registering deer online or by phone?

[going4it]

Is this is the first year this has been offered? Makes me question how honest some people will be with this type of system. Not that I have ever had anyone actually check my deer while registering it but there is at least the chance when you have it at the registration spot.

[fishane]

It is a great idea. Poachers will be poachers and ethical hunters will be ethical no matter how deer are registered.

[MNice]

I think more people will register, because it will be that much easier. Where we register, we don't even bring the deer along, as they have never even looked at one in the last 20 some years. Now we can just call from the cabin and start our processing, saves a 20 mile trip and some time. Those who don't register because it's inconvenient may start, but there will always be the poachers as the above post mentioned.

[gardn184]

I have to say the first time I registered a deer in Minnesota it was a huge suprise to me that they didn't look at the deer, I could have registerd that deer as a unicorn and the lady at the counter wouldn't have even noticed, after growing up in Wisconsin where they literally inspect the deer and put a metal tag in it, the fact that the lady just printed off a tag and said here you go dumbfounded me. After staring blankly at her for 30 seconds or so she asked me if there was anything else. I must have looked pretty silly, but registering deer online? Personally I like the Wisconsin way better, makes sure that if your deer is tagged, its tagged correctly, and that you can't use that tag again because they cut it in half. If you choose not to tag it then you can't get your meat processed at a legitimate butcher since they usually require the metal tag with the deer. Granted there is always a way for someone to bend the rules but this way they have a better chance at getting caught.

[BLACKJACK]

I like the new registration by phone or computer, less hassle. Outlaws will always be outlaws, so this new system will not affect them.

[gardn184]

I suppose thats true

[Finlander]

Poachers don't give a hoot about registering!

They have been doing this type of registering for years in other states.

Gonna mke things alot easier for everybody especially when all the registration places are closed.

[harvey lee]

Sounds like a great option.

[Tom7227]

Since they don't inspect the animal about all it accomplishes is providing data for deer managment. I guess the outlaws won't register is a good point. On the other hand if there was some sort of verificiation tag requirement it would be easy to prove a deer was illegal if it was in a truck and didn't have the registration tag. A CO could walk through a bar parking lot and get info in a heartbeat.

[Cheetah]

They had phone registration this spring for turkey. It was great. I hated having to drive all over trying to find a registration station that was open. Much easier to just use the cell phone and call it in.

[lichen fox]

This will be super! No more having to take down a hideless deer and load it back into the truck to register somewhere in the morning because the local registration station was closed when you got it out of the bush the nite before...no more driving the extra 20 miles round trip for every deer just to register it...no more standing in line at some store for 15 minutes to half an hour only to find when you reach the counter that the machine is down and they have no way of registering...please come back later! (that's another 20 mile trip wasted)...now we can simply go online or call it in, hang it, skin it and be done with it! I really think they will get better registration numbers than before...it will be intersting to see.

[koonie]

I'd be willing to bet that less deer will be registered. You'll hear: "I don't know the phone number to register the deer."

I bet a third of the people who register their deer don't even know what area they shot it in.

I'm basing this on the last eight years I've spent registering deer for people.

I don't care one way or the other. It's a good idea but only if you use it. I just don't think we'll see as many deer registered.

[Bear55]

I don't know koonie I think we see similar numbers or even more deer registered. It will be hard to tell because the harvest numbers change from year to year but we probably won't see drastic enough changes to tell for sure.

I am guessing everyone who has registered in the past will do it again and we might even pick up a few extra because it will be much easier to register for many. A lot of them won't even know about this and still bring the deer in to be registered.

[pulleye16]

I'd be willing to bet that less deer will be registered. You'll hear: "I don't know the phone number to register the deer."

I bet a third of the people who register their deer don't even know what area they shot it in.

I'm basing this on the last eight years I've spent registering deer for people.

I don't care one way or the other. It's a good idea but only if you use it. I just don't think we'll see as many deer registered.

I agree with bear55 also. knowing what zone is not to big of a deal...I tend to forget once in awhile as I have switched areas lately (I DO KNOW WHERE I can hunt, just forget or mix up the numbers sometime) but saying they won't know how the phone registration works is goofy. Their not taking away walk-in registration, just adding some options that benefit certain groups of hunters, ex. boondok hunters or hermits that live 30 miles from town. MOST hunters obey the laws and some that hunt legally but may feel that running into town to register their deer is a waste of time, can now do so . But we'll just have to wait and see I guess!

