Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002
For more information: Dave Wicks, 882-5200

REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSPORTING HARVESTED GAME

PIERRE - State Game, Fish and Parks officials are asking hunters to think about how and to where they will transport their harvested game and to keep in mind that if they are checked by enforcement officials, certain requirements must be met to avoid problems.

"No game birds may be possessed, placed in public storage, transported or accepted for shipment unless certain minimum requirements are met," said Regional Law Enforcement Specialist Dave Wicks of Watertown. "Each year, field staff face problems enforcing game storage, transportation and plumage regulations."

Waterfowl must have an attached head or fully feathered wing. Pheasants and grouse must have either the head, fully feathered wing or a foot attached. All other game birds must have either the head or a fully feathered wing attached.

In addition, Wicks noted that officers often encounter situations where numerous game birds have been frozen together in a single package, making it virtually impossible to properly identify the number, species, and if applicable, sex of the birds without taking time to thaw the contents of the package. Birds frozen inside milk, ice cream and other nontransparent containers are also problematic.

"If officials cannot identify a bird frozen in a nontransparent container, we have no other option but to confiscate the bird and cite for illegal transportation," Wicks said. Officials suggest hunters keep their game birds individually cooled or frozen in separate containers while transporting them. Once at home, the bird can then be placed in a more permanent package for freezing.

"The number of game birds that can be frozen together in a package is limited to no more than two, as long as they are readily identifiable as to species and sex," Wicks added. "This requirement is reasonable and will aid in the prompt identification of species and sex. It will also prove more convenient for both the officer and the public by facilitating the inspection process."

This requirement is similar to the current rule for fish, which limits the number of frozen fish fillets to no more than two fillets per package.

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