If you are unsure about the age or sex of your harvest, what should you do?

When unsure about the age or sex of your harvest, the best course of action is to consult a DNR officer for assistance. This option ensures that you are adhering to proper wildlife regulations and guidelines, which are in place to manage wildlife populations sustainably. Officers have the expertise to help you identify the animal correctly and advise you on any next steps that are lawful and ethical.

Considering the other choices, disposing of the harvest immediately could violate regulations and waste the animal without proper evaluation or understanding of the hunting regulations. Guessing based on physical characteristics is unreliable and may lead to mishandling of the animal or inappropriate actions that could affect wildlife conservation efforts. Leaving it for another hunter is not a practical solution, as it does not address the need to confirm the legality of the harvest and could result in complications for subsequent hunters. Consulting a DNR officer provides the safest and most responsible avenue in this situation.