ORIGINAL: Sylvan
Regarding reporting compliance, I wonder why the DEC doesn't simply implement a rule that requires you to report whether or not you fill a tag. Basically at some point after the close of the season you would be required to use decals to complete areport on the status of all the tags issued to you you haven't already reported on.Enforcement would be easy and 100% compliance would be assured by simply not issuing your following years license until you complete your report. It's all computerized now so it should be no big deal to implement it. 100% compliance gaurenteed!
You know, this is on the table with resolution before the NYSCC. I think it got shot down, I'll have to check my records for the talley, but I do know the Erie County Federation was opposed to this measure. SOme believe this would only encourage poaching. This approach, mandatory reporting after the season, regardless of success, has been used by the DEC in past programs, such as the old Musky Tag/ special license progam that was in place on Chautauqua Lake until the early 90's. Each angler got 5 musky seals for the season (which on Chautauqua was 30 days shorter than the statewide season). Your daily limit of musky was 1 per day, but anglers also had a SEASON limit of 5 fish per season, 36" minimum.
Every angler who bought the msuky license (for $5) was required to mail in the report card once the season closed at the end of October. Post marked within 10 days of Oct 31. How this was actually enforced was another thing, but, this program was scrapped because of cost to process the license returns. No one wants to handle empty report cards. Focus the energy on reported success, not reported failure. Efficiency thing with out tax dollars.
The biggest issue with the 888-GAME-RPT is the reporting requirements. You must call in your harvest within 48 hours of making the kill. Hunters are not clear on what happens if they call in a day or two late, due to being out in the field, not near cell or telephone service? No answer is given clearly for this, despite it being asked of DEC officials to clarify. Another big issue with the system is when you make a mistake, pushing the wrong button. People get easily confused, and they end up having to terminate the report before its finished, starting over from dialing the number on down. A caller cannot easily "back up" durig the report process is a mistake was made. Further issues with getting through, although the state did expand the POTS lines in the hunt sequence, hunters still run into busy signals. Then you have the physical time it takes to make the report, which is a heck of a lot longer than mailing in your completed report card, postage paid, at the end of big game hunting.
I think they could go a long way to restoring compliancy just by mandating harvest reports must be made by the end of the season, rather than this 48 hours or else... Lots of issues, and these issues appear to be NYS self inflicted gunshot wounds, but hunters aren't helping the matters either, they're walking away from their reporting responsibility.