license backers

[Elk Guide]

hey Ray..........I thought the license backers were voluntary use.....In Isabella county the dnr are giving tickets to any one who doesnt' use them ,they are claiming they are manatory and not useing them is improper taging whats the deal....I have heard from several hunters who have been checked out in the field and recieved tickets for not useing them......I was wondering if it would be all right to use a zip strip around the antler and then notch out your license and fold it over the left over zip strip because the backers break off or if the license gets wet they come off the backers any way...thanks Ray for all your help......Carl

[Pinefarm]

They can't give tickets for that. Half of the hunters already bought their tags before the backers were even issued. We had guys that had just bought their tag a couple days ago at Wal-Mart and never got one either. I know the DNR wants them used and I know why. You can't use the bar code or read them if wrapped around the antlers. They're actually a good thing. But only after putting the rule on the cover of next years hunting guide can they write tickets. It will have to be bold print on the cover of the guide and on the tag itself "it is a violation to tag a deer without the backer". Here's the DNR link...http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153--52068--,00.html

[malainse]

If you look at the DRN web site it shows you both ways to put the tag on. One with the backer and one without. If you purchased your license early in the year they did not have the backers.

No, they can not isssue tickets for this.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10363_10856-27353--,00.html#procedure

[boehr]

Elk Guide...someone is not telling you the right story. There have been no tickets issued anywhere in the state for not using backers and there is no law requiring the use. If they received tagging violation tickets it was because they didn't tag their deer at all or didn't punch/cut the appropriate information on the tag which is common practice for a person to get the deer home, butcher it and reuse the same tag again.

[quix20]

while in ionia meeting with shoeman and splitshot, we stopped by a local sport shop. the guy running the counter told them that not using a backer would cause you to get a ticket. i told him he was full of it, and he refused to listen to it.

personally, i tried to use my backer for my buck during bow season, but it broke as soon as we tied it to the deer!!! good thing i was paying attention to it, cause if not i would have been screwed and really pissed off.

i like the idea of the backers, but think they need to be stronger. as do alot of people on the site from what i have been reading.

[Danatodd99]

I haven't had trouble with the 2 I've used.
I user an old boot lace and tied it on and it made the 250 yd drag NP and mine the drag was only about 150 yds, but through some thick stuff, blow downs ...etc.

[boehr]

quix20, I agree with you 100%. They are a good idea but the material needs to be changed. The cold wealther has caused a lot of problems with them being brittle and breaking.

When I get my deer this year, seen 7 in two days hunting Allegan SGA, more deer than hunters by the way, I will use the backer with a shoe lace under the top portion of the license where it's folded over the backer, then one end through the hole of the backer and then tie both ends of the shoe lace around the leg of the deer.

Before asked, one spike, one buck but I jumped it and ran directly away from me so all I can say is there was antlers, 2 does and 3 fawns. I'm using a muzzleloader and didn't feel comfortable with any of the possible shots so I never shot. But I sure did have a fun two days with more to come. Both days in my opinion were successful.

Only seen two hunters in two days of hunting the game area on Saturday and Sunday.:confused: They must have all went north.;)

[Elk Guide]

thanks ray ......now i have to go tell the store where i talked to the guy at that is not mandatory to use it and no tickets have been gave out......the lady at the counter tried to tell me that she knows of someone so i took her word on it......thanks ray for all the help.......see ya carl