Tag Validation

[New Hunter]

Since this is my first time deer hunting, would anyone please tell me how to get my tag validated after I got a deer? As far as I know, I have to present the whole deer to an authorized agent, and the person will countersign the tag for me after examining the animal. Did I get it correctly? If so, what should I do If I got a deer late and all the authorized offices were closed?

 

[CA Karen]

For Validation....Most CDF fire stations, USFS stations, and the local sheriff deputy should also be able to do it... and you can usually find one of those three but I would't stop at the fire stations after 10pm unless I knew someone was up.

 

[#1Predator]

Lots of various people can validate a deer/elk tag. See CCR, Title 14, section 708.6 below:

§708.6. Tag Validation, Countersigning and Transporting Requirements.

• (a) Any person legally killing a deer in this state shall have the deer license tag validated and countersigned by a person authorized by the commission as described below before transporting such deer, except for the purpose of taking the deer to the nearest person authorized to countersign the license tag, on the route being followed from the point where the deer was taken (refer to Fish and Game Code, Section 4341).
• (b) No person may validate or countersign his/her own deer tag or tag.
• (c) Deer and Elk Tags, Persons Authorized to Validate.
  • (1) The following persons are authorized to validate or countersign deer and elk tags:
    • (A) State:
      • 1. Fish and Game Commissioners
      • 2. Employees of the Department of Fish and Game, including Certified Hunter Education Instructors
      • 3. Employees of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
      • 4. Supervising Plant Quarantine Inspectors
      • 5. Junior, Intermediate and Senior Plant Quarantine Inspectors
    • (B) Federal:
      • 1. Employees of the Bureau of Land Management
      • 2. Employees of the United States Forest Service
      • 3. Employees of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service
      • 4. All Uniformed Personnel of the National Park Service
      • 5. Commanding Officers of any United States military installation or their designated personnel for deer taken on their reservation.
      • 6. Postmasters & Post Office Station or Branch Manager for deer brought to their post office.
    • (C) Miscellaneous:
      • 1. County firemen at and above the class of foreman for deer brought into their station.
      • 2. Judges or Justices of all state and United States courts.
      • 3. Notaries Public
      • 4. Peace Officers (salaried & non-salaried)
      • 5. Officers authorized to administer oaths
      • 6. Owners, corporate officers, managers or operators of lockers or cold storage plants for deer brought to their place of business.

Added 7/8/11.
§708.7. Deer Head Retention Requirements and Production Upon Demand.
Any person taking any deer in this state shall retain in their possession during the open season thereon and for 15 days thereafter, that portion of the head which in adult males normally bears the antlers, and shall produce the designated portion of the head upon the demand of any officer authorized to enforce the provisions of this regulation (refer to Fish and Game Code, Section 4302).


You must show/present only the top portion of the skull (called the "skull cap") with the antlers attached to the skull (don't saw off each antler). The body of the deer does not need to be presented, just the skull cap. If it's after normal business hours you can contact any fire department or police/sheriff's office and make arrangements to have it signed off. You can also have the meat locker/butcher sign it off (see C-6 above). Very important - remember to fill out and punch the tag immediately after taking an animal. "Slick tags" (one that is not filled out when a warden checks it) will result in a citation.

 

[DFGELK]

You can report your deer on line now as well. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/harvestreporting/

[h=1]Harvest Reporting[/h][h=2]Online Harvest Reporting Availability[/h]

July 1, 2012	Antelope Tags, Bear Tags, Bighorn Sheep Tags, Bobcat Tags, Deer Tags, Elk Tags, Pig Tags
December 1, 2012	Abalone Report Card
January 1, 2013	North Coast Salmon Report Card, Spiny Lobster Report Card, Steelhead Report Card, Sturgeon Fishing Report Card

DFG needs your harvest data to manage fish and wildlife populations in California. Information gathered from hunting tags and sport fishing report cards is important data needed by fish and wildlife biologists to support science based hunting and sport fishing seasons and sustainable quotas for harvest. This data is one of the critical components used to prepare the regulatory and environmental documents required for hunting and sport fishing programs. Because harvest and effort data is essential to fish and wildlife management, hunters and sport fisherman are required by regulation to report hunting tags and sport fishing report cards in a timely manner. For most species, you must report even if you were unsuccessful or did not hunt or fish.
[h=2]Now, it is easier than ever to report your harvest:[/h]

• Report your harvest online, using the Online License Service; or
• Return your tag or report card via mail to the address printed on the report card or tag.

