During the winter and spring shed hunt of 2017, hunters across the country have been finding, picking up and posting on social media some giant “deadheads,” like this 200-class skull making the rounds on Facebook.
Let me remind you that if you find any-size skull w/antlers in the woods you might—actually you probably— need to obtain a salvage permit (or at least permission) from the state to possess and transport that skull.
In most states a deadhead—the skull and rack from a buck that died of disease, was hit by a car or was lost by a hunter last season—is treated like a roadkill buck, and subject to the same state roadkill laws, which in most cases means you need to call a conservation officer or sheriff and get a permit (or at the very least official permission) before you move and take possession of the antlers.
States where I can confirm you need a salvage permit include: Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma and Indiana, and there are many more. Every shed hunter should check the state laws and know for certain sure. The last thing you need is to come home with a skull with big antlers, post a picture of it on Facebook or Instagram and promptly get a call or visit from a game warden asking if you have the proper salvage permit.
I’d like to greatly expand the list of state salvage laws for deer, so please let me know your state’s regulation, if any, by commenting below.