Why they wear Back Tags in Wisconsin

[fasteddie]

I found this on another site and thought it was interesting since some folks on here don't agree with having to wear Back Tags

I found this pretty interesting and informative and thought I would share it with all of you. I sent an email to the WI DNR with a few questions about back tags and got a pretty lengthy response from Mr. Van Haren. The following is his response to my email...

Mike,

Your e-mail regarding back tags was forwarded to me for a reply. Being an avid archery and gun deer hunter myself for over 35 years, I do understand there can be some inconvenience associated with wearing a back tag and that many other states do not require them. Hunting deer and bear in Wisconsin however is not exactly the same as in many other states. Wisconsin has one of the highest numbers of hunters and is made up of lots of private property which continues to get divided into smaller blocks every year.

 

The requirement for issuing each deer hunter a back tag and that each hunter display this back tag was actually created by the Wisconsin State Legislature 68 years ago, back in 1942. It is not a DNR rule or something the DNR has authority to eliminate. The legislature later created a statutory requirement that all bear hunters also wear a back tag. The bear back tag requirement took effect for the first time just 14 years ago, during the 1998 bear season, in large part due to complaints from landowners about the problems they were having dealing with bear hunters and bear dog trainers trespassing on private lands. The primary reason for these statutory requirements has been to address landowners concerns about trespassing and to give landowners a way to identify trespassers, and not just to help assure deer hunters have a license.

 

Although the DNR did not create these requirements, the warden service and the law enforcement community in Wisconsin have been staunch proponents of retaining the back tag requirement for deer and bear hunters. Back tags have played an important role in the identification and apprehension of the suspects in trespassing and hunting law violations. It sounds like you are aware of one of the more notable cases which occurred in 2004, when a hunters back tag number was recorded by another hunter in a trespassing encounter that turned into 6 homicides. The recorded back tag number enabled investigators to quickly determine who the suspect was and even locate that person while still in the field some distance away still wearing the back tag.

 

We also feel the while not infallible, the need to display a back tag does help reduce the incidents of individuals hunting without a valid license. In the past we did change the color each year to help assure individuals were not simply displaying an expired license back tag. However, with our current Automated License Issuance System (ALIS), the paper used to print these tags is purchased though a contract with the company that operates the ALIS. To save money by not throwing out all the old/unused stock each year, we made the decision a few years ago that we could live with not changing the color ever year. It will be changed periodically, likely when we have to rebid the contract.

 

About 7 years ago a bill was introduced in the state legislature to eliminate back tags for deer hunting. That provision was vetoed by the Governor at that time. During this past 2009-10 legislative session, a legislator also introduce a bill which included a provision to eliminate the need for Class B bear license holders to wear a back tag when assisting a Class A bear license holder hunting for bear. The Wisconsin Sheriffs Association testified in opposition to this provision of the bill. Sheriff's felt that this is a valuable tool which assists them in enforcing the trespass laws. This back tag elimination provision of that bill was removed in a later amendment.

 

Having checked deer hunters in the field every year for the past 25 years I have found that with changes made to the back tags in recent years to make this tag also double as the person license has greatly reduced the time it takes to check a hunters license. No more digging through layers of clothing trying to find a small folded piece of paper, if the hunter remembers to bring the small piece of paper along. This allows hunters to get back to hunting quicker.

 

While the DNR can not remove the requirement that we issue back tags and that hunters must wear them, I hope I have at least been able to provide you with some further understanding as to why Wisconsin long ago decided back tags should be required and play an important role in this state.

[NYDeer]

Funny you post this.. Cleaning the basement, I found "The Hunter's Bible" by WK Merrill, from 1968.

On Pg 96, in a photo submitted by Bear archery, there is a photo of Fred Bear from the back, in a natural brush ground blind, with a backtag that is about a foot wide, with 3-4" high letters.. I thought is was a bit overkill, but reading this, you'd be able to read the tag very well from a distance through binoculars..

[fasteddie]

The reason I posted this is because a few members were complaining about having to wear Back Tags ............

[nycoyotehounds..BUB]

But I do not have to wear one in my part of the state.

[Mr VJP]

That explanation reinforces my suspicion the rule was implemented to allow authorities to treat hunters as guilty until proven innocent.

