https://hfwa.centraltechnology.net/TNHFInternetHarvest/app/mainCheckingStation.do

https://hfwa.centraltechnology.net/TNHFInternetHarvest/app/mainCheckingStation.do

https://hfwa.centraltechnology.net/TNHFInternetHarvest/app/mainCheckingStation.do

http://www.tnwildlife.org

JF Griffin - Index

JF Griffin - magazine - Index

CHECKING IN
BIG GAME by Tabitha Lavacot, Wildlife Division Biologist, TWRA
The alarm goes off; you put on your gear
and lucky hat and drive to the honey
hole that you’ve been keeping a secret
from even your best friend. You get settled in
your stand and when daylight breaks across
the ridge you hear the rustling of leaves
behind you. Out walks that deer you’ve been
waiting for. As you begin to bring the scope
up to your eye, while your heart is pounding,
the deer turns broadside opening up the best
shot ever. You take the safety off and squeeze
the trigger. Down goes the deer, stopped in
its tracks. After you climb down, with your
hands shaking, you pull out your license and
think what did your buddy say about tagging?
What goes on the deer? Where do I take it
to check it in? How long do I have to check
You’ve pu rchased your
big g ame l icense a nd
now y ou are r eady t o
head t o t he w oods.
it in? If only I had read the hunting guide. If
only I had brought the guide with me. If only I
had looked or called to see where the nearest
check station is. If, if, if …
Checking in big game (deer, bear, boar and
turkey) doesn’t have to be complicated. Here
is an easy guide to tagging and checking in
your harvest.
Where is the closest check station?
Before you head out the door to your honey
hole, you need to locate the check station
nearest to where you will be hunting. We
have an internet website that can supply
you with all of that information. Go to:
hfwa.centraltechnology.net/
TNHFInternetHarvest/app/
mainCheckingStation.do
If you don’t have the ink to write all
of that down, just go to our website at
www.tnwildlife.org. On the left, click on
“wildlife & hunting” and then scroll to the
bottom of the page. On your right will be a
block called “Big Game Check-In List.” Click
that and enter your county. If you are like
some folks and don’t have a computer or one
with a high speed internet connection to use
the web site, simply call your regional office
and they can look it up for you.
Look at your license. There is a temporary
kill tag at the bottom of all big game licenses
sold. When you harvest your big game
animal, validate the temporary tag by
punching out or marking the current day
and month. Tear off that portion and attach
it to your harvest. If you are a lifetime license
holder, over 80, under 13 or landowner, you
will not have a temporary kill tag to affix to
your big game animal. You must take your
first harvest to a check station where you will
be issued your first temporary kill tag to be
used on your next harvest.
Go to the check station. Now that you
have your tagged big game animal loaded,
drive to the closest check station. When
you arrive at the check station, remove your
temporary kill tag from your animal and
take it and your license in to the attendant.
They will need both pieces to check in your
big game animal. After the attendant has
completed the check-in process, he/she
will return your license along with a new
temporary kill tag and a permanent kill tag.
The new temporary kill tag will be attached
to your permanent kill tag when it is printed.
Separate the two and re-tag your deer with
the signed permanent kill tag. Each of these
is marked to let you know the difference
between the two. The permanent kill tag
must accompany your harvest if you take it
to a meat processor or taxidermist.
What if the check station is closed? Don’t
worry. You have 36 hours from the time you
harvest the animal to check it in. However,
you cannot hunt again until that animal has
been checked in and you have been issued a
new temporary kill tag.
Can I harvest more than one animal the
same day before I go to the check station?
Yes. The animal does not have to be tagged
until you are ready to field dress, move or
transport it. At the end of the day, you must
take all animals harvested including the
tagged animal to the closest check station.
Since you have more than one, the attendant
will have to check in each one separately.
After you check-in multiple harvests, you
will have a permanent kill tag for each animal
and the same number of temporary kill tags.
However, you will only need to keep one
temporary kill tag for your next harvest. The
extra temporary kill tags can be discarded.
All permanent kill tags need to be attached
to each individual animal.
Preparation is the name of the game when
it comes to hunting. You scout out the area,
sight in your gun, hang your stand and gather
up all your gear for a day in the woods. The
final step is knowing what to do when you
get that big game animal on the ground.
Hopefully, we have simplified the process
for you. If you still have questions, please call
your regional office or look us up on the web.
The regional phone numbers are located in
the front of the hunting guide.
Remember, we want hunting to be
enjoyable!
18 2008 Hunting & Trapping Guide