Last year we had a heartbreaking story on this forum. A first time hunter (name withheld to protect the innocent) had his first kill: a beautiful and massive 4x4 that he had caught on camera before the season. He forget his pen so he fixed the unsigned tag and dragged the beast out. Mr Green Jeans was waiting at the truck to take his deer. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU.
The regs say to sign and attach the tag immediately upon taking an animal. And leave it on the head (which you must retain) until 15 days after the season ends. You must also get a policeman, fireman, or park ranger to co-sign your tag ASAP (24 hr max). Violation means loss of deer (and other any other tags) and no tags next year either. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU.
Bring your tags and 6 or 7 pens. If you have total pen failure, use a lead tipped bullet, burnt stick, or notch the tag with your knife. Don't get caught with an untagged deer because it will ruin your whole day! Don't even take pictures before tagging (lots of people do this) and DO NOT transport the deer from the spot it dropped without a tag.
Please. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU. For reference, here is the whole section on tags from the regs.
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§708.5. Deer Tagging and Reporting Requirements.
(a) Upon the killing of any deer the tag holder shall immediately fill out all portions of the tag including the report card completely, legibly, and permanently, and cut out or punch out and completely remove notches or punch holes for the month and date of the kill .The deer license tag shall be attached to the antlers of an antlered deer or to the ear of any other deer and kept attached during the open season and for 15 days thereafter. Except as otherwise provided, possession of any untagged deer shall be a violation. (Refer to Fish and Game Code, Section 4336).
(b) Every person to whom a deer license tag is issued shall report to the Department their deer harvest.
(1) Successful deer tag holders are required to report deer harvested within 30 days of the date of harvest or by January 31, whichever date is first.
(2) Unsuccessful deer tag holders, whether they hunted or not, are required to report no harvest by January 31 annually.
(c) Harvest Report Card Return and Reporting Mechanisms.
(1) By mail or in person at the address specified on the harvest report card. A harvest report card returned by mail shall be postmarked by the date applicable to that card as specified in this section.
(2) Online through the department’s internet license sales service website by the date specified in the section. Tag holders reporting online will be provided a confirmation number upon successful submission. The tag holder must record the provided confirmation number in the space provided on the harvest report card and retain the harvest report card until March 1 annually. Tags reported online must be surrendered to the department upon demand.
(d) Beginning July 1, 2016, deer tag holders, whether successful or unsuccessful, who fail to report by the date specified in this section shall be subject to a Deer Harvest Non-reporting Fee. The fee specified in Section 702 shall be charged prior to the issuance of a deer tag or deer tag drawing application in the following year.
Amendment filed 6/22/15; effective 7/1/15.
§708.6. Tag Validation, Countersigning and Transporting Requirements.
(a) Any person legally killing a deer in this state shall have the deer license tag validated and countersigned by a person authorized by the commission as described below before transporting such deer, except for the purpose of taking the deer to the nearest person authorized to countersign the license tag, on the route being followed from the point where the deer was taken (refer to Fish and Game Code, Section 4341).
(b) No person may validate or countersign his/her own deer tag or tag.
(c) Deer and Elk Tags, Persons Authorized to Validate.
(1) The following persons are authorized to validate or countersign deer and elk tags:
(A) State:
1. Fish and Game Commissioners
2. Employees of the Department of Fish and Game, including Certified Hunter Education Instructors
3. Employees of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
4. Supervising Plant Quarantine Inspectors
5. Junior, Intermediate and Senior Plant Quarantine Inspectors
(B) Federal:
1. Employees of the Bureau of Land Management
2. Employees of the United States Forest Service
3. Employees of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service
4. All Uniformed Personnel of the National Park Service
5. Commanding Officers of any United States military installation or their designated personnel for deer taken on their reservation.
6. Postmasters & Post Office Station or Branch Manager for deer brought to their post office.
(C) Miscellaneous:
1. County firemen at and above the class of foreman for deer brought into their station.
2. Judges or Justices of all state and United States courts.
3. Notaries Public
4. Peace Officers (salaried & non-salaried)
5. Officers authorized to administer oaths
6. Owners, corporate officers, managers or operators of lockers or cold storage plants for deer brought to their place of business.
