Proposed FL turkey hunting changes

[Greg Massey]

Thank goodness we have online tagging. We have no places left to carry game with physical tagging. The days of maw and paw country stories are a thing of the pass,for game checking stations. Before they decided to go to the mobile app, you could drive several miles and a couple of hours trying to find a place to physically check your kill. They tried a couple of our local convenience stores, but the help changed so much that it was pretty much useless...An outlaw will always be an outlaw regardless of what you do... So don't punish the good guys all the time.  Mobile App checking is awesome ....

[GobbleNut]

First off, I agree with the sentiment that there is no fool-proof system that will keep poachers from finding a way to get around any kind of tagging system. The best thing each of us can do is act as eyes and ears in an effort to report potential game law violators and hope the authorities follow up on it. 

Having said that, assuming by "online tagging" we are referring to using either a cell phone or immediately available computer (or something similar), the question becomes what is the solution for those folks who do not live where there is uninterrupted cell service?  Where some of us hunt, immediate online reporting is not possible because of that. 

So...what happens to the guy who is trying to get to where he has cell service to legally report his kill and gets stopped and checked by a warden? ...Ticketed and game confiscated? ...Or not?  Is the warden supposed to guess if this individual is "legal"...or is he supposed to assume everybody in this situation is a potential poacher? 

I am not against online reporting, but I am firmly in the camp that some sort of physical tagging should be required at least until that online reporting can be completed with appropriate verification.

Personally, I prefer a physical tag that is attached to the game animal (small game excluded) wherever I hunt so that there is no question about my legality in any situation. I get stopped, I show the properly-filled-out tag on the tagged animal...and no questions asked... 

[roberthyman14]

First off, I agree with the sentiment that there is no fool-proof system that will keep poachers from finding a way to get around any kind of tagging system. The best thing each of us can do is act as eyes and ears in an effort to report potential game law violators and hope the authorities follow up on it. 

Having said that, assuming by "online tagging" we are referring to using either a cell phone or immediately available computer (or something similar), the question becomes what is the solution for those folks who do not live where there is uninterrupted cell service?  Where some of us hunt, immediate online reporting is not possible because of that. 

So...what happens to the guy who is trying to get to where he has cell service to legally report his kill and gets stopped and checked by a warden? ...Ticketed and game confiscated? ...Or not?  Is the warden supposed to guess if this individual is "legal"...or is he supposed to assume everybody in this situation is a potential poacher? 

I am not against online reporting, but I am firmly in the camp that some sort of physical tagging should be required at least until that online reporting can be completed with appropriate verification.

Personally, I prefer a physical tag that is attached to the game animal (small game excluded) wherever I hunt so that there is no question about my legality in any situation. I get stopped, I show the properly-filled-out tag on the tagged animal...and no questions asked... 

So the online tagging.  If you open the app you can add your kill.  It automatically uploads when you get signal.  But is stored in case you get stopped.  My complaint with our tagging, I can tag it on paper and have to upload before I begin the cleaning process.   Same as deer, hypothetically  I get home without being stopped then I just throw tge paper in the fire.  Animal not tagged and nobody knows any different.

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[GobbleNut]

First off, I agree with the sentiment that there is no fool-proof system that will keep poachers from finding a way to get around any kind of tagging system. The best thing each of us can do is act as eyes and ears in an effort to report potential game law violators and hope the authorities follow up on it. 

Having said that, assuming by "online tagging" we are referring to using either a cell phone or immediately available computer (or something similar), the question becomes what is the solution for those folks who do not live where there is uninterrupted cell service?  Where some of us hunt, immediate online reporting is not possible because of that. 

So...what happens to the guy who is trying to get to where he has cell service to legally report his kill and gets stopped and checked by a warden? ...Ticketed and game confiscated? ...Or not?  Is the warden supposed to guess if this individual is "legal"...or is he supposed to assume everybody in this situation is a potential poacher? 

I am not against online reporting, but I am firmly in the camp that some sort of physical tagging should be required at least until that online reporting can be completed with appropriate verification.

Personally, I prefer a physical tag that is attached to the game animal (small game excluded) wherever I hunt so that there is no question about my legality in any situation. I get stopped, I show the properly-filled-out tag on the tagged animal...and no questions asked... 

So the online tagging.  If you open the app you can add your kill.  It automatically uploads when you get signal.  But is stored in case you get stopped.  My complaint with our tagging, I can tag it on paper and have to upload before I begin the cleaning process.  Same as deer, hypothetically  I get home without being stopped then I just throw tge paper in the fire.  Animal not tagged and nobody knows any different.

Thanks for the clarification.  I was not aware that the harvest report could be stored online without cell service.  If that is the case, then the online tagging system makes complete sense (obviously requires each hunter to carry a cell phone with an adequately-charged battery to report, I would guess  ).

