Tag Your Deer ASAP

[SartellMN]

The CO's are going to be strict this year. You must tag your deer where it lies dead. No dragging/gutting it first.

[westb]

The CO's are going to be strict this year. You must tag your deer where it lies dead. No dragging/gutting it first.

Page 70 of the regulations clearly defines this rule. You only need to validate the tag at the kill site. After you validate the tag you can gut, drag, or carry your deer. Before loading or transporting you must attach the tag.

[hockeybc69]

Westb has it right.

Dont tag it and lose the darn tag in the woods by dragging. Then you have a real issue!!!!

[Archerysniper]

Yep validate the tag first before touching the animal,then it doesn't need to be attached till it is in the vehicle on the wheeler or in camp.

[MUSKY18]

Westb has it right.

Dont tag it and lose the darn tag in the woods by dragging. Then you have a real issue!!!!

Learned this one the hard way! Few years ago I shot a doe, tagged and gutted then drug her out to the truck about 1/2 miles. Got to the truck and the tag was missing off the deer. Had to walk back to the stand looking for the darn tag. Found it under some leaves luckily! Validate, gut, drag and THEN tage! LOL

[Finlander]

Remember way back in the stone age they issued metal tags that wouldn't come off unless you took a metal shears to remove it? That was the best!!!

Even the peeloff/sticky tags a few years back, as they stayed put and was way better than the can't find the hole in the tag unless you had a micrscope to put the string thru!

[TruthWalleyes]

The CO's are going to be strict this year. You must tag your deer where it lies dead. No dragging/gutting it first.

NOT TRUE!

You must fill out your tag where the deer lies dead...you do not have to attach a tag until the deer is transported by use of motor vehicle.

[MUSKY18]

Remember way back in the stone age they issued metal tags that wouldn't come off unless you took a metal shears to remove it? That was the best!!!

Even the peeloff/sticky tags a few years back, as they stayed put and was way better than the can't find the hole in the tag unless you had a micrscope to put the string thru!

Metal tags were the best!!! I liked the self stick ones too. Don't know why MN went away from that, almost every other state seems to use them. Must have been a cost type of deal?

[LightningBG]

Even the peeloff/sticky tags a few years back, as they stayed put and was way better than the can't find the hole in the tag unless you had a micrscope to put the string thru!

If my memory serves me correctly, there are circles on the back showing where the pass through holes are. Easier than looking at the front side.

[BobT]

My biggest problem now is that I keep forgetting to bring a string along. I too liked the metal tags.

[LightningBG]

I keep a roll of waxed string in my pack, never ever take it out, so I will never be able to forget. Never take out my knife either and some other essentials. When its time to go, just grab the bag and head out. Everything I need is always in there (minus some food and water).

[Froggy4371]

Best,Strongest, and Easiest way to attach these silly tags is with cable ties (zip ties). They will not rip or break and never come off with out cutting them.

About 8 years ago I put a hand full of the back ones in the bottom of my pack and you would be supprised what you can use them for. I even used a couple for boot laces after mine broke.

just my .02

Froggy

[BoxMN]

Thats what I use froggy, works great and you are right, they come in handy for all sorts of things

[TruthWalleyes]

I tie a string to one of my zippers on my orange vest so it's never forgotten since i'm always wearing my orange!

[MUSKY18]

Good call Froggy!! Just "borrowed" some from work here. I always forget the darn string and end up cutting my shoe lace or jacket string.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

I also "borrow" a bundle of cable ties from work every fall and throw them in the tool box of my truck. I use them to tag ducks and geese from time to time, and I always seem to be handing 5 or 6 out during deer season to the rest of the guys in the crew. they also make handy belts if you are a little hung over on a sunday morning and head off to the deer stand only to find your pants falling off your butt!

[muskE]

I use my vacuum sealer and make a small tag "kit" with a string, hand wipes, 2 paper towels, 3 latex gloves (one always rips), and my tag. I make 'em micro-small and flat with the vacuum and slip them in a zipped pocket of my blaze. It keeps everything organized, waterproof, scent proof, silent, and small.

