Around here until a coupla years ago, the DNR required you to keep the deer intact(other than field dressing) until it was registered. I once removed the lower legs(cut off at the hocks) from a large buck I shot while bowhunting a mile from the road in a attempt to make the drag a tad easier and got hassled for it at the registration station. Now, while you can quarter or field butcher your deer in up to five separate pieces, the head must still be attached to one of them. You must also, remove all parts of the deer, other than the entrails from the field. This in itself makes for why most folks still drag the whole deer(other than the entrails) out.
