Mandatory Reporting

[joey46]

Many States require some type of tag or reporting for turkey kills.  Curious what states do or don't?  I hunt my home state, FL, it's in the DON'T column.  Traveled often to hunt OH, does have a full telecheck system as does KY.  On my recent trip to WY I was required to actually punch a tag if killing a Merriam but not report it. I do get almost weekly e mails from WY now and am betting I'll get an end of season survey at some point.
When this topic is discussed so many will mention that some don't bother to fill out surveys or report their kills even if required.  IMO they just poached one. 

As expected on 6/20 received an on line survey from WY.  Sorry to see it wasn't mandatory but did enter you in a prize drawing if you participated. 

[GobbleNut]

I have never understood why any state would not have some kind of "physical" tagging-requirement system.  New Mexico has had that in place since day one for pretty much every big game species and turkey. 

Here, upon harvest, a hunter must immediately attach a carcass tag to the turkey with the date being notched on the tag (there is another alternative called the E-Tag system that is an electronic report, but it still requires the hunter to physically tag the bird). 

There is also a mandatory online harvest report that hunters must fill out at some point in the year.  If a hunter does not fill out that report, they are not eligible to purchase another license in the future until they do, nor can they apply for any big game or turkey hunt for future seasons. 

The fact that every state does not have some sort of similar system in place just floors me...

[Sir-diealot]

I agree with that last paragraph. We have to fill out and either call in or send in a tag. In the Fall you have to send in a spur (correction, the whole leg) which I hate the idea of. They are kind of confusing to be honest. Oh yes and you have to tag them as well.

Well here are the regs.

To submit your harvest report you will need the following information:
For All Species:

    The 12-digit DOC # (phone-in reports) or the Customer ID # (internet reports) on your license privilege panel, carcass tag, or back tag
    Your date of birth (you will be asked for 2-digit month, then 2-digit day)
    Location of kill: County, Town, and Wildlife Management Unit
    Date of kill and hunting season
    Sex of the animal
    In addition, you will need:


Spring Turkey

    Turkey's spur length (none, less than 1/2", 1/2" or longer, unknown)
    Turkey's beard length (less than 3", 3" but less than 7 1/2", 7 1/2" or longer, unknown)
    Turkey's weight to the nearest pound

Fall Turkey

    Please save a leg from your turkey. You may be asked to submit a turkey leg for DEC to age and sex the turkey. Instructions will be provided.

[Yoder409]

So used to the PA system of attaching a physical tag at the site of the kill then reporting via website or mail within 5 days.

Florida was a complete shocker last year in that I got no tags with my license.  It's like it's the honor system to take only the right number of birds. 

[Tom007]

New Jersey has a tag system, then you call in to the state with the birds particulars. We used to have to physically take the bird to a mandatory checking station. There were plenty of them in the state. I think it was a mistake to go to phone in Turkey check-in. We are all seeing now that accurate harvest reporting will determine a path forward on handling Turkey populations. Would love to see the physical check-in system return.

[Turkeybutt]

So used to the PA system of attaching a physical tag at the site of the kill then reporting via website or mail within 5 days.

Florida was a complete shocker last year in that I got no tags with my license.  It's like it's the honor system to take only the right number of birds.

I would say that in most states the harvest number each year (whether it is turkey's, deer etc.) is a "Guesstimate" at best. This is because you are on an honor system in some states and people will take advantage of that.
True in some states you have to fill out a tag and attach it to the deer or turkey.  Then within 5 days fill out a Harvest Report Card but people forget or just choose not to fill one out for whatever reason.

[deerhunt1988]

Florida is going to have mandatory harvest reporting starting this fall:

https://myfwc.com/hunting/turkey/rules/

[Greg Massey]

Tennessee has had a tagging system for many years for turkey / deer etc ...

[joey46]

Florida is going to have mandatory harvest reporting starting this fall:

https://myfwc.com/hunting/turkey/rules/

About time.  I'll check the local forums just to read the crabbing about it.

[nativeks]

While KS issues tags, they dont make you report anything for deer or turkey. I had some gents from AR tell me they love KS because they only need to buy one tag then print as many copies as they want...

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[joey46]

While KS issues tags, they dont make you report anything for deer or turkey. I had some gents from AR tell me they love KS because they only need to buy one tag then print as many copies as they want...

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Wouldn't hurt many feelings if you changed "gents from AR" to "poachers from AR".  They would probably feel insulted.

[joey46]

Florida is going to have mandatory harvest reporting starting this fall:

https://myfwc.com/hunting/turkey/rules/

Great!  Still many whining about the deer reporting but it seems to be working out.  Being able to do it by phone from the field a good thing and available in several states..  I'll check the local forums just to read the crabbing about it.

[Dtrkyman]

States should all look at Missouri's system...simple and has solid requirements.  New Mexico is similar.

Some states I've hunted need help!!!


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[Zobo]

     I can't believe some states don't require tagging and reporting, reminds me of the ole Halloween candy bowl at the front door.
     Yes there will always be a certain percentage of scofflaws no matter what rules are in place but I would think game managers would want the data. Crazy.

[deerhunt1988]

If a state doesn't have tagging or a form of harvest reporting, you can bet on politics as the reason why (not state wildlife officials).