[h=2]Important Information – Read before you report online[/h]

• Accurate and complete data is required. If you report online, all entries on the report card must be entered in the electronic form, including sport fishing reports of activity where no catches were made.
• Submission of report card data online must be completed within 20 minutes to avoid a system time out.
• Successful hunters may report harvest immediately. Unsuccessful hunters should report after the last day of the report card's validity.
• Sport fishing report cards may be reported online only after the last day of the report card's validity.
• If you report online, you do not need to mail in your report card. You will be issued a report confirmation number. After reporting, please retain your report card for 90 days for survey purposes and write your report confirmation number on it. Once a tag or report card has been reported, it may no longer be used in the field.

Only 2012 tags and report cards may be submitted online.

 

[TonyS]

The link given says 'harvest reports COMING SOON". Not now. what's up with that?

 

[Moskinyca]

If you login to your account you can submit on-line harvast information ist several links in https://www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/InternetSales/CustomerSearch/Begin

 

[#1Predator]

I sure hope the DFG amends their website to remind hunters to have their tags countersigned. This needs to be added to their "Harvest Reporting" page.

Oh brother ....I can see it all now...

Hunter - "But officer, as soon as I had some bars, I got on my 4G phone and reported the kill. What do you mean 'I didn't have it countersigned'?... I don't need to have it countersigned...right?"

Warden - "Sign here...press hard...there's five copies."

This online feature is to make an on line harvest report only (versus mailing in the tag). The countersignature is still required to verify the animal was legal (number of points, etc.). This new "online" reporting is going to confuse a lot of people about the countersignature so .... get'em signed boys and girls ... get'em signed.

Ok....geez... I couldn't stand it. I just got off the phone with the DFG licensing boss. She assured me that she would get out a press release and/or update their "Harvest Report" page to caution hunters to get their tags countersigned even though they use the on-line reporting system.

 

[#1Predator]

I emailed DFG Chief Nancy Foley and Biologist Carrie Wilson. I just received a reply from both of them as well as Greg Underwood DFG [FONT=&quot]License Program Analyst. They are working on amending to page and getting out a news release.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

 

[Bubblehide]

I've often had an very difficult time getting my tags countersigned. I can't tell you how many times I've stopped at the Sheriffs office, post office... even a forest service station, only to hear "I won't sign it since I know nothing about signing off on deer tags." I can't say that I blame them if they have no knowledge of the process; but it sure does make for a lot of stops from point a to home and has even led me to stop at the closest fish hatchery the next day, about a 45 minute drive each way. granted it's a whole lot easier in rural areas.

 

[Zerohour714]

I see you are in orange county; Whatever you do, try to get it validated in the area which you killed it!

I got a deer last year during the archery season up in the LA National forest and stopped at the fire station in costa mesa on my way home to have it validated. Long story short, it took me 3 hours to finally have someone sign off on my tag. Nobody had any idea what the hell I was talking about!!!

I finally had to wait outside of the police station (which was closed to the public) to flag down an officer who was returning from his shift. After 30 minutes of explaining it was his duty and part of his job, he finally signed off on it. It was harder to get the tag signed than to pack the deer out!

 

[#1Predator]

Well, I'll be damned! Finally, the DFG is listening to hunter input. There's a new banner on the DFG "Harvest Report" page:

"ALL SUCCESSFUL HUNTERS ARE STILL REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR REPORT CARD COUNTERSIGNED IF REQUIRED FOR THAT SPECIES."

Wonders never cease!

 

[New Hunter]

Thank you everyone! I have the same though with Buddlehide and Zerohour because accept for DFG agents, other agencies are not familiar with hunting regulation; thus, it's really hard to get them countersign a thing that they are not sure. Anyway, let give it a try. Again, thanks

 

[TonyS]

The way I have done this is when you are driving out just check in at the Ranger station and explain what you want. someone will come out and sign off for you. Just don't let them keep the tag because they never mail it in.

