Licenses and Site Tags

[PostFrontal]

Last weekend I shot a deer with my muzzleloader. I pulled out my stack of blue licenses looking for my bonus tag that I had bought at the beginning of archery season. After going through my Sportsman's license, state and federal waterfowl stamps, pheasant stamp, arcery license, firearms license, muzzleloader license, registration and transportation slips I thought there has got to be a better way for the DNR to do the licensing.

I'm sure it all comes down to funding. But I would think if we had a card, like a credit card, that just adds licenses as we buy them at the stores it would make it alot easier for everyone. Then you would have that card for life, that you use every year for them to put your licenses on, instead of getting all these paper licenses every year.

I'm assuming that CO's already have computers in their trucks. If a CO stops you they can just ask for your card that they have the ability to swipe and brings up all your licenses.

What is the reason for the site tag? It seems to me that if someone isn't going to register a deer, they aren't going to do it whether they site tag it or not. Even if they do tag it there are ways for unethical people to get around actually using up that tag.

I would think that if we got rid of the paper tags, and had the card, and a CO stops someone, the CO could just register it right there with the same machine that checks their license status.

Just a thought...

[pulleye16]

You sound like me and need to clean out your wallet and get rid of expired or unused deer tags...LOL. When you buy your sportsmens license, you can have them add all your stamps to it, so its all included on one license and that will help out some. I like the card idea but you still need something to place on the deer, e.g. party hunting or deer left at camp over night/weekend when the shooter may not be around. You're right though as there has to be something BETTER then what we have now!!

[buckhunter21]

Thats a pretty good idea, ive never thought of that. I think it would definitely work for all your waterfowl, fishing/spearing, small game and whatever else you dont need site tags for. I cant see them ever getting rid of the site tags though even though I do agree with what you said about an honest person registering their deer regardless. But even if they did switch to a card or something it would cut way down on all the paper you had to carry around. The only thing you would need a paper tag for would be deer or bear really. Not sure how much they spend on all those rolls of paper for everyones tags for a whole year but switching to a card would probably save them quite a bit of money too in the long run.

[mabr]

AMEN to this idea!!!!! Hard to read which tag is for which in the woods without my reading glasses. And there all blue!!

[96trigger]

I have a wallet that I use only for hunting licenses. I have a system where I have a spot for all my boat, wheeler, registratioins. Small game/waterfowl, and big game licenses. Works for me.

[woodspliter]

I like the idea of a card. Then when you buy a license that needs a tag they can print that out. Also any of the day licenses for anglers. Give the CO's a card swiper and they're ready. More durable too, which is good for those of us that forget to check pockets when washing clothes or losing our balance on the dock.

[Bear55]

The card is a great idea! Simplify everything and put it on your card. You could call or go on the internet to add all the licenses you need each year onto your card each year. Forget about site tags, just make a reusable tag with your card number on it. Then register over the phone or internet like a lot of other states do.

[fasternu]

Just being devil's advocate here, but how long will it take to get a card from the State? When I lived in South Dakota they printed Driver's Licenses on the spot and took about 5 minutes/$8 per card. Minnesota takes 6 weeks and $30 to get a driver's License. If they can't figure out that system, how ever would they do the hunting license system, with all of the variables?

I too have a special wallet with all of my licenses in. It is a pain, but it works for me as well. It might be nice to have just one card, but I just don't think it could work.

[fivebucks]

How many CO's have internet access in the field to swipe a card? Granted, it's a doable system with blackberry's or whatever top of the line phone system you can get but there will be dead zones. I don't think the current system is hard or cumbersome at all. Like someone else said, buy them all at the same time and they all go on one piece of waterproof blue stuff.

[Musky Buck]

You're right about the dead zones 5bux. For me it's a non-issue as once my sportsman's,duck,pheasant,etc. I never need those after they're in my wallet as I haven't been checked in 20+years. The deer I can understand that some, but once you have a deer down I hope we all have plenty of time to do it right and not be in a huge hurry to get to the next drive etc. 1983, that flat metal tag was ideal and tough to think about reusing it once it's attached it's locked on. I've heard stories about reusing our tags we have today, since several ELS people etc. are too busy to leave the store unguarded so in my experiences they never even come out to look at the deer.

[woodspliter]

They don't have to have instant access. If they could upload a few times day when they have a signal that would keep them current pretty well. And if they find someone that isn't (with a small game or fishing license) they can write the ticket later when they have access to the net. I've had CO's check me when I didn't have my license with me fishing. Sent them a copy of my license and ticket turned to a warning.