18 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017
Expired and Used Tags
By Julie Geiser
As all big game hunters know, you must have a permit
before legally hunting in Nebraska. Once you harvest,
check in your deer, elk or antelope, and process the meat,
some hunters wonder what to do with that expired big game
permit.
According to Duane Arp, assistant division administrator
in the law enforcement division for the Commission, "Once
an animal is checked in and after the hunter has returned
home, they do not have to retain their permit, and the hunter
can throw it away or save it if desired."
During the nine-day firearm deer season in November,
hunters must check in their deer at a check station; this
includes archery deer hunters that hunt in this season. At
the check station hunters will be given a metal seal that
is typically placed in the ear of a doe or on the antlers of
a buck. The seal does not have to be kept with the deer;
however, the seal is proof of legal harvest. The paper
permit is cancelled and given back to the hunter after the
appropriate information is filled out and recorded. Arp
recommended keeping the seal either on the antlers or with
the mount if the deer is to be mounted.
After the firearm season big game hunters need to use the
Telecheck system to check in big game.
Telechecking is simple and available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week by calling the toll free number at 844-279-4564
or by going online at Outdoornebraska.org/Telecheck.
Once an animal is checked, Arp said, "Nebraska Game
and Parks has the necessary information for management
and enforcement purposes, so hunters no longer need the big
game permit."
Some people throw their permits away; others shred
them as permits have the hunter's name, address and other
information on them, while other hunters choose to keep
their permits for nostalgia, a reminder of the hunt perhaps.
Arp has seen many permits over the years and stated that:
"Many hunters collect permits and stamps. The collection of
the federal waterfowl stamp is a great example of collectors
and many displays of past stamps. Some collections have
sold for monetary value. Many hunters have collected
permits and stamps over the years for different reasoning;
sentimental reasons to illustrate the number of years he
or she has supported the sport, comparison in costs, and
comparison in design could be a few examples." ■
Hunters collect permits for a variety of reasons, including nostalgia, cost-comparison and to view designs through the years.
PHOTO
BY
JULIE
GEISER
What to do with those big and small
game permits and stamps?