 

[Bubblehide]

TonyS, and if the ranger station is closed (after hours), or it's not even close to being on your route home, what then? I handle it just like I do my job, I remain calm, polite and understanding, but I document everything, so that I can demonstrate that I abide by the law, stopping at every known countersigning agency that remains open. I note who I spoke with and write a brief summary of what was said. Then if I make it home without getting the tag countersigned, the next day I drive to the hatchery and have it done. It's a bit inconvenient, but it's worked for me thus far. This exact thing happened to me last year while hunting the Frazier Park area, if I recall correctly, it was a Sunday, the CHP is closed Sundays along with most other government agencies. It was after hours and the Sheriffs office was closed to the public. I found 2 CHP officers on I-5 on my way home, they both refused to countersign as they didn't know a thing about countersigning (they were polite as could be). I then stopped in at the Santa Clarita Sheriffs department, a bit out of my way, but not to far, I ran into the same issue. To make a long story short, I drove to the fish hatchery the next morning and had the tag countersigned. Out of my years having to do this on and off, I was only questioned once about having the tag countersigned the next day. Honestly, I'm hoping one day we will be able to snap a picture of the animal with the tag attached but laid out so it's readable, and submit it electronically. With modern cell phones, this could be done in the field upon harvest as required by the regulations, date stamped and all. And you don't even need a signal at the time as most if not all phones will store it and send it when they have a signal. The only thing needed is enough pixels.

As far as not leaving the tag with who ever countersigns it, I agree as the regulations state that it's the hunters responsibility to mail them in.

 

[#1Predator]

Wow! I've never had that much trouble getting a tag validated. Just lucky I guess.

 

[Common Sense]

Wow! I've never had that much trouble getting a tag validated. Just lucky I guess.

Most of mine have been validated by a local policeman after I return home. Sometimes I have stopped at the Coalinga PD on the way home from A Zone, but usually I just wait until I get home unless I see someone.

Many years ago I stopped at the Post Office in Greenfield to have a tag validated. It was the day after Thanksgiving and the police station was closed and I couldn't find a cop on the street. Postmasters can(or at least at that time) countersign, so I went to the Post Office. The postmaster was some vegetarian lady who was vomiting by the time she finished signing my tag. I felt bad for asking her, so now unless I see a game warden or police officer I just keep on driving until I get home.

 

[Bubblehide]

#1Predator, anywhere in the greater Los Angeles area can be difficult. The farther north I am the easier it is.

... but usually I just wait until I get home unless I see someone...

Not to bag on you common Sense, but the regs state that you must stop at the nearest countersigning agency on your route home; that's why I go to the trouble that I do. The last thing I want is a violation and confiscated deer after a hard well earned harvest.

 

[Common Sense]

#1Predator, anywhere in the greater Los Angeles area can be difficult. The farther north I am the easier it is.




Not to bag on you common Sense, but the regs state that you must stop at the nearest countersigning agency on your route home; that's why I go to the trouble that I do. The last thing I want is a violation and confiscated deer after a hard well earned harvest.

Well Bubblehide, as you say in LA things are different. Up here in the real world you won't get a violation or any trouble with the way I handle my affairs. I have never butchered or even skinned a deer before getting the tag countersigned. I don't plan on going out of my way to get the tag validated.

However bears are wierd, as they must be countersigned by a DFG employee. I tried my best to get a warden or other employee to sign my bear tag, but finally had to drive over fifty miles to a DFG office and have it countersigned. This was several days after I took the bear and all I presented was the skull.

 

[Fugaloo]

I take mine to the firestation, or the sherrif. The sherrif usually know the law is that the antlers are all that's needed for presentation as the antlers are the only thing that's reguated. The first fireman I got wanted to see the whole animal, so I had him call over the chief and he knew what to do. It was cool to get the group congrats from all the guys at the station too.

 

[Common Sense]

the regs state that you must stop at the nearest countersigning agency on your route home; that's why I go to the trouble that I do. The last thing I want is a violation and confiscated deer after a hard well earned harvest.

Here in D8 I sometimes hunt above the National Park, so if I harvest a deer I must drive through the park to get home. The park rangers are authorized to countersign; but I would never stop at the office with a dead animal in my vehicle even though it is the nearest agency on the way home.