For more information, contact Joe Rogerson, Wildlife Section, 302-735-3600, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Reminder: Hunters must register deer by phone or internet system

DOVER (Oct. 6, 2010) – The DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife would like to remind hunters that they are now required to register all harvested deer via the Division’s toll-free phone line, 866-511-DEER (3337), or internet system, www.dehip.com, within 24 hours of harvest and before butcher shop processing. The old system using paper registration forms at check stations and butcher shops was discontinued last year.

When registering a deer, hunters will need to know their hunting license numbers as well as the deer management zone in which the deer was harvested. Zone information can be found on pages 19 to 22 in the 2010-11 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide. After registering, hunters will be given a 12-digit registration number to record and keep as proof of registration. Hunters having deer processed by a butcher will need to give this number when dropping off the animal. 

Although the Division is extremely sensitive to the tradition associated with hunters taking their deer to check stations in Delaware, a change was needed and the decision was made move to online and phone registration beginning last season. With both Delaware’s deer population and harvest numbers increasing, nearly 14,000 deer are harvested annually and nearly half of those were being registered at check stations. The time required to enter the paper forms used at check stations had become overwhelming in both staff time and expense. In addition, the old system was inefficient – harvest numbers could not be totaled until around May because of the time it took to enter the information into the computer.  

“The new electronic system has already proved its efficiency last season. After the season ended in January, we had harvest estimates the first week of February instead of four months later,” said Wildlife Biologist Joe Rogerson. “Plus, the Division had additional cost savings by not having to print thousands of harvest record forms, possession tags and hide tags each year.”

The Division is continuing to collect data on chronic wasting disease (CWD) and biological harvest data, including antler measurements, weights, and ages. During the peak deer seasons, Division personnel will be stationed at deer processors statewide collecting this information.