The new plain paper deer tags need protection from getting wet. DEC advises that hunters be sure to securely attach the tag to the deer and to also protect the paper tag with a plastic baggie or vinyl jacket.
Submitted Photo
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has made several changes in these last few years, more appropriately described as cost-cutting measures to enhance communication and allow licensed hunters a greater range of interactive registration. Some of these enhancements may have caused a more significant degree of grief than was suspected during planning.
For the 2024-25 hunting season, DEC modernized the hunting license printing process by changing the paper used for hunting licenses and tags from a unique synthetic waterproof stock to plain white paper. Frankly, many states do this now. FYI.
In New York, this change was intended to make it easier for hunters to purchase their licenses online and then print them and the tags at home on ordinary, non-waterproof paper. Only some hunters have a printer at home or can easily access DEC online. The additional hindrance is that this change requires hunters to take extra steps to protect their plain paper tags so that the harvest tag remains dry, legible and visible during hunting, after transport, and while at the butcher shop — as required by law. Of course, the old law was to fill out and attach the carcass tags immediately upon harvest. The new law requires hunters to fill out the tag immediately but allows the tags not to be attached to the harvested deer or bear until arrival at home, camp, or your vehicle (put them in your shirt pocket or sock).
Many have a distaste for this change; it causes hunters, especially the old guys, to rethink what hunters have come to accept as “the habit of following the law — fill out the tag and attach it to the deer immediately.” Some hunters say this change allows for more harvest skimming. Get that deer to your garage or barn, and some cheater could just dress it out and fill their freezer, then go out and shoot another deer with the same tag. That’s the end-of-the-night bar talk. Either way, the law change is official, and we are only a few days from the end of the NYS Southern Zone Regular (firearm) big game season, which will end on Sunday, 30 minutes after sunset. All said and done, hunters feel that this new tag change makes it more difficult for hunters to go hunt, they need to do extra stuff now. We will adapt, you know that. Most hunters use a plastic bag or vinyl protector and a plastic tie and attach their harvest tag at the kill site. FYI.
Some good news for ardent hunters, the NYS Southern Zone late archery and muzzleloader season for deer and bear will begin the next day, Monday, at 30 minutes before sunrise, and will run through Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 30 minutes after sunset. In addition, the special NYS holiday big game season (for deer only) with archery and muzzleloader will run from the day after Christmas, Dec. 26, at 30 minutes before sunrise through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, at 30 minutes after sunset. These upcoming seasons provide an excellent opportunity for hunters to put their skills to the test and enjoy the thrill of the hunt.
Gotta love the outdoors.
CALENDAR
Nov. 23 to Jan. 19: Late Canada goose season — South Area. See syllabus.
Nov. 30 to Dec. 14: Pennsylvania Regular (firearms) deer season. See https://www.pgc.pa.gov.
Dec. 5: Western New York Walleye monthly meeting, 6:30 p.m., 36 Pierce Ave., Hamburg.
Dec. 8: Last day of 2024 NYS Southern Zone regular (firearm) big game season.
Dec. 9-17 and Dec. 26 to Jan. 1: NYS Southern Zone late bowhunting season