Tagging Deer or Turkey

Filling Out the Tag for Attaching to Deer or Turkey

If required, the tag from the hunting license of the person who killed the deer or turkey must be correctly and legibly completed (including name of property and county) and must:

• be used on a specific type of deer or turkey (for example, buck tags must be used only on buck deer, antlerless tags on antlerless deer, etc.).
• have the month and date of kill CUT OUT.

It is against the law to use:

• a tag taken from the license of another person or allow your tag to be used by another person.
• a tag more than one time (or on more than one deer or turkey).
• an incorrect tag on a deer or turkey (example: mule deer tag used on a white-tailed deer, etc.).

Where to Attach Tag to Deer or Turkey

The hunting license tag may be attached anywhere on a deer or turkey so that it is not damaged, defaced, or lost in transporting or handling. For deer, the appropriate tag or applicable permit must remain attached to the deer until the deer reaches its final destination and is quartered. If the animal is a deer and the head is severed from the carcass (body), then the appropriate tag and any applicable permits must remain attached to the carcass. See proof of sex. If the head does not accompany the carcass, then the head must be accompanied by a Wildlife Resource Document (WRD). For turkey, the applicable tag must remain attached until the tirkey reaches its final destination and is finally processed.

Tip: Remember that if the head and the carcass are separated, the tag from the hunting license goes with the carcass and the WRD goes with the head.

Except for deer killed by MLD permit, LAMPS permit, TPWD Special Drawn Legal Deer Tag, U.S. Forest Service antlerless permit, or Big Time Texas Hunt, all deer must be tagged IMMEDIATELY upon kill in a secure manner anywhere on the deer, with an appropriate license tag with the month and date CUT OUT.

Tagging Options: There are tag numbers printed on each tag.

IMPORTANT: TAGS #5 and #6 ARE FOR WHITE-TAILED ANTLERLESS DEER ONLY. TAGS #7, #8 and #9 ARE FOR WHITE-TAILED BUCK OR ANTLERLESS DEER. BUCK TAGS MAY BE USED IN ANY COUNTY; HOWEVER, LACK OF CAREFUL PLANNING WITH TAGS #7, #8, and #9 MAY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF WHITE-TAILED BUCK DEER YOU MAY LAWFULLY TAKE.

READ THE TAG USE DESCRIPTION ON YOUR LICENSE CAREFULLY BEFORE ATTACHING TO HARVESTED DEER.

• Tag Number 5 - White-tailed Deer - Antlerless ONLY
• Tag Number 6 - White-tailed Deer - Antlerless ONLY
• Tag Number 7 - White-tailed Deer - Buck or Antlerless
• Tag Number 8 - White-tailed Deer - Buck or Antlerless
• Tag Number 9 - White-tailed Deer - Buck or Antlerless

NOTE: The white-tailed deer tags on the license may be used in any county during an open season for white-tailed deer.

HUNTING LICENSE HARVEST LOG FOR WHITE-TAILED DEER (ON BACK OF LICENSE)

• Immediately upon kill of a white-tailed deer the hunter must complete the log, in ink, on the back of the hunting license. Failture to complete the log as required may result in a fine not to exceed $500 for each deer improperly logged. Asterisks indicate bucks with an inside main beam spread of at least 13 inches.
• Completion of the log is not required for mule deer, or for white-tailed deer lawfully taken under a MLD permit, LAMPS permit, TPWD Special Drawn Public Hunt permit, U.S. Forest Service antlerless permit, or on a Big Time Texas Hunt.

• Tag Number 10 - Mule Deer - Antlerless Only
• Tag Number 11 - Mule Deer - Buck or Antlerless

NOTE: The mule deer tags on the hunting license are not mule deer permits and may not be used in lieu of mule deer permits whe mule deer permits are required.

• WHITE-TAILED DEER HARVEST RESTRICTIONS (as used in County Listing):
  • MANAGED LANDS DEER (MLD) PERMITS: Permits issued to landowners with a TPWD-approved Wildlife Management Plan. MLD permits allow hunters, at the discretion of the landowner or agent, to exceed the county bag limit and (in some cases) to hunt during an extended season. All deer taken on a property for which MLD permits have been issued must be tagged with the appropriate type of MLD permit. NOTE: No license log entry or tag from a hunting license is required for deer killed under a MLD permit (see license log requirement above). For more information about Wildlife Management Plans, landowners should call TPWD at (512) 389-4505.
  • LAMPS (Landowner Assisted Management Permit System): LAMPS permits allow antlerless deer to be taken in counties where antlerless harvest is by permit only during the entire season or portion of a season. For more information, landowners should contact TPWD at (409) 489-0823 or visit LAMPS. All antlerless deer taken on a LAMPS property must be tagged with a LAMPS permit. This does not include antlerless deer taken during the Archery Only Season or Muzzleloader Only Season. NOTE: No hunting license log or hunting license tag is required for deer killed under a LAMPS permit.
  • For information about antlerless deer permits on National Forest lands, please call the U.S. Forest Service in Lufkin at (936) 639-8501.

Turkey

Notice: Read the tag use description on your license carefully before attaching to harvested turkey.