I had the same questions so sent an email to the CO service asking for confirmation of what was required when field dressing with the gutless method. Here is the response:
Hello Steve,
Thank you for your email dated August 25, 2016, regarding the possession and transport of harvested big game. Your enquiry has been forwarded to me for response.
A head detached from a carcass is not sufficient to prove evidence of sex and species of a harvested animal, once the head is removed it is no longer considered naturally attached to the carcass. If the head is detached you must retain other evidence of sex and species, for bulls it is the testicle and penis and a patch of fur or the animals tail. The gutless method is permitted, provided you retain the required parts naturally attached to the carcass.
Note that when an open season for a species is antler restricted (i.e. 6 point elk, spike-fork moose, etc) the antlers must accompany the species license while transporting.
Evidence of sex and species can be removed once you return to your normal dwelling place, a meatcutter, or a cold storage plant.
Further information on possession and transport is copied below
Applicable regulations are copied below for your reference. I’ve included regulations for possession of elk, moose, or deer, as they are the most commonly hunted species. If you want regulations for other species feel free to contact me.
Possession of carcass
36 (1) A person who possesses the carcass of any wildlife, whether or not the carcass has been divided, without leaving attached the parts required by regulation to be left attached, commits an offence.
(2) Subsection (1) only applies until the earlier of the following:
(a) the carcass is given to a meatcutter or the owner or operator of a cold storage plant to be recorded in accordance with section 71,
(b) the carcass arrives at the person's normal dwelling place and is butchered and stored there for consumption on the premises, or
(c) the carcass is presented to an employee of the ministry for which the minister is responsible or other person specified by the Lieutenant Governor in Council for inspection.
Division 5 — Possession of Carcass
Possession of carcass
15 (1) In subsection (2), "deer" means mule (black-tailed) deer, white-tailed deer and fallow deer.
(2) For the purpose of section 36 of the Act, a person who possesses the whole carcass or part of a carcass of an elk, moose or deer must leave naturally attached to the carcass or one part of the carcass in the person's possession
(a) if the animal was male, either
(i) that portion of the head that bears the antlers, or
(ii) both
(A) a testicle or part of the penis, and
(B) the animal's tail or another readily identifiable part of the hide not less than 6 cm2, and
(b) if the animal was female, either
(i) that portion of the head that in males normally bears antlers, or
(ii) both
(A) a portion of the udder or teats, and
(B) the animal's tail or another readily identifiable part of the hide not less than 6 cm2.
Hunters have to be able to prove that, between the kill location and the persons’ normal dwelling place, mearcutter, or the owner/operator of a cold storage plant, the game in their possession was legally harvested. This means that the hunter must be able to prove the sex and the species of the harvested animal. If you are de-boning/butchering the animal, you must leave, naturally attached to a part of the carcass, proof of sex (testicle, udder, etc as described above), and a minimum 6 cm
2 patch of hide or the tail.
A detached head bearing antlers is not sufficient for proof of sex and species. The head needs to be left naturally attached to the remainder of the carcass if it is used to prove sex and species of a harvested animal.
Once a hunter arrives at their normal dwelling place they have met the legal requirement for evidence of sex and species. At this point the hunter is free to process the meat in the way that they choose, including canning. Note that if the harvested animal is subject to Compulsory Inspection different regulations may apply because of the parts that must be submitted to an inspector.
Regards,
Stephen MacIver|Regulations and Policy Analyst|Fish & Wildlife Branch|Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations|Phone
(250) 387-9767|Mobile
(250) 889-9497|Email:
stephen.maciver@gov.bc.ca