Can I Collect Antlers From Dead Deer?

November 25, 2009

Question: I found a four-point buck that the local game warden confirmed was a cougar kill. Can I go back in a couple of weeks and get the antlers without getting in trouble? (Angel S.)

Answer: Generally, it’s ok to collect shed antlers (antlers dropped naturally each year in the late winter or early spring), but the antlers you are asking about are not sheds and are still attached to a recently killed deer. You may not possess antlers attached to a recently killed deer unless you have taken the deer under the authority of a sport hunting license and the appropriate tag during the deer season. According to Northern California Enforcement Chief Mike Carion, if the animal had been dead a while, the season was over and the meat dried up, it would not be an issue … but that is not the case here.

Collecting antlers from a recent kill could lead to enforcement issues because the antlers would not be tagged and would likely be attached to a “fresh” skull cap, which is a violation, especially if outside of the deer season. If you were to find a deer skeleton (obviously aged) it would be ok to take the bones, including the head with antlers.