Was coming back from a hunt yesterday from TNF (didn't see anything), but had a good day carrying the flintlock just for fun.

About 6:05pm, the car in front of me clipped a doe in the hind leg and broke it and her pelvis. She was laying there in traffic, unable to move, and obviously struggling--panting, bleeting, etc. I dragged her off the road and dispatched her with a knife. I called DCNR and talked to the operator, explaining that I put the doe out of misery and asked if I could get a salvage tag to make it legal to transport. She came back and told me that I could be cited for hunting at night. I again told her I used a knife and then she said "oh well you're good to go." I again asked her about the legality of transport and she said just debone it if you're going across state lines, which I did not, and that a processor should accept it because they will see it wasn't shot.

My question now is if a processor will actually accept it without a game check number. I didn't want to check it and say I harvested it on public land, or right on hwy 280. Sometimes I feel like no good deed goes unpunished these days--my intentions were honest and I didn't want to see a valuable resource go to waste.

I went to South's Finest to have it processed this morning, but they hadn't opened yet--my fault.

What do the experts say?

It's a doe.... just tag it. No limit on them. Just put that you killed it on private in whatever county you live in and be done with it.

You are overthinking it.


I picked up a mule deer skull and rack while turkey hunting in Nebraska. Brought it back to the truck and tossed it in the back and rode around up there with it for a week. Brought it back to Alabama and was later told if I had been caught with it and no salvage tag it would have been about 3K. I'm not aware of any salvage tags in Alabama though.

Yep.

The processor I use will take “road kills” without a number. Even if “dispatched” with a gun.

Rule number one: Never call the DCNR number ( you found out why).
Rule number two: See rule number one.

They are not your friends.

^This^

I'm not overthinking it, I'm just not willing to make a false statement (saying I took a deer somewhere I didn't, and with a weapon I didn't) and potentially jeopardize my state dental license.

Here's some lessons learned:

1) Alabama DCNR does not issue salvage tags ---this is dumb as hell
2) It is at the processor's discretion on whether or not they will take a road kill deer without a confirmation number ---I can understand this as I wouldn't want to process a potentially compromised deer.



Mostly, I agree with this. I was treated with suspicion from the outset. However, I think there are a few GW out there with common sense, the one I talked to today had plenty. She suggested writing the CAB to suggest changes. I asked her if this is the same CAB that doesn't listen to turkey hunters. She just laughed and told me to write them.

I'm sure most of us remember a couple of years or so ago when people couldn't define shooting hours that had been on the books for 50+ years that I know of. People complained that they couldn't understand what DAY LIGHT HOURS meant so the state had to define it for all the people who had to be told when to start and when to stop. This and things like it can and will add more rules and regulations to the all ready confusing list we have to study to try to be "legal" when we walk out the door to try to enjoy a tradition and sport we love.

welllllll , road kill most of the time aint fit to eat no way . i wont fool with another one .

Right on brother! ^^^

Yes sir, you sure are. So far you’ve done the right thing in dispatching a vehicle hit deer and tried to prevent it from going to waste. Then you called the DCNR and apparently a Game Warden to share the story for whatever reason. Just tag the dang thing and turn it in to a processor and forget about it. You don’t really think the State is going to dispatch a fleet of investigators over some random doe entry on Game Check? You put yourself in much greater risk making phone calls and telling on yourself. Probably should have just kept driving and let nature take its course.