What are we, motor vehicles?  We need a license plate hung on our backs so anyone can obtain info on us with just one look?  Name, address and maybe even SS# with just a number they see on our back?

Did it ever occur to these folks a law breaker just takes the thing off his back prior to breaking the law?

It's an attitude that says, "We think you are potentially a bad person because you are hunting, so we treat you like one and leave you alone if you don't violate any laws."

That is a Police State attitude my friends!

How would you feel if you were told, everyone had to wear a license on their back every where they went during the day, just in case they did something illegal?  That's exactly what they are saying here.

Remember how the Nazi's told the Jews they had to wear a Star of David on their clothes at all times?  It's a sign forced upon you by authorities that DO NOT LIKE YOU!  It's CONTROL!  And all of the lemmings in society just allow them to do it without even a whimper.

The Government Is Not Your Friend!  And nothing they do is for your benefit, no matter how much they say it is!

[nycoyotehounds..BUB]

Well said MrVJP

[Doc]

:

[fasteddie]

Yeah , nothing like being Paranoid .........

[Mr VJP]

Better than having your head in the sand.

[wztirem]

The back tags are too small, they should be bigger!

[Mr VJP]

"The  warden service and the law enforcement community in Wisconsin have been  staunch proponents of retaining the back tag requirement for deer and  bear hunters. Back tags have played an important role in the  identification and apprehension of the suspects in trespassing and  hunting law violations.

We  also feel the while not infallible, the need to display a back tag does  help reduce the incidents of individuals hunting without a valid  license."

So there you go.  Maybe all licensed drivers should have to post their driver's license in the rear window of their car too.  This would help authorities check you out and check to see you have a valid one.

:

[Whelen]

No need to, it automatically comes up when they run your plate #

[Mr VJP]

Unless someone else is behind the wheel.

[WNYBuckHunter]

What in the world is the big deal with back tags anyhow? They are no real inconvenience, just wear them and quit yer b*tchin. 

[Mr VJP]

Did I just hear a Lemming??

[WNYBuckHunter]

No, just someone that doesnt give a crap about a backtag. Its like saying why do we have to have 2 plates on our cars in NY when many other states just use 1. Who cares, there are better things to be worried about.

[nycoyotehounds..BUB]

It is a pain to some of us who live in northern, but live close to southern. I could hunt north in the morning, and an hour later be south. I was brought up in northern and backtags were not a part of hunting for me. So it is not on because I hunt more northern. Like stated before..dumb outdated law.

[WNYBuckHunter]

Look, if you hunt in the southern zone, you have to wear a back tag. I dont care what you were brought up with, thats no excuse. Just put it on, its not that tough to do.

You have a tag on your car, motorcycle, ATV, Reg numbers on your snowmobile and boat right? Its the same deal. Why do they really need those things now days? They can put a bar code on your car and read it from quite a way, while youre moving. Why are they needed?

I swear, some of you guys would complain about anything lol.

[nycoyotehounds..BUB]

No wonder why southernzone hunters worry over every little thing and have issues.  :'(

[fasteddie]

I had to wear Dog Tags in the Marine Corps . I had to have a Picture ID Badge at work for 35 years . I had to have a Picture ID when I visited in-laws in a Gated Community in Florida . I have to have wear a badge at the shooting range .

Now folks whine about wearing a back tag . Big Brother is watching . They hear the theme from the TwiLight Zone . Paranoia is running rampant ! Whoooooooooooooo ! http://www.downsouthhuntingforums.com/images/smiles/help.gif[/img]http://www.downsouthhuntingforums.com/images/smiles/help.gif[/img].....

[WNYBuckHunter]

Lol eddie 

[nycoyotehounds..BUB]

ALL AT YOUR CHHOSING

[Doc]

Yeah but that back-tag gets so darned heavy to carry around all day. Not only that, but I had to poke two holes in my coat to hang the darn thing.

I think it's time we all stood up and protested this evil invasion of the civil rights of hunters. We must rise up and cast off this yoke of oppression. I suggest a day in Albany where we each can burn our back-tags in protest on the steps of the capitol.  >

Doc

[fasteddie]

[steve863]

Sometimes I think we enter the twilight zone when we log onto this website.   Maybe the administrators of this site can have that music play when we log on???  Then you could have the AR and crossbow threads use music from the movie "Psycho".