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Ask a CO: On keeping tags

A reader asks who keeps the tags after a successful hunt—the taxidermist, the meat processor, or the hunter?

Q: Who does the tag stay with, the taxidermist, meat processor, or hunter? It can’t be in three places at once and it’s illegal to duplicate. In western provinces, tags have four parts: one for the owner, one for the meat processor, and two for the taxidermist.

Robert Beneteau, South Woodslee

A: The tag must either remain with the tag holder, who must be accompanying the carcass and immediately available to produce the tag, or be attached to the animal in the manner specified on the tag. For a deer carcass going to a butcher, the tag should accompany the carcass either attached as required, or in the possession of the tag holder. Once the carcass has been delivered to the butcher, the cape and rack can then be taken to a taxidermist, with the tag still on the head, or in the possession of the tag holder accompanying the cape and rack.

Answer by: David Critchlow, Provincial Enforcement Specialist, MNR

Please check the most recent Ontario hunting and fishing regulations summaries, as rules and regulations can change

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Originally published in Ontario OUT of DOORS’ 2024-2025 Hunting Annual

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