Stupid Wisconsin rules hunters like.

[thusby]

I miss registering deer at the bar.
Necessary, no. Fun, yes!
Grab a beer and wander the parade of dead deer in trucks, pretty damn awesome.

 

[thusby]

Head to toe blaze orange, get some!

 

[thomas89]

The brain of a western mountain hunter couldn’t comprehend the blaze orange pumpkin suits!

 

[coleslaw]

Although a bit inconvenient to me now, the check stations were an instrumental part of the social and economic impact that was the deer season. I cherish those memories growing up and I was just talking to my brother the other week in our duck blind how his girls dont get to experience the same deer hunt that we grew up with. The best part of opening day was the hours in the evening spent looking at everyone's buck and hearing the stories of misses, first deer or old man Joe's 100th buck (of course it was always a spiker).

Practically i think those days are gone but if I had a personal vote, id go yes to bringing them back even knowing it would be inconvienant for my own self (i shoot my deer here now days behind my own house).

110%. Good memories of going to the gas station or the bars with my dad and seeing all the deer. To me, the right of passage as a 12-year-old (the 1990's) was taking my first deer (a doe) to the check station and being super proud I was no longer on the sidelines. Even getting my back tag was as good and as important as getting my DL. I was finally one of the guys and not just an observer, and everybody was aware of that.

I know the stations will never come back, but I miss the community aspect it brought to deer hunting.

Deer hunting has just become somewhat impersonal in my view. Deer camps are fewer and farther between, with even fewer making visits to view each other's meat poles. Like a good Gary Paulsen book, it's an era long gone.

 

[slatebuilder]

Pennsylvania had the big back tags until 2008……some guys still put their little printed off plastic green license in a sleeve on their back. Those back tags were hand written on the back side.

 

[SFC B]

Head to toe blaze orange, get some!

Man, I just got a saaaaweeeet set fleece overalls at my store on ULTRA clearance($20 down from $150) because nobody out here wanted it OH, and I have a Stormy Kromer insulated as well.

 

[Mallardsx2]

Man, I just got a saaaaweeeet set fleece overalls at my store on ULTRA clearance($20 down from $150) because nobody out here wanted it OH, and I have a Stormy Kromer insulated as well.

Nobody wanted it because nobody wanted to sweat their nuts off after walking 50 yards..lol

 

[tystash]

Hated the back tags and couldn’t understand the purpose. It was kinda nice to stop at the bar to register on the way home though…

 

[Wind Gypsy]

People are actually advocating for having to wear a back tag while hunting? Cheeseheads..

 

[IDiot]

Just moved to WI. I'm glad there's no back tags, seems silly in the modern day. As far as check stations, doing away with them undoubtedly saves a lot of money for the state. Nostalgia isn't a good enough reason to make changes IMO.

 

[seeth07]

As far as check stations, doing away with them undoubtedly saves a lot of money for the state.

I'm not entirely sure about that. Yes, I'm sure there were state funds but the check stations were voluntary from private businesses such as bars and gas stations. It was a boost to their business as it brought hunters into their doors. I'm not exactly sure on the cost breakdown between the state and private business for the paperwork and systems but the private businesses were glad to be a check station due to the volume increase in sales.

 

[Nick87]

I'm not entirely sure about that. Yes, I'm sure there were state funds but the check stations were voluntary from private businesses such as bars and gas stations. It was a boost to their business as it brought hunters into their doors. I'm not exactly sure on the cost breakdown between the state and private business for the paperwork and systems but the private businesses were glad to be a check station due to the volume increase in sales.

Yup same down here.

 

[WildWill]

Negative, he ran away and surrendered as he got lost

Actually he got lost and was getting a ride out on a atv from another hunter (who didn't know him or what had transpired) when cops stopped them. One of the guy's had written down his back tag prior to the shooting and the police did have it at the time and used it to ID him at that moment.



PS: Back tags are still stupid.

 

[F250]

Still have mandatory check stations here for rifle season and youth season. A mix of Department employees, volunteers, and college kids enrolled in wildlife courses.

 

[Nick87]

We have check stations for firearm season still. (Cwd testing). My boys really enjoy going and looking around. Never mind the trip when they're along.

 

[Dave N]

We have check stations for firearm season still. (Cwd testing). My boys really enjoy going and looking around. Never mind the trip when they're along.

Nothing like that here that I know of. Guess we're "safe".

 

[IDiot]

I'm not entirely sure about that. Yes, I'm sure there were state funds but the check stations were voluntary from private businesses such as bars and gas stations. It was a boost to their business as it brought hunters into their doors. I'm not exactly sure on the cost breakdown between the state and private business for the paperwork and systems but the private businesses were glad to be a check station due to the volume increase in sales.

I'm sure businesses liked it. I'm thinking more of logistical costs and employee hours costs for agencies. Many agencies have budget and staffing issues to begin with. Juice isn't worth the squeeze to me. If a business wants to put up a buck pole or do big buck contests I'm all for it. And specific check stations to gather biological samples and data also all for it but widespread check stations don't make sense to me.

 

[Bonasababy]

For some reason social media groups for Wisconsin deer hunting are bringing up the topic of bringing back Registration stations and even worse the dreaded back tag. I can't tell you how refreshing it was to hunt Western states to get away from that backtag crap, poking holes in your clothes to hang it, bow hunting and having it make noise rubbing on the tree. These guys just want to live in the past and the biggest reason most say they want it back because of memories of the old days at bars and gas stations. Then the registration stations where people proudly show off their forky like everyone is impressed including non hunters who are actually appalled at the sight. Wearing blaze orange everywhere you go for 10 days..... having the head hang out of the trunk or bed so nonhunters have to see it, and the mandatory "make sure your blaze orange is on the top of everything in the vehicle so everyone knows you're on your way to deer camp" cheesy. So question is, did we look like a bunch of goofs to western states? I just can't stomach the idea of bringing back the backtag, especially if hunting private land. The registration stations are an annoyance as you have to load up the deer, drive to town , then to wherever. I process my own, so i usually have everything boned out and bagged up as I'm driving my Honda Civic most times and really don't drive the truck the 6 hour round trip unless I have things to haul. I just like freedom and easy hunting my own property for deer. I don't need memories of the old days... what's next, reverse the recent rule where we can actually quarter the deer instead of drag it half a mile and have a heart attack? I just don't get it. Rant over

Don't understand the check station desire, but I know in several states back tag desires come from private landowners with trespass concerns. Glad we never had to wear them. Did enjoy working the Camp Ripley and moose check stations back in the day though.

 

[Treeshark]

Checking deer at local taverns was usually a lot of fun growing up. Last time I did it was on the way home from a trip, and we got to wait in line for 30 mins while some crazy old lady argued that her nub buck was an antlered deer.

While they were fun, I don’t need to see them come back. The online registration is so much easier.