1. 1. A donated deer is defined as a legally taken female (doe) deer that is knowingly, intentionally, and unconditionally given or transferred to a permitted processor. It also includes any processed deer that has not been collected by the owner or his representative within the designated pickup timeframe, as specified by a posted notice at the business or communicated in writing to the customer.
2. 2. To participate in the processing fee recovery program, a deer processor must submit an application provided by the department and be issued a permit annually. The permit is only valid for recovering the processing fee from female (doe) deer donated by a hunter or deer depredation permittee. A violation of a permit condition may result in permit revocation and penalties under the enabling code section.
3. 3. Permitted processors are not obligated to accept donated deer and may choose the times when donated deer are accepted.
4. 4. Permitted processors must submit to the department by January 31 annually the number of deer donated for which processing fees were recovered.
5. 5. Permitted processors may not recover fees more than those normally charged for deer processing services.
6. 6. Permitted processors must post or make available a list of fees for services that may include but are not limited to skinning/dressing, cutting/wrapping, upcharges for specialty cuts and specialty items like sausage, jerky, snack sticks, etc.
7. 7. Processing fees may be recovered for whole processed deer or for portions of a processed deer provided that fees for portions or specialty products are prorated so they do not exceed what is normally charged for the item as part of processing a whole deer.
8. 8. References to the program must describe it as "recovering" or "being reimbursed for" the processing fee in the same manner that would occur if the individual who harvested the deer paid the processing fee.

HISTORY: Added by SCSR 49-5 Doc. No. 5330, eff May 23, 2025.