I will start by saying that the world seems to be filled with misinformation and hearsay, which quickly leads to confusion and misunderstanding. Adding to the mix are the occasional rumors that take foot and circulate, sometimes without any true substance or confirmation. While we should be skeptical of such rumors that have not been verified, it just might be wise to take the cautious approach and heed the warnings that may lie within the rumor.

The rumor that has recently been flying around is that “the Pennsylvania Game Commission has been visiting local taxidermists and butcher shops that process venison, and while there, they are closely examining the tags that are attached to the deer. If the tag is not properly filled out — and particularly if on the back of the tag, the month and day on a harvest tag are not cut — they will contact the hunter and issue a fine, which reportedly is $350.00!”

Hearing these rumors from several sources, I contacted several local taxidermists and butcher shops but was not able to confirm that such actions had been taking place. While I would like to think such visitations by the Game Commission doesn’t seem likely, I believe it is wise to err on the side of caution and remind all hunters to “notch that tag” and suggest that all hunters pass on this advice on to their fellow hunters — just in case.

Here is the potential problem for most hunters this year: 

This is the first year that the stipulation of cutting the date on the back of the tag is a requirement. There is no mention of such a requirement in the current 2021-2022 Hunting & Trapping Digest on the Update page. Any reference to do so is buried deep within the text of the digest — actually on page 22 in the second paragraph under “Tagging Big Game” — saying that “the hunter must cut the correct date of harvest in completing the tag.”

For many years, quite a few other states, particularly those in the western US, have required notching out the date on their harvest tags, but again, this is the first year such a requirement has been adopted here in Pennsylvania. Those who hunt within our state have been familiar for years with the filling out of the front of the harvest tag. It will be an easy thing for any hunter to overlook this new requirement. Thus I would urge all hunters to pass on this information to your buddies at camp or friends who will be hunting this fall.