Question on bonus tags

[heat checker]

I hunt a lottery area but would also like to hunt a managed area. Can I buy a bonus tag and use that one first in the managed area and use my first tag later on in the lotto area? A bonus tag has to be used in the managed area? Or can it be used state wide to replace the used one?

[Archerysniper]

Bonus tags can be used before your regular tag as long as you are in a managed on intensive harvest area in lotto ares you must use your regular buck/doe tag for archery, for firearms you must have been drawn for a doe tag in lottery areas. Bonus tags can be used state wide as long as you do not go over the bag limit for managed or intensive areas + if you know someone in the metro 601 zone where you can hunt there is no limit on antlerless deer. Just remember you can tag only one legal buck during a year.

[heat checker]

So then, if I'm going to hunt the managed area first, I need to go buy a bonus tag and save the other one for the lotto area? Apparently, the bonus tag reads that it is a "bonus tag" and can't be used in a 1 deer area?

[deerminator]

Yes, bonus tags cannot be used in a lottery area. So if you use your regular tag in a managed or intensive harvest area, you're no longer able to hunt in any lottery areas.

[Powerstroke]

Heatchecker you are completely right in your understanding.

[rbs]

I will be hunting 2 diff managed areas. Does this mean that I can buy a bonus for each area?

[BLACKJACK]

One of the negatives with the bonus tags is that it would be easy for someone to buy a bonus tag, shoot a doe in a Lottery area, and report it (with the new online registration system) as being shot in the nearest Managed area. Then they still have their regular license to shoot a buck with in that lottery area.

[Crow Hunter]

RBS, you can only take two deer total from managed areas of the state, no matter how many of the managed areas you hunt. So no, you can't use two bonus tags in managed areas. You can move to an intensive harvest area and use a second, third, and fourth bonus tag there, if you wish.

[motley man]

Still confused! Can I archery hunt a managed area with bonus tag & tag a deer and still hunt rifle season in lottery area & tag a deer?

[FishingWebGuy]

RBS, you can only take two deer total from managed areas of the state, no matter how many of the managed areas you hunt. So no, you can't use two bonus tags in managed areas. You can move to an intensive harvest area and use a second, third, and fourth bonus tag there, if you wish.

You can take 2 deer in managed areas using any combination of tags. So YES, you can take 2 deer in a bonus area using 2 bonus tags.

[FishingWebGuy]

Still confused! Can I archery hunt a managed area with bonus tag & tag a deer and still hunt rifle season in lottery area & tag a deer?

Yes. As long as the deer in rifle season lotto area is a buck. Unless you have a doe tag for that lotto area.

[Crow Hunter]

FWG, thanks for correcting me- I managed to confuse myself and gave bad advice, sorry about that. CH

[FishingWebGuy]

One of the negatives with the bonus tags is that it would be easy for someone to buy a bonus tag, shoot a doe in a Lottery area, and report it (with the new online registration system) as being shot in the nearest Managed area. Then they still have their regular license to shoot a buck with in that lottery area.

I think that is more a negative of unethical hunters and not the fault of the bonus tag. I am sure there are many who never tag the deer at all. Or who have been registering bucks as does at registration stations.

I'm not sure what is more difficult for the dnr -- managing a million deer or managing unethical hunters and antis who game the system.

[Jameson]

...You can take 2 deer in managed areas using any combination of tags. So YES, you can take 2 deer in a bonus area using 2 bonus tags.

O.k this was the issue we cleared up last year. We cannot use two bonus tags in Managed areas. We can use any combination of a bonus and a main tag, or two main tags like archery and firearms, as long as each deer was taken with the appropriate bow or gun during legal season for each.

Or did this change? lcornice?

[Jameson]

One of the negatives with the bonus tags is that it would be easy for someone to buy a bonus tag, shoot a doe in a Lottery area, and report it (with the new online registration system) as being shot in the nearest Managed area. Then they still have their regular license to shoot a buck with in that lottery area.

Always been easy to do the same. The CO's only chance is to check the hunterpoacher afield in a lottery area with a bonus tag marked. The hunterpoacher would be taking a risk by not using their main tag at the kill site.

[crawler harness]

PG 65 of the rule book. " The bag limit for managed deer areas is two deer and hunters can use ANY COMBINATION of a valid license and BONUS PERMITS TO TAG BOTH DEER

[sticknstring]

Quote:

O.k this was the issue we cleared up last year. We cannot use two bonus tags in Managed areas. We can use any combination of a bonus and a main tag, or two main tags like archery and firearms, as long as each deer was taken with the appropriate bow or gun during legal season for each.

Or did this change? lcornice?

Agreed. This was how it's been in the past.

I can see how the wording on page 65 can be misconstrued though. Perhaps it's been changed this year? Lou, please chime in.

[96trigger]

Quote:

O.k this was the issue we cleared up last year. We cannot use two bonus tags in Managed areas. We can use any combination of a bonus and a main tag, or two main tags like archery and firearms, as long as each deer was taken with the appropriate bow or gun during legal season for each.

Yep, this was hashed over pretty good last year. If I remember correctly, the wording was going to get changed because it never specifically said one couldn't use 2 bonus tags. I don't know if got cleared up or not.

[Cda]

If I buy a bonus tag during the season is there a time period before I can use it?

[going4it]

Can’t be purchased and used during hunting hrs on the same day. 

[gim]

This rule prevents hunters from shooting an anterless deer without a bonus tag and then quickly "going to buy one" to apply it.  They want you to by one ahead of time, not afterwards.

Edited October 9, 2020 by gimruis