With the new license year that begins April 1st, Michigan hunters will have a new high-tech way to check their harvest in the coming seasons as the state expands its digital tagging system.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering optional electronic tagging through the Michigan Hunt Fish app. The system allows users to tag deer, turkey, and bear, along with fisher, otter, and marten, using a smartphone instead of the traditional paper and string.
State officials say the move aims to make reporting faster and more convenient. Once a harvest is recorded in the app, the information is sent directly to the DNR.
The updated process is aimed at helping biologists track wildlife populations in real time.
However, the change has sparked some debate among longtime hunters. For generations, Michigan hunters have used a knife to notch a paper tag and tie it to an antler. Some hunters have expressed concern about the shift, pointing to dead phone batteries or poor cellular service in remote woods and dead zones.
To address those concerns, the DNR says paper tags are not going away. The digital version is strictly optional. Hunters who prefer the old-fashioned way can still buy and use physical tags.
Users who want to try the digital system will need to download the official app and carry their phones while in the field.