collision.

The owner of a motor vehicle which has been damaged by unintentional collision with a deer, moose or bear shall be entitled to possess such deer, moose or bear under the following conditions:

1. The accident is reported to an environmental conservation officer, a member of the State Police, a member of the sheriff's department in which the accident occurred or, if the accident occurred on lands under the jurisdiction of the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation, to an officer of the regional park police having law enforcement responsibilities on such lands, or to any police officer of a city, town or village located in the county of such accident within 24 hours thereafter.

2. The officer shall investigate and, if he finds the deer, moose or bear has been killed or so injured as to require that it be killed and the damage has been done as alleged, he shall issue a permit to the owner of the motor vehicle entitling such owner to possess the carcass. Such permit shall authorize the owner of the motor vehicle to transfer the carcass to a designated person.

3. Whenever the owner of such damaged motor vehicle declines to possess such deer, moose or bear, the officer may in his discretion, issue a permit to possess the carcass to any other party requesting such possession.