Tag deer immediately

LITTLE ROCK — When a hunter brings down a deer, it is a special moment whether he or she is young or old, a newcomer or experienced.

With excitement high and adrenaline rushing, it is easy and understandable that some hunters forget the essential next step: Tag the deer before it is moved.

That is the long-standing regulation of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for deer hunting. Tag the deer before you move it — even if you’re just moving it to get a better angle for photos.

Load the untagged deer onto a four-wheeler and take it back to camp? This does not sit well with wildlife officers. A wildlife violation

will erase all the euphoria of success, along with making a hefty dent in your wallet.

Game tags are on annual licenses. For people not required to have annual licenses (those under 16 and those over 65 with lifetime licenses), game tags are in the back of the 2013-2014 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook. Be optimistic, but also be worry-free.

Clip out a couple of these game tags before you go into the deer woods. Put them with a hunter education card or other hunter identification or driver’s license. Now you are ready to take a deer.

If the head is removed from harvested game, harvest information must remain with all other portions until final storage. This includes while the harvested deer is in transit. There are several carcass identification tags available in the 2013-14 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook.