Tagging Deer

Hunters in possession of a digital license and tags should refer to Digital Licenses and Tagging for tagging instructions.

A tag from the hunting license of the person who killed the deer must be correctly and legibly completed (including name of property and county) and immediately attached to the animal (exception is properties with special issued tags such as MLDP tags).

The hunter must:

• use the specific type of deer tag (for example, buck tags must be used only on buck deer, antlerless tags on antlerless deer, etc.).
• have the month and date of kill clearly cut out on the tag by notching the respective month and day. Do not “ink out.”
• immediately complete, date and cut out the appropriate hunting license tag after a deer is harvested but before the deer is field dressed, moved or tagged.
• after a deer is harvested, but before the deer is field-dressed immediately before moving carcass, complete the log in ink on the back of the hunting license. Asterisks in the log indicate bucks with an inside main beam spread of at least 13 inches.
• after a deer is harvested and tagged, but before the deer is field-dressed or moved, complete the log in ink on the back of the hunting license. Boxes with asterisks in the log must be checked for harvest in antler restricted counties for bucks with an inside main beam spread of at least 13″.
• complete the mandatory harvest reporting for white-tailed deer in applicable counties using the Texas Hunt & Fish app.

Completion of the log is not required for mule deer, or for white-tailed deer or mule deer harvested under a MLDP tag, TPWD Special Drawn Public Hunt permit, or on a Big Time Texas Hunt.

Where to Attach Tag to Deer

The tag may be attached anywhere on a deer so that it is not damaged, defaced, or lost in transporting or handling. For deer, the appropriate tag or permit must remain attached until the deer reaches its final destination and is quartered. See tagging requirements for a Type 1 cold storage or processing facility. If deer’s head is severed from the carcass (body), then the appropriate tag or permit must remain attached to its carcass, see Proof of Sex. If the head does not accompany the carcass, then the head must be accompanied by a Wildlife Resource Document (WRD) | PDF.

Tip: Remember that if the head and the carcass are separated, the tag from the hunting license goes with the meat and the WRD goes with the head.

Notice: Read the tag use description on your license carefully before attaching to harvested deer.

It is unlawful to:

• use a tag from another person’s license or allow anyone to use your tags.
• use a tag more than one time (or on more than one deer).
• use an incorrect tag on a deer or turkey (example: mule deer tag used on a white-tailed deer, etc.)