Bear, Deer, and Turkey Tag Validation & Checking Requirements

Validation of Bear, Deer, and Turkey Tags

  • All hunters (unless license exempt) killing a bear, deer, or turkey are required to validate an appropriate tag on their bear, deer, turkey license (big game license), bonus deer permit, or special permit (DCAP, DMAP, or DPOP) at the place of kill prior to moving the animal in any way. To validate a tag, successful hunters must completely remove the designated notch area from the appropriate license or permit tag.
  • DO NOT detach license or permit tags to attach to the animal. Validation only requires the removal of the designated notch area from the appropriate license or permit tag.
  • It shall be unlawful for any person to validate (notch) a bear, deer, or turkey tag from any license or special permit prior to the killing of an animal. A tag that is mistakenly validated (notched) prior to the killing of an animal must be immediately voided by the licensee or permittee by writing, in ink, the word "VOID" on the line provided on the tag.
  • Hunters killing an elk are required to validate an appropriate deer tag.
  1. Remove the designated notch area from the appropriate tag on license prior to moving the animal in any way. Do not remove the tag from your license.
  2. Check your animal by the appropriate method, whether by calling 1-866-468-4263, online, or taking it to a check station. Deer any method above. Spring turkey only by phone or Internet. Bear, elk and fall turkey only at a check station.
  3. Write the check card number or the confirmation number (from telephone or Internet checking) in ink on the license tag next to the notch.

Checking Bear, Deer, Elk,and Turkey

  • Bear, deer, elk, and turkey must be checked by all successful hunters, including license exempt hunters, upon vehicle transport of the carcass or at the conclusion of legal hunting hours, whichever occurs first and without unnecessary delay.
  • All deer must be checked at either a check station, or by using the telephone or Internet checking system.
  • All fall turkeys must be checked at a check station so that feather samples may be collected. Fall turkeys cannot be checked using the telephone or Internet.
  • All bears must be checked at an official bear check station. Bears cannot be checked using the telephone or Internet.
  • Elk must be checked at a check station. Elk cannot be checked using the telephone or Internet checking system.
  • All spring turkeys must be checked using the telephone or Internet. Spring turkeys cannot be checked at a check station. If the telephone sytem is unavailable then the hunter should register the bird using the Internet. If the Internet system is not available the hunter should call the Department's Customer Service Center at 1-866-721-6911 during business hours.
  • It is unlawful to destroy the identity (sex) of any bear, deer, elk, or turkey until it is checked. After an appropriate tag has been validated (notched), successful bear, deer, and elk hunters are allowed to dismember the carcass to pack it out from the place of kill as long as they do not destroy the identity of the sex and all the parts of the carcass (excluding internal organs) are present when the animal is checked.
  • Entries for the State Big Game Contest and for the Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show: Deer and turkey checked by telephone (1-866-468-4263) or Internet, with the proper confirmation number, are eligible to be entered in the Eastern or Western Regional State Big Game Contest or the Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show. To enter a turkey in a State/Regional Big Game Contest, successful hunters must weigh their birds on a certified scale and create a "Weight Certification" card (PDF).

Check Stations for Bear, Deer, Elk, and Fall Turkeys

  • Check station locations are listed on the Department's Web site or call a Department Office.
  • Hunters checking bear, deer, elk, and fall turkeys at a check station will be given a check card furnished by the Department. The successful hunter shall then immediately write the check card number in ink on the line labeled "check card or confirmation number" of the tag that was validated (notched) at the place of kill.
  • The check card must be kept in possession with the carcass until the carcass is processed.
  • If the carcass of an animal that was checked at a check station is left unattended, the check card must be securely attached to the carcass.
  • Hunters needing a copy of a lost check card should call the appropriate Department region office.
  • Black bears must be checked at an official black bear check station. Check station locations can be obtained online, or from any check station, Conservation Police Officer, or Department office. In counties without established bear check stations, successful hunters may transport their kill to a bear check station in an adjoining county or may have the bear checked by a Conservation Police Officer or Wildlife Division staff member. Department staff can be reached by calling (804) 367-1258 or the nearest Department office. It is mandatory for the successful bear hunter to remove or allow to be removed a pre-molar (tooth) from the carcass. This tooth shall be sealed in the envelope attached to the check card and left with the Check Station operator.

Telephone and Internet Checking for Deer and Spring Turkey

When using the telephone checking system:

  • Successful hunters can check their kill by calling a toll-free number, 1-866-GOT-GAME (468-4263).
  • Only touch-tone phones may be used (rotary phones will not work).

When using the Internet checking system:

  • Successful hunters can check their kill by going to the Department's Web site and clicking on Hunting, then under Links click Check Game Online.
  • Hunters have the option of printing a check card at the end of Internet checking sessions.
  • Only deer (except elk) and spring turkeys may be checked using the telephone or Internet checking system.
  • Before using either the telephone or Internet checking system, you will need your big game license, a pen and a piece of paper to record your confirmation number. If you are exempt from purchasing a big game license, you will need your driver's license number or the last four digits of your social security number.
  • Follow the instructions and provide the requested information.
  • You will be given a confirmation number at the end of the telephone or Internet session. Write it down. Licensed hunters must then immediately write this confirmation number, in ink, on the line labeled "check card or confirmation number" of the tag that was validated. When using the telephone or Internet checking system, be sure that the confirmation number is a letter followed by ten digits. If your telephone or Internet checking session is cut off or your confirmation number is not complete, start the session again and repeat steps until the complete confirmation number is obtained.
  • Bucks that have shed their antlers are considered antlerless deer and may be tagged with an antlerless only deer tag, but for the process of checking in these shed-antlered bucks on the telephone and Internet checking system, they should be checked in as an antlered deer with zero antler points. The telephone deer checking system will only accept antlered bucks with up to 29 antler points. If you kill a buck with more than 29 points and check in by telephone, just enter antler points as 29.
  • Hunters checking two deer on the same day may get the same confirmation number for both animals. This is okay.

Carcass Transferred or Unattended

  • If the kill is reported using the telephone or Internet checking system by a hunter who validated a tag, no personal check card is required as long as the hunter is in possession of the carcass; however, if the carcass is transferred to the possession of another individual or left unattended, a personal check card or Internet check card must be created and kept in possession with the carcass until the carcass is processed. If the carcass is left unattended, the personal check card or Internet check card must be securely attached to the carcass.
  • License-exempt hunters: If the kill is reported using the telephone or Internet checking system by a hunter who is license exempt (for example, a landowner who did not have a license tag to validate at the place of kill), the successful hunter must create a personal check card or print an Internet check card. The personal check card or Internet check card must be kept in possession with the carcass until the carcass is processed. If the carcass is left unattended, the personal check card or Internet check card must be securely attached to the carcass.

Personal Check Card

An animal reported using the telephone or Internet checking system will require the creation of a personal check card if:

  1. The hunter is license exempt.
  2. The carcass is transferred to someone else.
  3. The carcass is left unattended.

The personal check card may be written on any type of paper using a pen and must include the hunter's full name, date of kill and the telephone confirmation number. A check card printed from the Internet may be used in place of a personal check card.