I had seen nothing mentioned anywhere about this new "rule", till today. Wow....

Statewide Carcass Disposal Restrictions

Proper disposal of carcass parts from white-tailed deer and mule deer is an important management action for reducing the risk of unintentional transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) to susceptible wildlife from CWD-positive areas to areas where the disease is not yet known to exist.
The preferred method is to leave unused carcass parts at the property of harvest, as this greatly reduces the chance of spreading CWD to other parts of the state. Hunters are allowed to debone a carcass at the property of harvest, provided that:

• Meat is processed no further than whole muscles and may not be ground, chopped, or sliced.
• Meat from multiple deer must remain in separate bags or containers while transported.
• Proof of sex and tagging requirements remain with the meat until reaching a final destination.

Carcass disposal requirements will apply if the carcass is transported away from the property of harvest and unused parts must be:
[ol]

Disposed of in a commercial trash service, or

Returned to the property where the animal was harvested, or

Buried at least three feet below the ground and covered with at least three feet of earthen material.

[/ol]Harvested deer or deer heads may be taken to a commercial processor or taxidermist and the processor or taxidermist must properly dispose of unused parts.
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What species does this regulation apply to?
Carcass disposal requirements only apply to Texas' native deer: white-tailed deer and mule deer. Exotic deer species such as elk, red deer and sika are susceptible to CWD, though, so although not required, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recommends practicing these same carcass disposal measures for exotic deer species as well.
What are considered "unused carcass parts?"
These are the parts of the deer not retained for cooking or taxidermy purposes.
How should I transport deboned meat from multiple carcasses?
Deboned meat from multiple deer must remain in separate bags or containers until reaching its final destination. Meat from multiple carcasses can be transported in the same cooler, provided that meat from each deer is kept within bags or containers separate from other deer.
Can I still quarter deer?
Absolutely. Quarters (two front quarters, two hind quarters, backstraps, and trimmings) can still be transported away from the property of harvest, but any unused parts should remain at the property of harvest or must be disposed of properly.
Carcass disposal rules

I bet the average hunter has no clue how to do this. Most people dont even debone anymore and most of those just go to hacking and slicing.

• Meat is processed no further than whole muscles and may not be ground, chopped, or sliced.

Because it wasn't "allowed." Until this change only quarters could be transported 4 hours to my final destination. And as a wildlife professional, it's best for me to follow the rules

Before this year, you were not allowed to debone until you brought the meat to its place of final processing. One year, TPWD sent out a link of Steve Rinella deboning/quartering a deer out in the field as an example. But when I followed up with them via email, they were clear that we were still not actually allowed to do that.

We will start doing the deboning in the field immediately.

Thank you. I never knew that. I knew about proof of sex requirements but never knew what bones you were and were not required to transport. I'm not a surgeon. Always quartered out of laziness.

95% is a total WAG. Just referencing that most people i know drop off deer to be processed. So, I'm curious about your situation. Do you kill a deer, field dress, then take home to skin/process? If that's the case I would assume you live close, but correct me if wrong. I know we all have our own ways of doing it, and yes you our correct that the new rules benefit me, so of course that means I like them.

Totally agree on the GW comment, but I could get into a whole different topic there.

GSS said:

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And no context as to how far away from "the property where harvested" is applicable, when required to return the carcass. Nor do I have a handy mini-excavator available, for the "minimum 3 feet burial".

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I don't follow you here. There is no requirement to return to the property of harvest. Only if you choose to do that instead of put in trash or bury. The only people I can really see utilizing this option is someone who lives close to the property and visits often (like if you live in town, but have hunting access like 10 min away). Then you just toss the hide/bones in the pasture the next day.

CactusThomas said:

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Thank you. I never knew that. I knew about proof of sex requirements but never knew what bones you were and were not required to transport. I'm not a surgeon. Always quartered out of laziness.

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Yeah, quartering them has always been the legally preferred method of transport. You were not supposed to process them further than quarters (no deboning) until reaching a final destination (residence or processor). That never made sense to me, as I could care for the meat much better by deboning it quickly. But, I understood that GW's would have a hard time if there was a trash bag full of deboned meat.

The new law puts the burden on the person transporting the meat, as it should. Simply pop each deboned quarter into its own gallon sized ziplock and label them, put straps and scraps in another bag or two, retain proof of sex and tags, and that should make it pretty easy for anyone needing to identify your deer.

EriktheRed said:

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95% is a total WAG. Just referencing that most people i know drop off deer to be processed. So, I'm curious about your situation. Do you kill a deer, field dress, then take home to skin/process? If that's the case I would assume you live close, but correct me if wrong. I know we all have our own ways of doing it, and yes you our correct that the new rules benefit me, so of course that means I like them.