Added 7/8/11.
The regs say to sign and attach the tag immediately upon taking an animal. And leave it on the head (which you must retain) until 15 days after the season ends. You must also get a policeman, fireman, or park ranger to co-sign your tag ASAP (24 hr max). Violation means loss of deer (and other any other tags) and no tags next year either. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU.
Bring your tags and 6 or 7 pens. If you have total pen failure, use a lead tipped bullet, burnt stick, or notch the tag with your knife. Don't get caught with an untagged deer because it will ruin your whole day! Don't even take pictures before tagging (lots of people do this) and DO NOT transport the deer from the spot it dropped without a tag.
Please. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU. For reference, here is the whole section on tags from the regs.
_________________________________________
§708.5. Deer Tagging and Reporting Requirements.
(a) Upon the killing of any deer the tag holder shall immediately fill out all portions of the tag including the report card completely, legibly, and permanently, and cut out or punch out and completely remove notches or punch holes for the month and date of the kill .The deer license tag shall be attached to the antlers of an antlered deer or to the ear of any other deer and kept attached during the open season and for 15 days thereafter. Except as otherwise provided, possession of any untagged deer shall be a violation. (Refer to Fish and Game Code, Section 4336).
(b) Every person to whom a deer license tag is issued shall report to the Department their deer harvest.
(1) Successful deer tag holders are required to report deer harvested within 30 days of the date of harvest or by January 31, whichever date is first.
(2) Unsuccessful deer tag holders, whether they hunted or not, are required to report no harvest by January 31 annually.
(c) Harvest Report Card Return and Reporting Mechanisms.
(1) By mail or in person at the address specified on the harvest report card. A harvest report card returned by mail shall be postmarked by the date applicable to that card as specified in this section.
(2) Online through the department’s internet license sales service website by the date specified in the section. Tag holders reporting online will be provided a confirmation number upon successful submission. The tag holder must record the provided confirmation number in the space provided on the harvest report card and retain the harvest report card until March 1 annually. Tags reported online must be surrendered to the department upon demand.
(d) Beginning July 1, 2016, deer tag holders, whether successful or unsuccessful, who fail to report by the date specified in this section shall be subject to a Deer Harvest Non-reporting Fee. The fee specified in Section 702 shall be charged prior to the issuance of a deer tag or deer tag drawing application in the following year.
Amendment filed 6/22/15; effective 7/1/15.
§708.6. Tag Validation, Countersigning and Transporting Requirements.
(a) Any person legally killing a deer in this state shall have the deer license tag validated and countersigned by a person authorized by the commission as described below before transporting such deer, except for the purpose of taking the deer to the nearest person authorized to countersign the license tag, on the route being followed from the point where the deer was taken (refer to Fish and Game Code, Section 4341).
(b) No person may validate or countersign his/her own deer tag or tag.
(c) Deer and Elk Tags, Persons Authorized to Validate.
(1) The following persons are authorized to validate or countersign deer and elk tags:
(A) State:
1. Fish and Game Commissioners
2. Employees of the Department of Fish and Game, including Certified Hunter Education Instructors
3. Employees of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
4. Supervising Plant Quarantine Inspectors
5. Junior, Intermediate and Senior Plant Quarantine Inspectors
(B) Federal:
1. Employees of the Bureau of Land Management
2. Employees of the United States Forest Service
3. Employees of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service
4. All Uniformed Personnel of the National Park Service
5. Commanding Officers of any United States military installation or their designated personnel for deer taken on their reservation.
6. Postmasters & Post Office Station or Branch Manager for deer brought to their post office.
(C) Miscellaneous:
1. County firemen at and above the class of foreman for deer brought into their station.
2. Judges or Justices of all state and United States courts.
3. Notaries Public
4. Peace Officers (salaried & non-salaried)
5. Officers authorized to administer oaths
6. Owners, corporate officers, managers or operators of lockers or cold storage plants for deer brought to their place of business.
Added 7/8/11.
