1. Call the MDA office at (517) 241-1557 preferably a day or two before you collect the heads to allow better scheduling of MDA courier pick up service. Do not mail the heads at this time.

2. Wearing gloves, detach the head of the deer/elk from the carcass where the head (skull) meets (atlanto-occipital joint) the first neck vertebrae (bones). Ideally a portion on the spinal cord should be protruding from the foramen magnum (opening of the skull). Place the head in a heavy-duty plastic bag.

3. Double or triple bag the head, securing each bag by tying a knot in the bag, if possible or use another means (string, cord, etc.)

4. Refrigerate the head(s) for not more then 3 days but don’t allow them to freeze.

Download this document in PDF format