Roadkill salvage permits now available online

SANDERS COUNTY - Montana wildlife officials said permits to salvage deer, elk, antelope or moose killed in vehicular collisions will be available online beginning Tuesday, November 26.

The 2013 Legislature passed a bill that allows for the salvage of deer, elk, moose, and antelope killed as a result of a collision with a motor vehicle.

The new law that allows for the salvage of road-killed wildlife for food became effective in October. The permit system, which is now approved and becomes operational tomorrow, allows individuals to pick up road-killed wildlife. The free permit must be completed within 24 hours of salvage. Only deer, elk, antelope or moose killed in vehicular collisions can be salvaged.

If a person is involved in a vehicle-animal collision, the Montana Highway Patrol and some other law enforcement officers responding to the collision will have the ability to process a permit on site. If not, one must apply for a permit online.

One can salvage an animal that he or she did not hit. Anyone who salvages a road-killed deer, elk, antelope or moose will be required to remove the entire animal from where it is found. Parts or viscera cannot be left on site. The salvaged animal must be used for one’s own consumption and cannot be donated to others, used for bait or pet food.

To obtain a permit one must first agree to an affirmation to the conditions for the salvage and possession of vehicle killed wildlife. A law enforcement officer may require inspection of the animal, parts, meat and may request the permittee take the officer to the site where the animal was picked up.

Permits are available at no cost, either through law enforcement officers on the scene of collisions or online through this web page.

Some important information on the salvage permit

To possess salvaged wildlife a person must obtain a salvage permit. A person has 24 hours to apply for and get a salvage permit.

If a person is involved in a vehicle-animal collision, the Montana Highway Patrol and some other law enforcement officers responding to the collision will have the ability to process a permit on site. If not, a person must apply for a permit online themselves. This is accomplished through this web page.

A person may pick up an animal that he/she did not hit. The process is the same and he/she must obtain a salvage permit through this web page.

Anyone who salvages a road-killed deer, elk, moose, or antelope will be required to remove the entire animal from where it is found. Parts or viscera cannot be left at the site. To do so is a violation of state law and would encourage other wildlife to scavenge in a place that would put them at risk of also being hit.

Applying for a permit

A permit cannot be issued without a person agreeing to the Affirmation on the following page. Be sure to read the Conditions for the Salvage and Possession of Vehicle Killed Wildlife thoroughly and completely before going on to the permit application page. It constitutes a legal document similar to that which is signed when a person buys a  hunting or fishing license. A law enforcement officer may require inspection of the animal, parts, meat and may request the permittee take the officer to the physical site where the animal was picked up.

Be sure to fill out the application fully. The system will not allow you to print a permit that does not have complete information.

Once the application has been made, go to the “PRINT PERMIT” box and click. When the permit is printed, be sure to keep it as it is the legal document that allows possession of the salvaged animal.

Conditions for the salvage and possession of vehicle killed wildlife:

- A person must acquire a permit to salvage and possess wildlife killed in vehicular collisions. The permit must be signed by the applicant to be valid and must remain in their possession.

- A person must obtain a permit within 24 hours of the time they take an animal into their possession. Vehicle killed animals may not be salvaged or possessed without the permit.

- A person may use a salvage permit to possess an animal killed only by vehicular collision. The permit does not include other mortalities. Road killed animals may not be tagged and possessed with carcass tags issued for the purpose of hunting.

- Only white-tailed deer, mule deer, antelope, elk and moose may be salvaged.

- A person with a permit may possess all parts of an animal including meat, hide, hoofs, horns and antlers.

Any person who is picking up an animal to be salvaged must comply with all highway rules and regulations while removing the animal. Vehicles shall be parked off the roadway and out of the line of traffic. The permittee acknowledges that collecting vehicle-killed animals on state highways is inherently dangerous and is undertaken at the permitee’s own risk.

- A person may not kill an injured or wounded animal that they encounter for the purpose of salvage. A law enforcement officer may, however, when on the scene of a collision, kill an animal injured in the collision and that animal may be taken for salvage.

- Any salvaged animals must be removed in its entirety from the roadway by the permittee. The animal may be field dressed before it leaves the area but entrails or any other parts of the animal carcass must be removed from site to prevent attracting scavengers and predators.

- Meat rendered from salvaged animals must be used for human consumption. It may not be used for bait or other purposes.

- Meat rendered from salvaged animals may not be sold.

- Any meat that is unfit for human consumption or unusable animal parts must be disposed of at a legal disposal site. It is unlawful to dispose of animal carcasses or parts in or upon any highway, road, street, or alley or upon public property. It is also illegal to dispose carcasses or parts within 200 yards of a public highway, road street or alley or public property (75-10-212MCA).

- Montana FWP makes no guarantee as to the fitness for consumption of wild animal meat collected under a salvage permit. Persons salvaging and consuming this meat do so at their own risk.

- FWP reserves the right to inspect any animal taken under a salvage permit as well as the site at which the salvaged animal was found and removed.

- By policy of the organization, Montana Food Bank Network does not accept donations of road-killed game.

For more information, and to obtain a salvage permit, visit Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks online at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Fish & Wildlife”, and then click “Licenses and Permits”. The bill allows a permit to be issued for the salvage of only deer, elk, moose and antelope.