Outdoors with Larry DiDonato - Paper Hunting Licenses Now on Sale

Durable Valeron plastic carcass tags like this one are now a thing of the past in NY. The nearly indestructible Valeron tag that could only be printed by DEC or its License Issuing Agents, can now be printed at home on plain paper by all hunters. The move is not without controversy, as DEC says the switch to the delicate paper tags was made to reduce its carbon footprint and to reduce costs. Hunters and other game law enforcement proponents point out that printing paper carcass tags at home can become a source of abuse of our wildlife resources.

On August 6th, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced that hunting and trapping licenses and Deer Management Permits (DMPs) for the 2024-25 season are now on sale. The sale kicks off the first time that all hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and associated tags will be printed on plain paper rather than plastic stock.  

"DEC continues to modernize the sporting license system and improve the license-buying experience for the public," Interim Commissioner Mahar said. "The ability for people to receive their license electronically and print tags at home will make it quicker and easier to get outdoors and connect with nature through hunting and fishing." 

 I’m not sure switching from durable Valeron to paper printed tags is something to be celebrated. Yes, it certainly will be “quicker and easier” to print tags at home. Poachers are gonna love the change. It gives unscrupulous game thiefs the opportunity to print an infinite number of their own carcass tags. Deer, bear, and turkeys can now be transported home with a tag which can be replaced with the flick of their home printer button. Did Central Office wildlife biologists even consult with DEC law enforcement command before the decision? And if so, what does the rank-and-file ECO think of the move? Your guess is as good as mine as ECOs have been under a strict gag order and are afraid to speak to the press for fear of disciplinary action. I’m not sure DEC wildlife brass proponents of the measure would have listened to any such complaints iterated by ECOs anyway. So much for free speech and an objective exchange of ideas. 

 DEC also said a key reason for the switch from high-quality weather and tear-resistant Valeron to plain paper tags included DEC wanting to reduce their carbon footprint by not supporting the plastic-based Valeron. That just doesn’t make sense to hunters who are quick to point out that DEC now recommends putting the flimsy, self-printed carcass tags on game in a plastic bag to protect it from melting in rain, mud, and snow, to the point it’s not legible. Won’t that lead to more plastic bag use, negating the carbon footprint argument? I don’t think the move to plain paper tags will be saving the environment by capturing any carbon. By the way, if you are found with game and the carcass tag is mutilated or illegible, you can be arrested, ticketed, and fined.

 The other reason DEC gave for the switch to plain paper tags was cost. I’m sure we are all for efficiency with our tax and license dollars, but you get what you pay for. The Valeron tag was outstanding in its performance for NY’s sportsmen and women, especially with respect to its durability. In the past, ethical sportsmen and women who bought Valeron tags and wished to comply with tagging regs had an easy time preserving the tag complete with legible required information. Now if you want your license issuing agent to print a paper tag for you, have to pay them an extra fee. My question is, why isn’t the $40 million dollars the state takes in annually from hunting and fishing licenses sales enough money to have stuck with the demonstrably superior Valeron tag?

 DEC went on to remind hunters that backtags are no longer required to be worn while hunting anywhere in New York State. Some like the change while others do not. Like it, or not, failure to wear your backtag while hunting is no longer an offense in New York. Carrying proof you are licensed while hunting in the field is still required. You can carry a hard copy of your license privilege or an electronic license through the HuntFishNY mobile app. 

“In addition, while a recent law change gave DEC the authority to accommodate electronic carcass tags for deer, bear, and turkey, this requires a regulatory change. Electronic tagging will not be available for the 2024-25 license year and tags are required to be printed on plain paper and carried while afield.

Licenses and permits can be purchased online at any of DEC's license issuing agents or by telephone at 866-933-2257. Hunting and trapping licenses are valid from September 1st through August 31st each year, while annual fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from date of purchase. 

With the transition to plain paper licenses this year, licenses purchased online or over the phone can be emailed to a customer and printed at home, making them almost instantly accessible. Additional information on the transition to plain paper licenses and how to properly tag your harvested deer, bear, or turkey using paper tags can be found on DEC’s website. 

For additional information, visit the General Sporting License Information webpage on DEC’s website.  

Information for hunters with a disability can also be found on the Permits for Hunters with Disabilities page on DEC’s website. 

The 2024-25 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, which provides an easy-to-read collection of pertinent rules and regulations, is available on the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide page on the DEC website. Copies will also be available at license issuing agents.” 

Happy hunting, fishing, and trapping until next time.

News and Notes

Deer Management Permits (DMPs) 

DMPs, tags for antlerless deer, are available at all license-issuing outlets, by phone, or online through Oct. 1, 2024. DMPs are used to manage the deer population and are issued through an instant random selection process at the point of sale. The chances of obtaining a DMP remain the same throughout the application period; hunters need not rush to apply. The chances of DMP selection in each Wildlife Management Unit (PDF) are available online, through license issuing agents, or by calling the DMP Hotline at 1-866-472-4332. Detailed information on DMPs is available on DEC's website. 

Remember to report poaching violations by calling the 24-hour ECO Dispatch at: 

1-844-DEC-ECOS.