Deputy issued citation for unlawful possession of Whitetail deer antlers

[fatboy]

GREENE COUNTY, Iowa -- On November 3, 2018, a DNR Conservation Officer received a call from a man who came upon a scene of a woman who had hit a deer on N Ave. between 185th and 190th streets in Greene County. The man waited for a sheriff’s deputy to arrive. Once the deputy arrived, the man asked the deputy about a salvage tag. Greene County Sheriff's Deputy Kirk Hammer declined to issue him salvage tag.

According to state code, a salvage tag should be first issued to the individuals involved in the accident, and if not interested, then to any bystanders at the scene. A salvage tag was not issued.

Later in the day, the same man drove past the scene and observed Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Kirk Hammer in uniform near the deer cutting the antlers off of the deer with a saw.

When DNR Conservation Officer Nathan Haupert questioned Deputy Hammer, Deputy Hammer admitted to taking the antlers. Officer Haupert met Deputy Hammer at his home and seized the antlers.

Officer Haupert explained to Deputy Hammer that it is unlawful to keep the antlers without a deer tag or salvage permit and with a salvage permit the whole deer would need to be removed from the ditch, not just the antlers.

On November 12, a citation was issued to Deputy Hammer for unlawful possession of Whitetail deer antlers, Iowa Code section 481A.38, with a fine totaling $195.

 

[flugge]

Good, it happens a lot

 

[JNRBRONC]

There seems to be a lot of "discretion" on issuing salvage tags. I wish that it was more consistently interpreted by LEO's.

 

[Daver]

There seems to be a lot of "discretion" on issuing salvage tags. I wish that it was more consistently interpreted by LEO's.

I have heard of this very thing happening many times, where the responding LEO somehow ends up with the antlers and not always following the protocols that we commoners are subject to. This action sounds pretty fair to me, good on the DNR officer for applying the rules evenly.

 

[SeIowa69]

It’s must of been a nice buck!! Boy there sure are a lot of dingleberries out there anymore lol my buddy just received a salvage tag for a buck the other day didn’t have a single problem he said it took like 20 minutes and the sheriff had everything filled out and was on his way!!


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[muddy]

Karma right there. I wonder if a guy could sit for and wait/request a CO to come check the deer out if they wanted it bad enough and the deputy was being a weiner.

 

[breckhawk]

That's a big old lol right there.

 

[hotshott2289]

anyone read the comments on the DNR's Facebook post.. there sure are some dense folks out there

 

[Sligh1]

There’s dense folks on FB period. .

It’s good that one law enforcement guy kept another accountable. That’s how it should be & props to dnr.

 

[rutnstrut]

I like that the it says the state code requires them to issue a salvage tag... Now you know its not their decision/discretion. Ive heard a few times over the years when police or DNR didnt give salvage tags because it was a big deer and then who knows what happens with them, well we all know but its B.S.... Good to know its actually in the state code