Conn. New Tagging Rules AS Interpreted by an EPO

[horizontalhunter]

I had a most unpleasant encounter with an EPO today when I called in a report of someone hunting with a shotgun in a bowhunting only area.

I had shot a doe earlier in the AM and put the tag in my wallet and dragged the doe to my stand. After calling in the shotgun hunter I offered to meet the EPO on the trail. When I left to meet him I took the tag out of my wallet and put it in my back pack which was 10'-15' from the deer. I thought I was following the new tagging requirements that are listed in the abstracts as: "The Kill Tag must be kept with your deer or turkey until it is processed for consumption. While transporting your kill, you may keep the Kill Tag in your pocket or wallet. However, if you leave the kill, the completed Kill Tag must remain with the animal."

The officer's interpretation of that is that "if you are more than 1 arms length away from the deer the tag must be attached to the deer." He gave me a verbal warning for "improper tagging" which he called in and this will now be on my record which was unblemished for 30 years of hunting.

If they want it on the deer just say so. That is the way it used to be. I never would have left the deer if I wasn't trying to help the EPO catch the shotgun hunter that was hunting in the bowhunting only area. The EPO was way more interested in me than the call he was on. I will be filing a complaint with the DEP. I ended up feeling like a criminal for trying to help. Must have been the 1/2 mile walk in that pissed him off.

It just goes to show that no good deed goes unpunished. I will never ever call in another report unless a life is in jeopardy.

I just thought I would pass this along to save others some grief.

PUT YOUR TAG ON THE DEER.

Bob

[ghost]

In Illinois the first things one does upon finding the dead deer is to put the tag on the deer. The hunter is responsible for keeping it on the deer during the drag out. Dragging is no excuse for loosing the tag.

Ghost

[Doegirl]

Nov 22, 2009 19:11:14 GMT -5 ghost said:

In Illinois the first things one does upon finding the dead deer is to put the tag on the deer. The hunter is responsible for keeping it on the deer during the drag out. Dragging is no excuse for loosing the tag.

Ghost

Same in Ohio...

[SPIKER]

This is why these guys are a joke. With the property taxes we pay, and licensing fees, we should be treated as honest law abiding citizens. But, as with all money making ventures, the state feels it necessary to impose fines for the sake of revenue rather than work out what is clearly a misunderstanding.

Oh, and forget about the poacher...dealing with him might have been dangerous. ;D

[royden]

Mt rules are tag has to stay with largest portion of critter. End of story. So.... technically it has to stay in the freezer till all the meat is eaten - and that has been enforced at least once to my knowledge by an overly scrupulous FWP officer.

I just carry a leather 72" shoe lace with me and poke a hole thru the tag and tie the tag to either a leg or horn and then completely bury the tag wrapping the tag end of the lace - that tag will never come off and is generally the cleanest part on the deer when I get out. with elk I carry the tag with the meat in my pack. the other technical stickler is that evidence of sex must remain attached....

I would protest your written warning also. The rules you gave are vague ... what constitutes transport? Vehicle transport? If so; how is it possible to stay within an arms length of said critter and still be able to transport in a vehicle. jm.o2

luck

[BT]

B.S. and I would challenge it.

That said...
I would never ever call any law enforcement office just for the reason that the job of law enforcement is made to generate revenue for the state.
Aside from felony crimes....there is no reason at all for law enforcement...aside from raising revenue and restricting freedoms.

The public safety?!
;D

Makes me want to puke

[SPIKER]

I will never forget getting a fine for my first deer shot because I had "marked" the date, rather than cut it out, (which by the way is an option now, you can do either). Rather than just explaining, and teaching me the proper way, the Warden felt it necessary to hurt me financially, as if I was somehow guilty of some crime.

And this guy knew my family for a long time, and no one had ever been fined for any game laws.

NY's law currently states:

Tagging:
Here’s what you must do immediately upon killing a deer or bear:
1. Fill in ALL information on the CORRECT carcass tag with ink
that won't erase.
2. On the reverse side of the tag, cut or mark both the month and the
date of kill in the margin of the tag. Also, add your SIGNATURE.
3. Once filled in, the tag may not be altered.
4. Find the CORRECT Doc # on the Report Panel and add the date
of kill. Save this panel as you will need it later when you report
your harvest.
5. You do not need to attach the tag to your harvest
while it is being dragged or physically carried
from the place of kill to a camp or point where
transportation is available.
6. Once you get to the camp or vehicle, attach
the tag to the carcass immediately.
7. Keep the tag attached to the carcass until it is cut
up and prepared for consumption.
8. Remember to REPORT your harvest.
After you have used your last deer tag, you may help others hunt
deer. You may not carry a firearm or bow, and you must have your
hunting license.

[ghost]

Nov 23, 2009 6:02:28 GMT -5 SPIKER said:

NY's law currently states:

Tagging:
Here’s what you must do immediately upon killing a deer or bear:
1. Fill in ALL information on the CORRECT carcass tag with ink
that won't erase.
2. On the reverse side of the tag, cut or mark both the month and the
date of kill in the margin of the tag. Also, add your SIGNATURE.
3. Once filled in, the tag may not be altered.
4. Find the CORRECT Doc # on the Report Panel and add the date
of kill. Save this panel as you will need it later when you report
your harvest.
5. You do not need to attach the tag to your harvest
while it is being dragged or physically carried
from the place of kill to a camp or point where
transportation is available.
6. Once you get to the camp or vehicle, attach
the tag to the carcass immediately.
7. Keep the tag attached to the carcass until it is cut
up and prepared for consumption.
8. Remember to REPORT your harvest.
After you have used your last deer tag, you may help others hunt
deer. You may not carry a firearm or bow, and you must have your
hunting license.

I am glad I do hunt in NY. ;D ;D

Ghost

[SPIKER]

Nov 23, 2009 17:05:19 GMT -5 ghost said:

I am glad I do hunt in NY. ;D ;D

Ghost

Do, or do not?

[oldfarmsblueman]

I have dealt with them a time or two and none of it was good.
The first thing I don't like is a deer tag that is made of toilet
paper.We used to get TAGS that you could attach to your deer.
Now they are saving $$$$ at our expense.I got stoped with a
pack of beagles rabbit hunting.The a** H*le said I was shooting
deer.Went through all my pockets looking for slugs.My Son
got busted for shooting a Blue Jay and we spent the day in
Court.Had a friends wife ticketed for touching a line of a friend
who was ice fishing.He was watching them from his car with
binoculars.She was going to church and just stoped by to say
hello.She reached down grabbed his line and said Fishy Fishy
and that was it.My son got stoped for rideing a Minni bike on
state land.He was hiding in the bushes when the kids came
back to his truck for gas.He put on his flashing lights and siren
and raced 50 feet to make the big bust.Went on my Son's driving
record and had to pay more $$$ for two years.I have more
but am starting to get my self PISSED OFF. ;D