Subdivision 1. Tags required. (a) A person may not possess or transport deer, bear, elk, or moose taken in the state unless a tag is attached to the carcass in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner must prescribe the type of tag that has the license number of the owner, the year of its issue, and other information prescribed by the commissioner.

(b) The tag must be validated at the site of the kill as prescribed by the commissioner.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the tag must be attached to the deer, bear, elk, or moose at the site of the kill before the animal is removed from the site of the kill.

(d) The tag must remain attached to the animal until the animal is processed for storage.

(e) A person may move a lawfully taken deer, bear, elk, or moose from the site of the kill without attaching the validated tag to the animal only while in the act of manually or mechanically dragging, carrying, or carting the animal across the ground and while possessing the validated tag on their person. A motor vehicle may be used to drag the animal across the ground. At all other times, the validated tag must be attached to the deer, bear, elk, or moose:

(1) as otherwise provided in this section; and

(2) prior to the animal being placed onto and transported on a motor vehicle, being hung from a tree or other structure or device, or being brought into a camp or yard or other place of habitation.

Subd. 2. Registration required. Deer, bear, elk, and moose must be registered as prescribed by the commissioner, in addition to the tag required in subdivision 1.

Subd. 2a. Quartering deer allowed. A deer that has been tagged as required in subdivision 1 may be quartered at the site of the kill. The animal's head must remain attached to one of the quarters. The quarters must be presented together for registration under subdivision 2 and must remain together until the deer is processed for storage.

Subd. 3. Transportation period restricted. A person may transport deer, bear, one elk, or moose during the open season and the two days following the season, and afterwards as prescribed by the commissioner.

Subd. 4. Transporting by person other than licensee. A person other than the licensee may transport deer, bear, elk, or moose that the licensee has registered as prescribed by the commissioner. A tag must be attached to the animal and marked in ink with the address, license number, signature of the licensee, and the locations from which and to which the animal is being transported.

Subd. 5. Heads, hides, and claws. A resident that has a license to take deer, bear, elk, or moose may transport the head or hide of the animal within or out of the state for mounting or tanning. The hides of deer, bear, elk, and moose, and the claws of bear legally taken and with the tags that are required by this section, may be bought, sold, and transported at any time.

History: 1986 c 386 art 1 s 78; 1987 c 149 art 1 s 36,37; 1987 c 373 s 11; 1991 c 241 s 6; 1993 c 231 s 32; 1996 c 410 s 37; 2006 c 281 art 2 s 33; 2008 c 368 art 2 s 37