In my state, we have the choice between online reporting via "E-Tag" or getting a physical tag.  I always request the physical tag mainly because I just feel more comfortable with it.

Either system can be circumvented by those who are inclined to do so, I suppose, but if there is a time stamp associated with the online system such that the harvest time was noted even without cell service, that would be a good deterrent for those who might try to get an animal home without reporting the kill immediately. 

[roberthyman14]

First off, I agree with the sentiment that there is no fool-proof system that will keep poachers from finding a way to get around any kind of tagging system. The best thing each of us can do is act as eyes and ears in an effort to report potential game law violators and hope the authorities follow up on it. 

Having said that, assuming by "online tagging" we are referring to using either a cell phone or immediately available computer (or something similar), the question becomes what is the solution for those folks who do not live where there is uninterrupted cell service?  Where some of us hunt, immediate online reporting is not possible because of that. 

So...what happens to the guy who is trying to get to where he has cell service to legally report his kill and gets stopped and checked by a warden? ...Ticketed and game confiscated? ...Or not?  Is the warden supposed to guess if this individual is "legal"...or is he supposed to assume everybody in this situation is a potential poacher? 

I am not against online reporting, but I am firmly in the camp that some sort of physical tagging should be required at least until that online reporting can be completed with appropriate verification.

Personally, I prefer a physical tag that is attached to the game animal (small game excluded) wherever I hunt so that there is no question about my legality in any situation. I get stopped, I show the properly-filled-out tag on the tagged animal...and no questions asked... 

So the online tagging.  If you open the app you can add your kill.  It automatically uploads when you get signal.  But is stored in case you get stopped.  My complaint with our tagging, I can tag it on paper and have to upload before I begin the cleaning process.  Same as deer, hypothetically  I get home without being stopped then I just throw tge paper in the fire.  Animal not tagged and nobody knows any different.

Thanks for the clarification.  I was not aware that the harvest report could be stored online without cell service.  If that is the case, then the online tagging system makes complete sense (obviously requires each hunter to carry a cell phone with an adequately-charged battery to report, I would guess  ).

In my state, we have the choice between online reporting via "E-Tag" or getting a physical tag.  I always request the physical tag mainly because I just feel more comfortable with it.

Either system can be circumvented by those who are inclined to do so, I suppose, but if there is a time stamp associated with the online system such that the harvest time was noted even without cell service, that would be a good deterrent for those who might try to get an animal home without reporting the kill immediately.

Our other option is to write it on a piece of paper. Then call it in or use online app when home. But before beginning to process or clean animal.  If we had a true tag to place around animal plus call in to report. It would slow down the poachers a little bit. 

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[Greg Massey]

Yes, regardless of cell service or not you can still open the app and put the information into your tagging app. You also have the option to print off manual tags days before going hunting if you don't own a cell phone and write down the information on your manual tag.

[Old Gobbler]

My experiences with the FWC

1 the south zone was originally only 1 week before the central 35 years ago they moved it 2 weeks early , I told them this would happen with everyone in the whole state would booty call the south zone ..not to mention the rest of the country

2 )every near state has moved their seasons forward a few weeks , this makes it even more tempting to travel to fl south zone

3) the fwc  are going to do whatever they deem fit , the public comment section is purely for show , 1 person out 100 will agree with what they want and then go for it, seen it many times, it's as good as done

4) the fwc are IDIOTS there are countless loopholes to apply for permits without even buying a license,  fix that

5) no more Jake's...fix that just like Arkansas and Mississippi did

6 ) make the entire state 1 zonebwith the same opening date

[joey46]

Whew!  Little strong there OG.  I personally agree that a one date start for the entire state would really spread the pressure and help enormously.  Adding a preference point only option to the quota draws would help also.  I know several that know they won't have enough points to draw what they want but put in for lesser areas just to get the year's point. If they do draw then they return the permit and it goes into a no point lottery. The Florida system has a long way to go but for my hundredth time will emphasize that until all the unknown number of exempts are accounted for, with even a free required license, the harvest totals will always be suspect.

[sasquatch1]

To reiterate the current "Mandatory Reporting" is considered a big joke to many of the old school private land turkey hunters from rumors I have been hearing.  Physical tags required for all, even the old geezer exempts, are needed in a big way.  Florida has a long way to go for true accountability.

People keep saying that but what is the real difference between physical tags or on line reporting?  Get caught without a tag or unreported is the same thing.  Outlaws will be outlaws regardless of the method they use to get around the law.
Everything is going digital, the states are pushing it.  I don't see this one changing.

Harder to cheat with physical tags

You at least have to actually have one on you, and once attached, you can't remove it.

Online, you can technically have everything typed in ready to hit save at a moments notice. Get to car, see it's clear and key without reporting.

Think of it like paper you just write on (which is worse). Get home and throw it away and start over

There's just more ways to cheat when it's not a physical hard tag.


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