Harvested deer and bear are in a hunter’s legal possession only when they are tagged, transported, and reported appropriately.
E-Tag Users: Take It, Report It, Tag It If You Leave It
E-tags are electronic records of a hunter’s unreported and reported carcass tags for deer, bear, and turkey in the HuntFishNY mobile app.
• Hunters using e-tags who harvest a deer or bear must immediately electronically “tag” the carcass by reporting the harvest via the HuntFishNY mobile app.
• Once reported, e-tag users do not need to attach anything to the carcass while in possession of it, including in their vehicle and at home. If the carcass is not in their possession (e.g., brought to a meat processor or taxidermist), the hunter must attach a tag that includes their name, hunter ID number, and reporting confirmation number (available in the mobile app).
• E-tag users who need to leave the carcass somewhere other than their home or vehicle can also print and use a paper carcass tag with confirmation number from their (DECALS) account.
• E-tags are not currently available for transferred DMPs or DMAP tags. Transferred DMPs must be paper tags.
1. Tag the harvested deer or bear with an appropriate, completed, and legible carcass tag. Follow the below steps to ensure your harvested deer or bear is legally tagged.
Step 1. Get your paper tags from a license-issuing agent or print them from the PDF sent to your email upon purchase of your hunting license.
Step 2. Cut the appropriate tag from the sheet of paper. Ensure you select the proper tag for the species and season you are hunting in.
Step 3. Fill in the tag with the required harvest information and sign it using ink that won’t erase. The month and date of harvest must be marked in ink on the carcass tag.
Step 4. Place the tag in a weatherproof case or bag.
Step 5. Attach the weatherproof case or bag to the animal, keeping the tag visible. You do not need to attach the tag to the carcass while it is being dragged or physically carried from the place of kill to a camp, home, or point where transportation is available. Attach the carcass tag immediately upon arriving at one of these locations.
Step 6. Keep the tag attached to the carcass until it is cut up and prepared for consumption.
Step 7. Report your harvest within 48 hours. DEC considers unreported deer and bear to be illegally taken. Hunters in possession of illegally taken deer and bear are subject to penalty.
2. Transport the harvested deer or bear appropriately.
• Harvested and tagged deer and bear may be transported either inside or outside a vehicle by the hunter who harvested the animal, or in their attendance. A hunter transporting their own e-tagged deer or bear does not need to attach a tag to the carcass.
• If someone other than the hunter who harvested the deer or bear is transporting the carcass, the hunter must attach an additional tag of their own making to the carcass that includes the names, addresses, and signatures of the hunter and person(s) transporting the carcass.
• All portions of deer or bear meat being transported must be individually labeled with the name, address, carcass tag Doc #, date that the portions were cut, and the signature of the hunter who harvested the deer or bear. Packaged or boxed portions of venison need only one label with “venison” on the outside of the box. If someone other than the hunter is transporting the portions, the hunter must attach an additional label to each portion that includes the names, addresses, and signatures of the hunter and person(s) transporting the portions.
• A deer carcass with head removed can be transported as described above, but evidence of the sex of the deer must be intact. The deer carcass tag must be affixed to the carcass, and the hunter must attach a tag of their own making that includes the name and address of the taxidermist where the head was sent. A hunter transporting their own e-tagged deer without the head does not need to attach a carcass tag, but must attach a tag of their own making showing the name and address of the taxidermist where the head was sent.
• Heads of male deer may be transported to a taxidermist only if a tag of the hunter’s own making is attached that includes the hunter’s address, signature, carcass tag Doc #, number of points on each antler, and the name and address of the taxidermist where the head is being sent. The head of a doe with antlers that are at least 3” in length can also be removed for mounting and transported following these same procedures.
• Hunters who harvest a deer or bear in remote areas may wish to quarter and pack out the meat. This is lawful, but you must retain the carcass tag with the quartered meat. A hunter transporting quartered meat from their own e-tagged deer or bear does not need to attach a tag to the quartered meat.
