Can Retired Peace Officers Countersign a Deer Tag?

June 23, 2016

Question: I was reviewing the persons authorized to countersign a deer tag recently and was wondering if you could clarify whether peace officers (salaried and non-salaried) are authorized? If so, can retired peace officers also sign off another person’s deer tag? I have been told yes and no by two different wardens. (Mike D., Salinas)

Answer: Retired officers are not authorized to countersign deer tags. The only people authorized to countersign deer tags are those people listed under California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 708.6., which include:
A.  State:

1. Fish and Game Commissioners

2. Employees of the Department of Fish and Game, including Certified Hunter Education Instructors

3. Employees of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

4. Supervising Plant Quarantine Inspectors

5. Junior, Intermediate and Senior Plant Quarantine Inspectors

B.  Federal:

1. Employees of the Bureau of Land Management

2. Employees of the United States Forest Service

3. Employees of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service

4. All Uniformed Personnel of the National Park Service

5. Commanding Officers of any United States military installation or their designated personnel for deer taken on their reservation

6. Postmasters and Post Office Station or Branch Manager for deer brought to their post office

C.  Miscellaneous:

1. County firemen at and above the class of foreman for deer brought into their station

2. Judges or Justices of all state and United States courts

3. Notaries Public

4. Peace Officers (salaried and non-salaried)

5. Officers authorized to administer oaths

6. Owners, corporate officers, managers or operators of lockers or cold storage plants for deer brought to their place of business

My son/hunting partner signed my tag last year.  Captain, Cal-Fire.  Cool to have this option.  He just can't sign his own.

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I have not bought a hunting licence in a while.
? why do you need a countersign??
Thanks

California law. All tags need to be countersigned. I can sign them for people fyi.

I have not bought a hunting licence in a while.
? why do you need a countersign??
Thanks

Not your license, just your filled big game tags.  Also, if you take a bear you have to take it directly to dfw for molar extraction. 

If you are having tag soup at the end of the season you don't have to choke down the extra ink.  Mercifully.

But beginning this year, unsuccessful tags must be returned, or you will have a $20 fee added on to your deer tag fee next year. 

But beginning this year, unsuccessful tags must be returned, or you will have a $20 fee added on to your deer tag fee next year. 

Yup.  You can report online. 

Kind of a goofy law, IMO. You're supposed  to have it validated at the closest available location. More than once I've had to stop at Fortuna PD in the middle of the night on a weekend because that was the only place open. Like I'm going to stop at the police station and try to validate a spike. Or anywhere for that matter.

Cali has some weird laws. But then again, lots of weird cats here in cali too.

Cali has some weird laws. But then again, lots of weird cats here in cali too.

Meow 

Cali has some weird laws. But then again, lots of weird cats here in cali too.

Meow 

There ya go! #thisguy

Just remember they are supposed to be signed at a location near the zone harvested from. Don't drive across the state to your buddy.