-Also a good way to carry some TP.

[bearslayer]

What about party hunting? If you are going to have someone else tag the deer, do you need to go get them and have them validate their tag before handling the deer? Do they need to go to kill site or can they simply validate their tag and give to you to handle and move the deer with? This is for if the proper party hunting guidelines are followed.

[TooTallTom]

I think that if your deer is tagged, but not yet registered, and in transit, you have to be physically with it. So, you'd have to go get your party member anyway. Not that it should be all that much trouble, just a yell or a wave if the law is being followed.

[snapcrackpop]

What about party hunting? If you are going to have someone else tag the deer, do you need to go get them and have them validate their tag before handling the deer? Do they need to go to kill site or can they simply validate their tag and give to you to handle and move the deer with? This is for if the proper party hunting guidelines are followed.

Uh, you are supposed to be "in the field" together (I consider this to be within shouting distance), not back at the house or at the cabin...

[frogtosser]

I have all the gutting stuff in one part of my pack too, knives, sharpener, drag harness, zip ties, latex gloves, and butt out tool(still havent perfected that thing). I wouldnt even look for the deer without the person who is gonna tag it.

[lakevet]

Uh, you are supposed to be "in the field" together (I consider this to be within shouting distance), not back at the house or at the cabin...

This is correct. Otherwise you are not party hunting but using someone else's license/tag who is not afield with you at the same time with similar weapons (firearms or archery). Doesn't matter if they are at the cabin, the wife back at home (bowhunters letting things sit and coming back with the wife & her license because the buck wasn't big enough), or 3 1/2 hours south back in the cities, it is not party hunting. It is lending or borrowing licenses, which will result in enforcement action.

As far as tagging, it must be validated before moving the deer from the "site of the kill". I find it hard to believe that rolling a deer over to field dress it qualifies as moving it from site of kill, but that is a question for the DNR enforcement. If the DNR is watching you that closely you likely have done something already to attract their attention.

lakevet

[Boar]

Dont forget the bottle of babby wipes boy are they handy after the gutting, but remeber to pick them up an carry tehm out in a spare zipp bag, having a few exra of them is great for hearts or liver if u like.

[BobT]

This is correct. Otherwise you are not party hunting but using someone else's license/tag who is not afield with you at the same time with similar weapons (firearms or archery). Doesn't matter if they are at the cabin, the wife back at home (bowhunters letting things sit and coming back with the wife & her license because the buck wasn't big enough), or 3 1/2 hours south back in the cities, it is not party hunting. It is lending or borrowing licenses, which will result in enforcement action.

As far as tagging, it must be validated before moving the deer from the "site of the kill". I find it hard to believe that rolling a deer over to field dress it qualifies as moving it from site of kill, but that is a question for the DNR enforcement. If the DNR is watching you that closely you likely have done something already to attract their attention.

lakevet

I agree with you here. I believe the meaning of "move the deer" is to move it from the kill site and not roll it over to dress it out. I think you're reading too much into the law if you think it means the latter. If you wait until you're done dressing it before validating I don't think they'll split hairs as long as you validate before you move it from the kill site. In other words, if you're dragging the deer and an officer happens to approach you, your license better be validated.

As long as someone in the party validates their tag and then accompanies the deer as it is being moved it is legal but again, the person who validated their tag better be with the deer if a CO happens along. I also believe this is true once it is tagged. The one who tagged it must accompany it all the way to its destination.

[Fever]

Ok, situation is like this; a buddy of mine hunts in our party. Hypothetically, he shoots a deer, field dresses, validates and then tags it. A few of us show up to help drag the deer out of woods and to trail. So, he has a car and can't load his deer into it but rather we load it into back of a pick up. We pull out but we are a bit of a ways behind him, and C.O. stops us while on way back.... hasn't happened but I'm sure a phone call (assuming there is service) could iron that one out. right?