A. Except as otherwise provided, each Regional Manager shall be responsible for the disposition
of all wildlife confiscated or otherwise obtained by Division personnel within his region and
shall keep storage reports, correspondence, and other records necessary to document
compliance with the provisions of this Chapter.
B. Each person who receives wildlife under provisions of this Chapter shall receive a receipt or a
donation certificate evidencing its lawful possession and designating the conditions under
which the wildlife may be used, and if necessary, establishing a limit for such use.
C. Any person desiring to possess edible portions of road-killed wildlife from any road in the state
of Colorado is permitted to do so, provided that he/she possesses one of the following:
1. A prior letter of authorization from the Division.
a. Letters of authorization shall be available by the Director to any person or entity which
commits to putting such wildlife to a beneficial use (e.g., providing for its consumption
by humans or captive animals), or
2. A valid scientific collecting permit for the specific species, or
38
3. A donation certificate or tag issued by the Division or any entity authorized by the Division.
A person must notify the Division or other authorized agency within 48 hours of taking
possession of the animal to obtain a donation certificate. The person requesting the
certificate may have to present the animal for inspection, to verify its possession meets
the criteria of this regulation.
D. None of the provisions of this section shall apply to wildlife species covered under the Federal
Migratory Bird Treaty Act; federal or state threatened or endangered species; or those species
whose possession is prohibited by federal or state statute or regulation.
E. With respect to processed meat, the Division may require payment by the donee of actual
processing costs.

 

[AKaviator]

Was that elk hit on highway 95, just north of Coure D Alene?
If so I drove right by you!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

You can still get road kill meat in Colorado just need to jump thru a hoop to do so. Not really a big deal to get.

Per Colorado Wildlife Commission Regulation No. 016 C3 Dated Jan 11, 2017

#016 - PROCEDURES FOR DONATION OF EDIBLE PORTIONS OF WILDLIFE BY THE DIVISION
A. Except as otherwise provided, each Regional Manager shall be responsible for the disposition
of all wildlife confiscated or otherwise obtained by Division personnel within his region and
shall keep storage reports, correspondence, and other records necessary to document
compliance with the provisions of this Chapter.
B. Each person who receives wildlife under provisions of this Chapter shall receive a receipt or a
donation certificate evidencing its lawful possession and designating the conditions under
which the wildlife may be used, and if necessary, establishing a limit for such use.
C. Any person desiring to possess edible portions of road-killed wildlife from any road in the state
of Colorado is permitted to do so, provided that he/she possesses one of the following:
1. A prior letter of authorization from the Division.
a. Letters of authorization shall be available by the Director to any person or entity which
commits to putting such wildlife to a beneficial use (e.g., providing for its consumption
by humans or captive animals), or
2. A valid scientific collecting permit for the specific species, or
38
3. A donation certificate or tag issued by the Division or any entity authorized by the Division.
A person must notify the Division or other authorized agency within 48 hours of taking
possession of the animal to obtain a donation certificate. The person requesting the
certificate may have to present the animal for inspection, to verify its possession meets
the criteria of this regulation.
D. None of the provisions of this section shall apply to wildlife species covered under the Federal
Migratory Bird Treaty Act; federal or state threatened or endangered species; or those species
whose possession is prohibited by federal or state statute or regulation.
E. With respect to processed meat, the Division may require payment by the donee of actual
processing costs.

About 10 years ago my son hit a deer right in front of my place so I called the local warden. We had the doe gutted and hung up when he got here. He looked for any bullet holes, then saw that it's neck was broken plus the dent in my sons truck fender and gave him a permit to harvest it. Pretty easy back then, surely a PITA today.

I have a neighbor who is a state patrolman and he is the one who told me they couldn't OK the harvesting of road kill anymore.

 

[meathunter]

Was that elk hit on highway 95, just north of Coure D Alene?
If so I drove right by you!

Must have been someone else. This was one was near Challis on highway 93

 

[BHunt98]

New to Idaho... Is a salvage permit like that free? I'm a student (aka I'm Broke lol)

 

[kidoggy]

meathunter
meathunter is offline
Senior Member

Join Date
Jun 2012
Location
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Posts
140
Thanks
58
Thanked 42 Times in 28 Posts
Congratulations
14
Congratulated 41 Times in 8 Posts

Yes, I was surprised too! The ID F & G Game gave me a permit number over the phone and sent the actual permit to my email. Didn't even have to go to the office. No tag, or fees! You're right, JimP, about leaving the carcass on the side, I should have taken it away and disposed of it better.

 

[wjohnson1983]

You can put your name on a roadkill list in Alaska and the troopers work down the list and call you if they find one that is salvageable. Decline to go get it enough times, and they take your name off the list. They last a while in the winter up there

 

[meathunter]

New to Idaho... Is a salvage permit like that free? I'm a student (aka I'm Broke lol)

Yes, permit is free, don't need to use your tag, no bullet expense, just a phone call to the local Idaho F & G. They will give you a permit number and email you the permit. You will want to have the location, the portions of meat you take and some personal info. No need to go into the F & G office. Great for students!

 

[RICMIC]

I've had four road killed moose in Minnesota over the years. They put me on the bottom of the list after I get one, but that 2:00am phone call, with 35 degree weather, rain, and out in the boondocks somewhere tends to make others reconsider. Deer are easy for most folks, and they tend to be taken by whoever hits it or the next passerby. In MN the person who hits a moose can't keep it, and they are usually busy getting their vehicle towed or on the way to the hospital anyway.

 

[hunter mojo]

That is good to know. Way to go on the elk salvage permit.

 

[SouthForkguy]

sweet! nothing better than free meat