No more going to the checkin station in Maryland

[Wolvie]

In a small state like Maryland,...it might be ok for the phone or internet,checking in of deer and turkey,..but a state like NY or big state like that,..needs more,...maybe provide checking stations and the phone and internet would cover all the bases.
As for people finding another way around checking in their harvested animal,...Those are the jerks I am refering to,..and I fear there will be even more of them if more states adopt the what I call the "Honor System Check In Line".

The NYDEC`s deer herd numbers and forcast for a record year this past hunting season was WAY off,...and alot of hunters were displeased to say the least.

I had stated in a post in the N.E. area of this site (My prediction),..that the NYDEC was basically crazy and not too bright,.and felt that we as hunters and tax payers werent too bright until they recieved alot of mail and email complaining about the low deer numbers and then the proof came when the deer harvest numbers came in.

We need to do more to record what is being taken and also what is being seen while we are all hunting.
If the states cant afford to have enough people in the woods basically counting deer and such,.... then why not ask us (Hunters) to do some of the counting in our areas where we hunt.

Calling in to check in your deer ,..to me just isnt good "Deer Management"!!!

Later All
SAFE HUNTIN~

[LoneWolf]

I guess it is just what your used to Wolvie. Here, in Michigan, there are no requirements to check in deer. You can go and check them in if you want, and get a successful hunter patch. Most don't. I guess I don't know where they get there "kill stats" from, now that I think about it.
But to say that some are lazy or jerks because of checking in over the net or phone, I disagree with. I would gladly check mine in that way, if it gave the DNR better stats. Seems everyone's time is at a premium today, I know mine is. I don't get into the woods near as much as I did 8 yrs ago. To me, anything that gives more accurate results are better, and usually the easiest way gets the most results.

[Wolvie]

I wasnt calling people who callin and check in their deer kills jerks,...I was calling,....the ones who dont or havent checked in their deer just because they think they can get away with it.
I typical hunter,...will call in,.....but as I said from the beginning,...there are those that wont,...and havent,...and now are able to kill all they want without any worries.
Not that they had any in the first place.

I can see I wont win this discussion,.....but as I said,..mark my words this isnt the answer,..and it wont be the avenue that everyone thinks so highly of.

Later All
SAFE HUNTIN~

[fabsroman]

Wolvie,

There are ways to make the system work. For instance, why does the banding system work for waterfowl when people have to call in the bands and are not required to do so? One reason is because a certain percentage of the birds banded are banded with a $100 reward band. The USFWS figures that the reporting of the $100 bands will be close to 100%. Then, they can figure out that the same percentage of the other banded birds will also be shot and they can figure out what percentage are being reported and what percentage aren't.

To be honest with you, hauling deer to the checking station has been a chore for me, but one that I have done because I don't want to get in trouble for not doing so (i.e., I don't want to get disbarred over something like this). However, I would rather spend the additional hour doing something more productive and sitting down at the computer later that night and reporting the deer in less than 5 minutes.

While the current method might not work for the older generation (i.e., my father and uncle who do not own a computer), I think it us a good step in the right direction for future generations and the older generation can ask the younger generation to report the deer for them if they are not able to.

I like to think that hunters out there are concerned for the environment and the resource. Granted, some aren't, but I still like to think the majority are.

[Wolvie]

I can only hope that the Majority of hunters ,..which should be EVERY SINGLE HUNTER ,...will call in their harvested buck,doe,yearling even,...and tom and jake,& hen.

It would be a perfect world if it were to happen that way,...but my past has taught me that HUMAN beings think after the onslaught they have created,..and by that time it is too late.Damage is done and to fix it will and would take years to fix.

Calling In ok,...but let`s see some safe guards , or incentives for people to do it.

As I have said I wish everyone luck and hope this doesnt come to bite Maryland Hunters in the Arse and anyother state that has this system or is considering it.

But if nothing else Brothers and Sisters,..PLEASE hear me when I say this ,....