[ANYFISH2]

I agree, maybe a small increase in registration. I have this sneaky suspicion that the increase will only be seen in antlerless deer (if truly noticable), mainly because of small antlered deer being registered as doe's online or by phone. Don't kid yourself guy's it going to happen! Just much easier to lie online than to lie to a persons face. Temptation will rear it's ugly head to many otherwise honest people.

[luckey]

Did the also change the law that a processor cannot take in a deer without a registration tag? Currently I know of no processor that will take in a deer or deer parts (burger) without a possession tag.

[schmoe147]

Terrible Idea.

[NaturesRespect]

I have to say the first time I registered a deer in Minnesota it was a huge suprise to me that they didn't look at the deer, I could have registerd that deer as a unicorn and the lady at the counter wouldn't have even noticed, after growing up in Wisconsin where they literally inspect the deer and put a metal tag in it, the fact that the lady just printed off a tag and said here you go dumbfounded me. After staring blankly at her for 30 seconds or so she asked me if there was anything else. I must have looked pretty silly, but registering deer online? Personally I like the Wisconsin way better, makes sure that if your deer is tagged, its tagged correctly, and that you can't use that tag again because they cut it in half. If you choose not to tag it then you can't get your meat processed at a legitimate butcher since they usually require the metal tag with the deer. Granted there is always a way for someone to bend the rules but this way they have a better chance at getting caught.

agree the wisconsin way 100% when i first registered my deer i was in and out! im like uhhhhhh he didnt even look at our deer i could have said it was a doe and keep shootin bucks all year when the limit was only one buck for the season.

yes poachers will be poachers but with this new regestration thing some may turn. I have to be home to register online wich means i can just not tag the deer at all in most cases but i guess we will see how it goes

[mnguy152]

I think is going to be the best lost is the people who run the registation places. How many time have you gone in and grab a pop or cig when you waiting inline for your turn or get gas. True it will be nice for some but we have to look at the other side. Sure the it will be nice for some that drive 20 miles to get it register and drive back. Hell I know people never take the deer with them when they do it.

[whos_on_first]

I agree it's a good idea, especially for the early season bow hunters that want to get their deer cut-up and processed ASAP.

Even though the Wisconsin registration has more "controls", it isn't any better at stopping the criminally minded...or those without a mind at all. One of the WI gas stations that we always registered deer at quit registering because of how much of a joke it was. A couple years ago someone had a buck only tag, brought in a "buck" that was clearly less than the 3 inch minimum antler size, so the gas station owner called the CO before he would register it. The CO showed up and registered the deer as a buck anyway...no fault put on the hunter at all. The gas station owner was livid and won't register deer anymore because of it.

There's no [PoorWordUsage] proof registration method out there, so might as well make it easier for those that obey the laws...

[TruthWalleyes]

The 300 series cannnot use the phone or electronic method because of the 4points rule. Might be interesting this year if they actually look at the deer...though i highly doubt it!

I'd have to agree with most here, poachers will be poachers, and the rest of us will have a quicker way to register deer.

[LightningBG]

A couple years ago someone had a buck only tag, brought in a "buck" that was clearly less than the 3 inch minimum antler size, so the gas station owner called the CO before he would register it. The CO showed up and registered the deer as a buck anyway...no fault put on the hunter at all. The gas station owner was livid and won't register deer anymore because of it.

I dont see why anyone would get upset about tagging that as a buck. If you have a buck only tag, the powers that be want you to take a male deer ideally. If you have a antlerless tag, ideally they want you to take a female, but understand that its tough to tell a spike from a doe, so they give you a little wiggle room. Seems like the WI DNR and the hunter both got what they wanted. I think you should be able to tag a spike as a buck if you want or a doe if you want (given that its under 3")

[whos_on_first]

I guess I never looked at it that way. I only saw it as against the regulations.

[HNTNBUX]

I registered one by phone last night and it was a piece of cake. I actually talked with a lady from down south somewhere in an answering service. I think they must be having problems because I thought it was going to be automated. The telephone number to call is also on the license so that makes it even easier, no extra trip to the registration station for me.

[LightningBG]

I went and registered mine at a local archery shop because I wanted to get another bonus tag (which I forgot to get). I also wanted to talk to them about others registering. As of 5 pm when I was there, I was only the second to register one that day. They didn't seem to happy about the phone/online system. They relied on registrations to bring people into the shop. I guess it has its pros and cons.