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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 08.03.04.03" title_num="08" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="04" heading="Tagging and Reporting Deer and Wild Turkey.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Tagging.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A game field tag, including the hunter’s name, DNR ID number, and the deer or turkey’s date and county of harvest, serves to identify the hunter who has killed a deer or turkey.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A big game harvest record of deer and turkey harvested by a hunter serves to record a hunter’s kill. The big game harvest record shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Include, for each deer or turkey killed, the species, sex, date and county of harvest, weapon class and confirmation number attained from the Department at the time of reporting in accordance with §B of this regulation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Be in the hunter’s possession while deer or turkey hunting.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Game field tags and big game harvest records may be provided by the Department when purchasing a Maryland hunting license, may be obtained from any DNR sport license agent, or created by the hunter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A hunter’s possession of an electronic record of the confirmation number acquired in accordance with §B of this regulation may substitute for the game field tag or big game harvest record. An electronic record may be presented:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>By accessing the hunter’s DNR license system account by a cell phone, tablet, or other electronic device; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>As a digital copy of a completed big game harvest record.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>A game field tag shall be attached to the deer or turkey before removing it from the place of kill.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>If a confirmation number has been generated, attaching a game field tag is not required while the deer or turkey remains in the hunter’s possession.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>When leaving a deer or turkey unattended or in the possession of another person, the deer or turkey shall be tagged with:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A game field tag as described in §A(1) of this regulation, if the deer or turkey has not been reported to the Department; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A tag that includes the hunter’s name and the confirmation number provided by the Department if the deer or turkey has already been reported to the Department.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>The tag required under §A(7) of this regulation shall remain attached to the deer or turkey until the carcass is either:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Processed for consumption;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Disposed of by a processing facility; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Left with a taxidermist.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Harvest Reporting.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An individual killing a deer or turkey shall report the kill to the Department by calling a designated toll-free number, by registering the kill on the Department’s internet-based checking system accessible through the Department’s website, or as otherwise designated on the Department’s website.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The harvest of a deer or turkey shall be reported not later than 24 hours after the deer or turkey was taken into possession by the hunter. Deer must be reported before the head or hide is removed. Turkeys must be reported before being processed for consumption.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>After reporting the kill, the hunter will receive a confirmation number from the Department that shall be recorded in ink on the big game harvest record or shall be in the hunter’s possession as an electronic record in accordance with §A(4) of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The requirements of this regulation apply to all hunters including those hunters who are exempt from the hunting license requirements of Natural Resources Article, §10-301, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Reporting Deer or Turkey Killed by Means Other than Hunting.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A person may take possession of a deer or turkey that has been killed by means other than hunting by obtaining a confirmation number from the Department.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An individual taking possession of a deer or turkey killed by means other than hunting shall report the deer or turkey to the Department by registering the kill on the Department’s internet-based checking system accessible through the Department’s website, or as otherwise designated on the Department’s website.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Prior to taking possession and transporting the deer or turkey, a field tag, including the person’s name, address, county location of the deer or turkey, and method of kill, shall be attached until a confirmation number has been obtained.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>If a confirmation number has been obtained, a field tag is not required if the deer or turkey remains in the person’s possession.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The deer or turkey shall be reported not later than 24 hours after the deer or turkey is taken into possession. Deer shall be reported before the head or hide is removed. Turkeys shall be reported before being processed for consumption.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>After registering the deer or turkey, the person shall receive a confirmation number.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>The individual shall maintain a record of the confirmation number. The confirmation number shall be made available to the Department on request.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>A deer or turkey not tagged as required by this regulation and found in the possession of any person may be confiscated by any authorized representative of the Department and shall be disposed of as the Director may deem advisable for the best interest of the State.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>A person may not knowingly make any false statements or record false information when tagging or reporting the harvest of any deer or turkey.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>