SAFE HUNTIN~

Later All
SAFE HUNTIN~

[skeeter@ccia.com]

I have spoken directly to the pa game comm on this subject and most of it boils down to added costs...which is not wanted...Pa as of now has no internet check in...is in the making though....so if someone can't take the provided card that is post free and drop it in a box...are they going to take the time to get online and report it?...not...even if it is made mand...mail in a card, when they ask about it the reply is...I mailed it but must have gotten lost in snail mail...so they invest in internet check in.....now I can name 11 people right now that does not own a puter nor do they do what I bitc/ at them for not doing ,,,,the mail in....I can't get in their heads this is how the game comm gets information..THE PGC KEEPs CLOSE TABS ON THE BUTCHER SHOPS....THEY GET LOTS OF INFORMATION FROM THE TAGS THERE......so..now the solution...works every time ..and I see no added costs anywhere..they already give you the paper to mail in...so lets make it a REPORT SUCCESS OR NON SUCCESS card....no reply to success or not and not get a license next year....make it a fine for buying a license not having reported success or non from last year....can even get a printable reciept if done online..we have to do this in the migratory bird license...doves?..so they can get somene to do online for them and get the reciept to prove next license year they reported success or not from last year...before able to buy a license....show this along with the required ID we show now...these 11 I spoke of butcher their own deer too...so their info does not show up in the butcher shops...NOW they are some of the ones grumping about the loss of numbers of deer in the woods....they say the game comm issues too many tags...well daaaaa.....they game comm isn't the ones out there filling the 5 tags you can get....these kind of people are hogs...I know of one that fills at least 3/4 tags a year and hunts somene to take the meat....doesn't even eat the stuff....but grumps about the numbers in the woods...he also is one that hunts my groundhogs in march and april..I introduced him to the farm...killing the mom that in turn kills how many little targets still in the hole?....by the way he also is a pa hunter safety instructor...pttttht...one of the biggest slob hunters I know but and educated one so gets the papers to do things....
.....I just wanted to say I envy all you youngens....just driving in the 80's etc...still puppies in this world.....maybe you can get this world in order so us old dogs can enjoy sitting on the porch...or in the fields/woods......thinking what all we been through while you were stiill a twinkle in dads eyes......good luck...go get em...

BORN TO BE OUTDOORS....THANKS DAD......
I dislike ball jockies too..

[Wolvie]

That`s an idea,...
If ya get one or not,..it has to be reported,...hmmmmmmm

I LIKE IT!!!!
Let`s start working on the legislation,.. and get it into law before next season,,...
I am serious,...that does sound good Skeeter,
how about the rest of ya?

It doesnt dicriminate against anyone,...
it dectates to and for all to do the same,...and if ya dont u aint buying and particapating in the next season.

Man !!! I am just as giidy as a kid with a new Shotgun,!!!!

Later All
SAFE HUNTIN~ and dont forget to report,...or u wont get the chance next year,....

I`ll work on the slogon,...lol

[fabsroman]

What is sad is that the system has already been put in place for migratory bird hunting and has been there for about 10 years I think. Difference is that migratory birds are federally regulated, deer aren't.

I think the mandatory disclosure would be a great idea at the beginning of the year for the previous year. Of course, if additional tags need to be paid for and people don't buy the tags I doubt they would report the deer. Then again, I doubt they would be checking the deer in at a station if they didn't want to buy the additional tag. Then again, those would be the bad guys.

[Lilred]

In Virginia, that call-in/internet check thing just started last year. On only deer tho, bear (and I'm perty sure turkey) you still have to check-in at the store.
Did it make it easier fer me? Good Lord..last year we fergot twice. Wound up callin it in 5 hours later. By the time we got the deer hung, got al the dogs out the truck, got all the gear in the house etc. etc...I had plum fergot. Why? probaly cause I've spent a lifetime of checkin in deer before I got home at the store I reckon.

