Salvage Permits Massachusetts dead deer on the road and the law

The number of deer/car collisions in Massachusetts is estimated to at between 2,000 and 3,000 a year. Of those, the driver or passenger claims 400 to 600.

A permit to salvage a road-killed deer can be issued only to the driver or a passenger of the responsible vehicle, provided they are residents of Massachusetts. Before a salvage permit is issued an eligible person must comply with the following procedures:

• Notify local police of the accident to verify the animal’s cause of death
• Within 24 hours of the accident notify the Environmental Police at 800-632-8075 of the intent to salvage the carcass and provide name and address and the time and place that the deer was killed.
• The deer carcass must then be transported, within 48 hours, to a field office of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, the Division of Law Enforcement, or to and Environmental Police Officer (EPO) at time and place agreed upon.
• The EPO or field office director will then tag the deer and issue a salvage permit. The tag must remain on the deer until all edible parts are consumed.

A salvage deer permit does not allow the deer carcass, or parts thereof, to be sold, traded, or exchanged.

Author: michael mcstay

Michael McStay serves as the Senior Editor and CEO of NockedUp, a platform dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts in Massachusetts. An avid fisherman, hunter, and hiker, he has a deep passion for the outdoors and values the importance of sharing knowledge and information related to Massachusetts' natural environment. If you have any thrilling outdoor news to share, or if you would like to provide feedback or suggest story ideas, we encourage you to contact us via text at (339) 309-8721.