Big dead buck


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I found this skull the other day. I always would rather find shed antlers than a skull, because it means the buck is still alive. I left this skull in the bush after taking a couple of photos because there is too much hassle to go through to obtain a permit to keep an antlered skull here in Saskatchewan. He was a large 5x4 with awesome browtines for a muley that would have grossed in the 170's, maybe even the 180's.

He might have died from being hit by a falling tree. The tree that is laying across the skull was relatively fresh and the skull was actually supporting some of the tree's weight. We've had some pretty wicked winds rip through here this spring.

05MDskull_A17.JPG

05MDskull2_A17.JPG

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Re: Big dead buck

Naturally shed antlers are not considered to be "wildlife parts" (within the meaning of the Act) in Canada whereas skulls with antlers attached are.

The reason for the law is that there are idiot poachers out there who figured that they could shoot a big buck at night (out of season, etc.) and stash it in the bush somewhere, let the critters have at the carcass and then pick up the skull some time later with the antlers still intact for sale. The law requiring a permit to possess antlered skulls makes it tough for them to pull the scam off. Applying for the permit means going to Saskatchewan Environment (SE) and swearing an affidavit saying that you believe the buck died of natural causes. SE has the discretion to not issue a permit, without providing a reason.

The frustrating thing is that SE tends to err on the side of caution to an extreme. They will not issue a permit if they think an antlered skull is a trophy, even if you swear the affidavit and provide them with photos, etc., evidencing a natural death. They also don't seem to have a good idea what a trophy-sized rack is (as incredible as it seems). A 170-180 class mule deer rack is big, but not something that a poacher (even with their limited intellect) would take a risk on. However, I was refused an antlered skull last fall from a neat non-typical buck that would have only scored in the mid-160's, and that was after I took the Conservation Officer out to observe the kill site.

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Re: Big dead buck

And that is why I leave the little guys where they are but don't worry about it on the good ones. I am not afraid to say that I have a couple pick ups at my place that would not be there if I had requested the permit simply b/c they are "good ones". They'd be like all the other good ones, guys tried get permits for, hanging from the wall in one of the DNR officers office. Ask Superguide how he managed to get a permit for a buck he and Ty found when Ry was just a youngster, he'll tell you that they weren't going to give it to him until he explained what he'd do if they didn't. It's bull$h!t.

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