I agree w/ Wolvie on one thing..it will cause many a deer to go unaccounted fer. I really enjoyed lookin at last year's stats and wonderin how the deer herd is...and while it aint but so accurate..it's alot more accurate than places like MI er wherever.
I think it will be sorely abused here. The stats fer last year aint come out yet I dont think, but t will interestin to see. This year will be a banner year fer whitetails in VA...I've been seein HUGE amounts of deer all over the place. And bucks everywheres! I'm gittin excited...
I will miss goin to the store at lunch and seein all the deer..thankfully, VA is fulla hard-headed hunters like myself who still went to the check stations last yr despite the new law..and the big ole deer was everywhere, just as its always been

[skeeter@ccia.com]

OK..so here is what we do..call your State office of Game Comm...and your local legislatures because they are the ones that can enact the laws.....when the subject comes up of added cost to the commission, THERE IS NONE because it will only take who ever gets paid now to take care of the puter work to post a link on their website. On the link, you can print a reciept with that year license number, name, address and what you reported.
This reciept will be taken to your local license bureau when getting the new one... It could even be made to tuck into you new license kind a like you do now with the other form of ID like the photo copy of your up to date driver license... I do this because I don't take my wallet with me in the woods...oh such a hard thing it is to find the one ya lost...I use to use my old driver license but guess they say since it is outdated isn't good..even though it contains all the other info......Now I do hate adding new rules to the games we now play in life but if it is what it takes to help our sport and deer control...so be it....better than those antis and insurance companies making the rules for us.

Born to be outdoors...thanks Dad
I dislike ball jockies

[fabsroman]

Why not do it the way Maryland takes care of the HIP permit. The person selling you your license asks if you did any deer hunting last year and notes the answer on your license. If the answer is the affirmative, then they ask how many bucks and how many points, and how many does. The responses get recorded into the state system and it is noted on the hunter's license that he did complete the check in procedure.

Hell, you can have both systems in place (i.e., one to report deer kills throughout the season and another to report them when you get your license), and make it mandatory to do both. Once a computerized system is put in place, it makes collecting information a heck of a lot easier.

[Hawkeye6]

...you can have both systems in place (i.e., one to report deer kills throughout the season and another to report them when you get your license), and make it mandatory to do both

fabs:

Wouldn't that lead to either a lot of work to match up the check station info from the prior year with the information gathered with the current year license? Seems to me you would have to do that or you would end up double-counting parts of the deer harvest.

H.

[fabsroman]

Hawkeye,

I was assuming that computers would be able to match up the ones reported easily by using the hunter safety numbers on both licenses which would be present on the prior year's license and the current year's license. That might be able to give a better account.

Of course, I didn't stop to think that other states might not have a mandatory hunter's safety course for all those people that did not hunt on private property before 1975. Then again, the hunter safety number wouldn't be any good for those people that can sign the waiver.

Come to think of it, Maryland uses a person's driver's license number on the hunting license too. However, I guess there are people out there that do not have a driver's license. I know ID cards come in the same manner as a driver's license, but I'm not sure if a state ID is required to get a hunting license.

I guess we would need a think tank to figure this all out.

[Hawkeye6]

Fabs,

mathcing just seems like its fraught with opportunities for error. If an ID # has a transposition error or other keypunch error, then you'll have aproblem. If somebody mis-remembers (or whatever) when they get their license then next year, the results won;t match up either.

The phone-in or internet check in system should work pretty good. At least as good as the current system of driving to a manned check in station during its open hours and within a certain time limit afte the deer is taken.

All the crying about how it'll make it easier to not report is jsut misplaced BS. I'm sur ethere's already a bunch of deer that aren;t taken to check-in stations around the country. There's a lot of folk who won't bother to drive a half-hour to hour each way, especially if they take the deer on their home property and butcher it themselves.

Anyway, its just progress.

Hawkeye

[multibeard]

No matter how you register your deer kills it has to be better than the Michigan DNR's way of getting an idea of what the deer kill is.

In Michigan the DNR does a guesssssstimate of what the deer kill is. I have never figured out how they do it but they sure come up with a bigger kill figure than what anyone can beleive.

Of course it is like there herd estimate. No way are there the numbers of deer that they say there are. Especially since they started the anialate the deer herd campaign. Unlimited doe permits.

This year they are finally cutting back on the doe permits in some of the northern part of the state.

There is a voluntary internet check in of turkeys on the internet. Bear, bobcat, otter and elk are the only game we have to check in.