Yesterday, WI Governor Scott Walker signed into law Act 222 which removes the mandate that deer and bear hunters must wear a back tag.
Loved the back tags with names on them Doesn't much matter now unless your wolf or bear hunting as the deer hunting is shot
I hated wearing those things. Switching from coat to coat, putting holes in clothing, making noise when you leaned against a tree. What a pain.
The back tag was originally implemented to allow the DNR to verify if a hunter was legal from a long distance. They used to check these like many hunters scout, by driving roads and using spotting scopes and binoculars. That approach also allowed them to cover more area without interfering with legal hunters hunts.
I will miss it! I remember the first time I got my license I was so proud. I am just thankful that my boys got to have a license before this happen. The joy on there face when they got their first bag tag was priceless. I use to have a personalized one that I paid the extra $5 for.
Along with registering a deer at checkpoints. Seeing young kids (me 10 years ago) go in to register a deer and fill out the paper work, and see all the bucks and how happy everyone was gave us a reason to go into town. It was part of the tradition. No more back tags, registration, or registration bands... tradition is changing.
I didn't grow up with the back tag requirement so I always felt it was a little clunky. I won't be sad to see them go. Although, truth-be-told I don't feel strongly one way or another.
Well im from Illinois so never had to wear a back tag but we used to have check stations. I would get so pumped when at deer camp to go down and see all the deer, hear all the b.s. stories. I would often catch multiple rides per day to go back down there. We would get a pin when we checked our deer in. It really was a part of the whole thing. Too bad our P.O.S. broke state had to scrap that program. Now it's a call in or online check system... Sigh....
