Navigating deer hunting regulations can sometimes be confusing, especially when it comes to the specifics of tagging and transporting your harvest. In Indiana, understanding the rules around deer transport tags is crucial for every hunter to ensure they are compliant with the law. This article aims to clarify the requirements for Indiana Deer Transport Tags, focusing on when and how to use them correctly.
Temporary Deer Tags: Your First Step After a Successful Hunt
Immediately after harvesting a deer in Indiana, hunters are required to take a crucial first step: completing a temporary tag. This tag, made of paper, serves as your initial record of the harvest and must include specific information. According to Indiana regulations, this temporary tag must clearly state:
- Hunter’s Name: Your full name.
- Hunter’s Address: Your current address.
- Sex of the Deer: Whether the deer is male or female.
- License Number: If applicable, the license number of the hunter who harvested the deer.
- Date of Kill: The day and month the deer was harvested.
It’s important to note that while you are dragging the deer out of the field, you are not required to physically attach the tag to the deer as long as you have the completed tag with you and maintain visual contact with the carcass. However, the regulations emphasize that you must maintain immediate custody and visual contact with the deer carcass until the completed temporary transportation tag is properly attached. Before you leave the deer unattended or load it into your vehicle, the temporary tag must be securely attached.
Check-In and Confirmation Numbers: The Next Stage in Deer Tagging
Indiana utilizes the CheckIN Game system for deer registration. Once you have harvested a deer and completed the temporary tag, the next step is to register your deer through the CheckIN Game system. Upon successful registration, the system will generate a confirmation number.
This confirmation number is not just a digital record; it plays a vital role in the tagging process. Indiana law mandates that this confirmation number must be recorded on a temporary transportation tag and kept with the deer until processing begins. Simply having the confirmation number on your phone is not sufficient to meet the legal requirements. It needs to be physically recorded on a tag that accompanies the deer.
The Question of Post-Processing Tags: Do You Still Need It?
A common point of confusion for hunters arises after the deer has been checked in and processed. The question is: Do you need to keep the temporary transportation tag with the deer parts after processing has begun, especially when transporting processed meat?
The regulations state that the confirmation number must be kept with the deer “until processing begins.” This wording implies that once the deer is at the processor and the processing has commenced, the requirement to keep the temporary transportation tag with the confirmation number specifically is lifted.
Therefore, when transporting processed deer meat from the processor to your freezer, for example, you are generally not required to keep the original temporary transportation tag with those parts. Transporting processed quarters that have been checked in falls into a different category from transporting a whole, unchecked-in deer. The “until processing begins” clause suggests a change in requirements after this stage.
However, it’s always a good practice to maintain documentation of your legal harvest. While the letter of the law might suggest the tag is no longer strictly required after processing begins for transportation of meat, keeping a record of your confirmation number and harvest details is advisable. This could be in the form of the original temporary tag or a note with the confirmation number. This practice can help ensure clarity and compliance should any questions arise during transport.
Disclaimer: This article provides an interpretation of Indiana deer hunting regulations based on the provided text. Hunters should always consult the official Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulations and guidelines for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Regulations can change, and it is the hunter’s responsibility to be fully informed and compliant.
