I’ve started using the word “tribute” to replace trophy. Seems to be more accurate since the mount is more of a tribute to an awesome animal.I feel the hunting regulation system is no different than any other legal system where there will always be some items that aren't crystal clear and open to each person's interpretation of them. In my specific case, I'm going to bet that almost every single game warden in Wisconsin will not issue a citation for a hunter that is possessing and transporting legal proof of sex as required per a law from another state. Yes, I do know there is at least one Dane county officer who will. He literally might be the only one. This is where I know and accept that my stubbornness likely led to the citations. The chance of giving the game warden the photo as proof and not getting a citation were very high.
Like I said, I have personally moved past all of this and the response from everybody so far is basically what I expected because it mimics pretty close to that of how I felt and what others close to me who have heard about this already felt.
This next week I'm wrapping up the horn mounts where I plan to mount them on this old fence post I found on my property. They will sit in our family room along side all our other trophies (I really hate that word now thanks to social media and I just cant find a good replacement) in that room and I hope to be able to look at them and remember the Highs of this trip rather than the Lows and I'm confident I'll be able to do that
I really do like that, thanks!
In Colorado it is your responsibility to know where the private land is and stay off of it, even if it is not posted, fenced, or in any way identified.
Per CPW regs: testicle, scrotum or penis attached to carcass.
I usually leave a small portion of the penis attached to a hindquarter. Very simple to do when you are using the gutless method.
Thanks. That’s how I have always approached it however most of the other hunters I have encountered didn’t seem to worry about it.
Great story! You did the right thing.
"Bottom feeders?". Maybe you have a grudge against CPW or are just generally anti-regulation, anti-management? I'm glad that the CPW officers are out there-unfortunately they have too much area to cover and a lot of much more egregious violations go unchecked. If you have a better regulation/management plan for wildlife and public lands (habitat) management, lets see it. Otherwise you might consider showing some respect-these folks are serving the general public and doing a thankless job. By the way CO has more hunting opportunities for non-residents than anyone else and most non-residents that come here genuinely appreciate it. The original post documents an unfortunate occurrence that originated basically because of a small inholding surrounded by public land. I have a friend who was also cited several years for not having proof of sex attached but I don't hold it against the CPW officer who was just doing his job. Encouraging or daring folks to challenge the regulations (in a sense violate them and not worry about it) is not helpful at all to the hunting community and is just more fodder for the anti's.
Good luck.
