DEC Adopting E-Tags for Hunting
Hunters can choose to use a paper license and tags or the HuntFishNY mobile app as electronic proof of licensure and possession of tags for deer, bear, or turkey. Users of electronic tags (e-tags) will be able to immediately report their harvest with the mobile app whether they have cell service or not. Users also won’t need to attach a physical tag to their harvested deer, bear, or turkey while they remain in possession of the carcass, including in their vehicle and at their home.
If e-tag users leave the carcass somewhere other than their home or vehicle, such as at a taxidermist or processor, they would need to affix a tag of their making to the carcass that includes the hunter’s name, identification number, and reporting confirmation number.
Hunters will still have the option to use paper licenses and tags for deer, bear, and turkey, but to encourage prompt reporting and facilitate greater law enforcement oversight, hunters using paper tags are now required to report their harvest within 48 hours rather than seven days.