Totally agree on the GW comment, but I could get into a whole different topic there.

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Indeed, I posted this earlier, and I'm fortunate to live (rural) 25 minutes from our family property.

"I'm a rare one, I bring my deer home from our family ranch, field dressed, and completely process at my house (shop).

One posting said "don't cut through any bones", which defies any long held processing methods."

So I suppose I could bag up the carcass/hide/head, for my next trip to the ranch, but am I really saving the deer herd from CWD? Or just feed the coyotes and buzzards, at my home property...

Ok, so we hunt family land that is MLD II.

Here's the scenario for opening weekend. I'll kill a doe Saturday morning and quarter it up and put it in the fridge to rest.

Sunday afternoon I will process the meat into individual hams, backstrap portions, tenderloins, and trimmings for sausage grind. All that goes into the freezer wrapped and labeled.

Monday I load up to head back to the rat race and I put my frozen processed meat into my cooler. When I get home it goes it my freezer.

I am violating any laws?

Sorry, I missed the "field dressed part."
The "don't cut through bones" is not part of the regulations. That part was never brought up in any of the regulation discussion over the last year that I remember, and while it may be recommended somewhere, it is not a requirement to my knowledge.

I can see how your situation is a bit frustrating, close, but not right down the road to just go toss the bones. You are in the unique spot where you are close enough to where you aren't possibly spreading CWD 5 counties away, but far enough away to make it a burden.

BUT...as someone who lives 200 miles from the family property I am very jealous and if I lived 25 miles away I would be there just about every day!

From my understanding, as long as you take the head (proof of sex) back with you, and throw it in the trash with your other kitchen trash when you get home you are 100% legal.

CactusThomas said:

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What was stopping you from deboning at the ranch last year? Serious question, I can't keep up with all these crazy rules.

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Because it was about a thousand times easier to quarter at the lease and then debone at home where I have running water, proper tools and plenty of space to do so.

Even with the new regs, odds are I'll still quarter only because my goal after is to get them skinned and quartered as quickly as possible and on ice so I can focus on important things like celebratory whiskey at camp.

Exactly

GSS said:

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I'm a rare one, I bring my deer home from our family ranch, field dressed, and completely process at my house (shop).
One posting said "don't cut through any bones", which defies any long held processing methods.

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I don't cut through any bones processing a deer. The only time I do is when I"m skinning it and I cut the hooves off each leg. Other than that, zero bones are cut up in the process.

Ya, I mean I do have a hand bone saw, but never use it.

I assume now-a-days folks are just using a sawzall to cut through the femur etc? And make bone in steaks?

schmellba99 said:

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GSS said:

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I'm a rare one, I bring my deer home from our family ranch, field dressed, and completely process at my house (shop).
One posting said "don't cut through any bones", which defies any long held processing methods.

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I don't cut through any bones processing a deer. The only time I do is when I"m skinning it and I cut the hooves off each leg. Other than that, zero bones are cut up in the process.

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I should have clarified, at a minimum cutting off the leg bones is part of what I consider "processing".

AND a few years ago a fellow hunter mentioned using deer shank cuts, for venison "Osso Buco", which come out incredible, for a part of the deer most send to the sausage pile...
Osso Buco using deer shank pieces

Osso buco with a side of CWD.

GSS said:

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You like the new rule(s), works for you, but your 95% claim is based on ?? WAG?
I live rural, and have zero interest in disposing the hide, head (minus antlers usually), and carcass parts in "my trash". The coyotes and buzzards make it disappear in less than 24 hrs.

And it looks like game wardens might have a challenge, looking at bags of venison, and how they relate to tags, or deer heads.
CWD is a bad situation, but this looks like a un-enforceable, broad brush "requirement", and not sure what one may be guilty of, if ignored.

And no context as to how far away from "the property where harvested" is applicable, when required to return the carcass. Nor do I have a handy mini-excavator available, for the "minimum 3 feet burial".

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Before complaining I'd suggest doing a little research on how things work. The new regs bring Texas up to date with the vast majority of the western big game hunting standards. Up until this year, Texas residents who were following the laws of other big game states in which they harvested animals were instantly in violation of Texas laws once reentering the state with harvested game.

Your complaining about and creating issues that don't exist in States that have been doing this on a bigger scale for a long time. This isn't 1922. With cooler progression and modern equipment there's no reason to ignorantly strap a deer to the hood of your studibaker while is spoils to drive home. And for most this doesn't change much of anything.

These laws came about in other states because they stress not wasting any meat and proper care of said meat until final processing. I personally hope more of those same standards ( and tickets / fines) start working their way into Texas code.

If they were that serious why doesn't the new regs apply to exotics?

No bar ditches bridges, dry creeks.