Now What To Do? Disposing of Deer Carcasses
You’ve taken your trophy the photos have been shot and the meat has been cut up what do you do with the rest? Certainly folks often save the antlers and other non edible parts like the hide can be used or given away. You’ll still have some stuff left no matter how thrifty you are so please dispose of the remains properly. Some have taken to dumping remains into water ways or on the sides of roads reflecting badly on all hunters. If you get caught doing these illegal acts you can get hefty fines for polluting waterways or littering.
“Recent reports of illegally discarded deer carcasses give a negative image of hunting and hunters,” said Capt. Chris Huebner, a wildlife enforcement officer and the state’s hunting safety coordinator. “Dumping of remnants on a highway right-of-way or without permission on private property is littering, punishable by fines up to $1,000. Dumping of remnants into a creek or waterway is littering and a pollution violation.”
A responsible hunter will dispose of animal remains as allowed by local ordinances, usually at a specified area of the local landfill, or bury remains at least 2 feet deep, Capt. Huebner said.
Ways to properly dispose of the remains is to bury them some clubs dig a hole at the beginning of the season and dump remains in their and top it with dirt each week till the hole is filled or the season ends and then it is completely covered. You can bury them at least 2 feet deep according to the North Carolina Wildlife and that should be safe.
On your own property or private property that you have permission to you can place the remains in a remote area where scavengers can feed on the remains. That is what I normally do being careful to make sure there is not an overabundance of remains being dumped so the scavengers can not keep up. If you use this method be mindful of travel areas like walking trails or areas that others use frequently that may interfere with the scavengers and just be a good neighbor.
In urban areas it maybe a bit more difficult to get rid of the remains but you should check with your local landfill and see if they accept them and what if any steps you must take to take them to the landfill.
We all need to good examples because all hunters maybe judged based on the actions you do or what non hunters see you doing.
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Interesting.
I guess I never thought about it as littering or pollution, but at my folks’ place we always dumped the gut buckets and leftover parts into the Cape Fear (like many other hunters and hunting clubs along the river). Gators, crabs, and even sharks tend to make pretty short work of the carcass.
I guess we’ll need to change our ways a little bit. Need to let my little brother know he’s courting a fine when he does that.
Out here in CA, we tend to leave most of it in the field. Since I live in the city, unusable parts that do come home with me go in the garbage when I’m done butchering.
Comment by Phillip — December 7, 2007 @ 2:24 pm