Our New Tag System-good, bad and the ugly.

[Hiawatha]

For as long as i have existed on this earth the tags here in Sask have been a tie on style. This year a move was made to go to a sticker of some type. You peel the back off and loop it around the main beam, hide, or leg and stick it together. I say good, grand, wonderful if the things would stick half decent. I got an elk this august and it was a pretty ugly day out there. As a result the tags got wet in my pocket. Well i had one sweet time trying to get that on the animal. I ended up just punching a hole in the hide and tying the things on. I understand the reason behind the new style which was to get hunters to stop swithcing tags on animals but if they don't stick worth a damn then we are back to square one. I am anxious to see when its -15 or so out there and i attempt to tag a deer. The tags seem to fade and mangle badly also. I keep mine in the glove box of my truck, never been outside and yet it looks like a love note from the 1800's. I agree that the system was a good idea I just find it hard to grasp that more thought was not put into the adhessiveness (not sure thats even a word) of the tags. We don't all hunt on 20 degree days with the sky clear. I expect to hear of many hunters this year with tags blowing off, ripping etc. I am just curious what do you guys have for a system and what are your thoughts on it?

[skeeter 7MM]

SUCKS!!!! The dill who thought this up obviously has never experienced field conditions, wet, cold and blood. Not to mention once you attach the meat seal how do you skin without cutting the tag. It forces us to either skin the rib area or the rear hock before tagging. Prior it was a pierce, loop and remove on the skinning pole...once completed you simply reattach. If you butcher your own animal and take the meat for sausage then you must cut and tape this new tag as some places will not except it without the meat seal. I had no problem with the old string n' loop style and want it or similar back next fall!

I found a few things to help. First fold the tags so they will not roll out and stick together. I carry them in a license holder with habitat(you can get them at some insurance brokers or places like the fishin' hole for no charge), with these new tags I have now added a ziploc for additional protection. When attaching leave the adhesive strips on, place through the hole and then remove the 2 end portions and stick together(leave the middle section as is). I will as usual have a roll of electrical tape on my hunts, I fear the cold will make these even worse as such I will have the JIC option of taping on the antler seal to the animal. Any CO that tries to charge me with improper tagging will have a tough court battle, once these tags are notched, seperated and suffixed to the animal it should be considered adequate especially given the design flaw of the tags!

I spoke to a few CO's about these tags and they all say the same thing, make your feelings known be emailing, mailing or calling SERM with our concerns/problems. They all said they agree 100% and that the move was more about cost savings then to stop tag swapping.. Although it is part in parcel and the antler seal was requested from CO's due to many guys seperate them while transporting or storing - did you know it is illegal to have horns attached to the skull without a hide seal or permit (grey area). One CO a few years ago questioned us with a skull and rack in the truck, it was obvious this deer died quite some time ago but the fact it was hunting season he gave us the gears. We asked if we found a buck in the ditch that was hit by a car, could we have the horns he said yes 2 ways -during hunting season tag him or call the CO to apply for the permit and maybe will allow you to keep it. Deer are the state's(province) property so if attached to a skull they need to be authorized to the holder by way of a bought tag or wildlife permit! Again very grey but that is the letter of the law!

Any way email SERM, tell all your buddies to and voice your concerns..it may or may not help but it is better than just bitchin' among ourselves.

[Nicholal]

Welcome to the club boys!....Alberta has had a similar tagging system since i've been hunting here. we have a wire clip thats we have to place through the tendion in the rear hocks. Once thats done use must leave proof of sex on the same side as the tag.

As for the sticking not sticking....keep you tags in a front chest pocket till your ready to tag out then stick your clip in the hock pull out tag peal and stick tag so both sticky part cover metal clip and sick tougther.

As for it coming off..never had it happen yet.......Although I've heard of people taking them off on purpose to reuse (not very ethical!!)