Behind the Badge
One Deer, Two Permits
District Game Warden Jerad Bluem
On a day this past fall during a busy deer season, I found myself in the waiting room of tire shop in Bismarck.
The previous day I had picked up a nail in my tire and I was getting it repaired.
I was using the time to catch up on a few minor reports when my work phone rang again.
On the other end was a gentleman requesting a permit for a deceased deer.
The caller explained a friend had watched the deer jump off one of the overpasses through town and knew it was deceased below.
Knowing I was immobile for the time being I gave the caller permission to go check on the deer and make sure it was able to be utilized given the extreme nature of the call.
If salvageable, he could begin processing and I would tag the animal once I was rolling again on all four tires.
While waiting, the gentleman called back.
With excitement in his voice, he explained that he had the deer field dressed and loaded.
As he was about to leave another gentleman showed up and showed him his permit to possess tag for the deer.
The second gentleman stated it was his deer because he had the permit.
I had not given permission or any permits to anyone else.
Confused and immobile, I asked my caller to provide my phone number to this guy and have him call me.
Shortly after I received a call.
Gentleman two explained he was driving and found the deer in the road.
He stopped and removed the deer.
The deer was in good condition, so he contacted the Morton County Sheriff’s Department.
Being the great help that they are and often assist me in my duties, they agreed to give him a permit.
Caller two had to leave the location of the deer for a short time to pick up the permit.
I now had two permitted individuals and only one deer.
Both individuals did the correct process.
Both individuals wanted the whole deer for their work already invested.
I left the decision to both individuals to figure it out amongst themselves and I would call them when I was rolling.
With four fresh tires, I made the call.
Gentleman one and gentleman two agreed to split the deer 50/50.
The deer was transported to gentleman one’s garage and they processed the deer together.
Just when you think you’ve seen and heard it all, a deer jumps off an overpass and two people legally claim it.