Change in antlerless deer tag regulations for first time hunter's education grad

[Go Big Red!]

Change in antlerless deer tag regulations for first time hunter's education grad

by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources • March 2, 2011

As part of the 2010 Spring Fish & Game Rules Hearing, the public voted in favor of providing a free statewide antlerless deer carcass tag to each person age 10 -17 with each gun deer license they purchase. This change does not impact the small game license privilege that is part of certification of completion.

Based on the Spring Fish and Game process , effective Feb 1, 2011; all gun deer licenses issued to youth ages 10 through 17 will include an antlerless deer carcass tag which is valid in any DMU statewide, including Regular or Non-quota (buck only) units. For individuals ages 10 -17, this new statewide antlerless deer tag will replace the Herd Control deer carcass tag that formerly had been issued with their gun deer license. Adults purchasing a gun deer license will continue to be issued an antlerless deer carcass tag which is valid only in Herd Control and Earn-a-Buck units with their gun deer licenses.

Now that each youth will automatically receive a free statewide antlerless deer carcass tag with their gun deer license, the department will no longer be issuing the free antlerless deer carcass tag that had been available to first year Wisconsin Hunter Education Course graduates in the year they completed the class. Adults who are first year graduates will no longer receive this free statewide antlerless deer carcass tag. They will continue to receive the normal free Herd Control tag with each archery or gun deer license they purchase, or can purchase unit specific antlerless deer carcass tags for $12 (residents) or $20 (nonresidents) if available.

Key Points:

Wisconsin resident adults and youth will continue to be able to use their certificate of completion from a Wisconsin Hunter Education Course in place of a small game license during the license year they completed the course.

These tags will automatically be issued with each gun deer license issued to persons age 10-17 at any ALIS license agent or purchased by phone or on-line. This change will mean that youth will no longer need to go to a DNR Service Center to pick up their one time free antlerless deer carcass tag.

The new free youth antlerless deer carcass tags will be issued with both resident and nonresident gun deer licenses. In addition to receiving this free tag, a youth may still purchase additional unit specific antlerless deer carcass tag just like any other hunter.

This statewide antlerless deer carcass tag is not weapon specific and may be filled during any open deer season with the appropriate license and corresponding weapon (firearm or archery).

This antlerless tag will look similar to other deer carcass tags issued through the ALIS system. It will be called an "Antlerless Deer Carcass Tag" and state it is valid in: "Any Unit Statewide".

Group hunting can be used to fill this tag, even if some members of the group are adults. However, as in the past, group hunting is only legal for gun deer hunting. Group hunting is not allowed to fill this tag when hunting with archery equipment.

A youth purchasing an archery deer license will continue to be issued the same types of deer carcass tags as an adult, and will not receive a statewide antlerless Archery Only deer carcass tag.