Tagged and Tracked: Going Digital with Harvest Reporting & eTagging

Harvest Reporting & Tagging

Harvest reporting and tagging are the foundation of effective wildlife management. When hunters and anglers submit harvest reports, they provide critical biological data that helps biologists monitor population trends and make informed decisions for future seasons.

Tagging connects each harvest to a specific permit. A tag must be validated or “notched” immediately after the animal is taken and affixed before transport. This step enables field verification that the harvest is lawful and within the hunter’s authorized limit. This system of accurate, validated reporting provides a feedback loop between hunters and agencies.

Paper Limitations

Permit tags are printed on special durable stock paper that is weather-proof and water-proof. This paper creates sourcing, printing, and distribution challenges such as replacing lost or damaged tags, ensuring license agents are properly equipped, and mailing waits.

Post-activity online harvest reporting provides a step forward, but paper tags in the field leave compliance gaps and delays in data collection. When a participant is allowed to wait to submit their harvest report until they are out of the woods or water, the accuracy of the data declines such as not sharing the exact location of the harvest, or not remembering the exact data points to enter.

Going Digital

Wildlife agencies are modernizing their harvest documentation programs to strengthen real-time data collection and simplify compliance by going digital with electronic harvest reporting and etagging.

1. Hunters record their harvest digitally, directly on a mobile device (even without cellular service), before transporting the carcass.
2. The submission of the harvest report electronically “notches” a tag in their mobile app, displaying an Authorization Number that the hunter must display on the carcass.
3. This Authorization Number is connected to the customer’s profile in the system for Law Enforcement to validate in the field via their private law enforcement mobile app.

This process provides real-time reporting for agencies, instant validation for enforcement officers, and eliminates the challenges of paper tags.

Evolution of Harvest Reporting & eTagging

Tag State Agencies

Since 2016, 18 states have implemented eTagging, 9 of which are powered by Brandt. Agencies are taking varied approaches to implementing eTagging:

• Limited Species Pilots: Texas and Idaho rolled out eTagging for specific species before considering broader expansion.
• Optional eTagging: Kansas and Oregon give hunters the choice between paper tags and digital options.
• Full Transition: Virginia requires digital validation for all applicable harvests and etags with no paper option.

Notable state agency transitions include:

• Georgia (2016): First eTagging program requiring immediate record/reporting via app.
• Florida (2019): Required logging before moving game, with app and web support.
• Oregon (2019): MyODFW app expanded eTagging to both fish and game.
• Virginia (2021): Implemented digital-only game checks via Go Outdoors VA.
• Texas (2022): Launched a pilot digital eTagging for deer, turkey, and red drum, with plans for expansion.
• Kansas (2022): Launched digital game check and e-tagging with the launch of Go Outdoors Kansas.
• North Carolina (2023): Launched digital big game harvest report cards with the launch of Go Outdoors North Carolina.
• Idaho (2024): E-tagging rolled out for salmon & steelhead (species-limited).
• Michigan (2025): Launched eHarvest electronic tag for spring turkey season.

High Customer Adoption

• In Oregon, over half of hunters adopted electronic tagging within two years of its launch. In 2024, 94% of customers purchasing Salmon/Steelhead tags online opted for the e-tag fulfillment.
• Texas exceeded adoption projections by 50% during its pilot program, selling over 120,000 digital licenses in its first year.
• In Idaho, 94% of customers buying salmon or steelhead tags online opted for eTags.
• Kansas: 65% of customers purchasing online chose eTag fulfillment

Why Shift Now

• Customer Expectations: Hunters and anglers today expect mobile-first convenience. They want offline access in the field, faster validation, and digital tools that mirror the rest of their connected lives.
• Agency Pressures: Rising costs, the need for better data, and the push for operational efficiency make digital-first solutions necessary.
• Legislative Movement: States across the country are enacting laws that enable or mandate eTagging. Recent adopters include South Dakota, Utah, and New York, with Colorado preparing to join. Federal adoption of digital duck stamps reinforces that this is not a trend, it is the new standard.

Transformation Challenges

State agencies face hurdles on the path to adoption:

• Agency Culture & Readiness: Legislative changes, staff training, and public outreach are all critical.
• Technology Requirements: Agencies need platforms designed for flexibility — supporting both paper and digital fulfillment, mobile-first access with offline capability, and robust enforcement tools.
• Customer Hesitation: Some users, especially older generations or those resistant to change, remain attached to the tradition of paper tags. Overcoming this requires thoughtful education, trust-building, and consistent communications.

Brandt has seen how states have successfully moved from paper and post-harvest reporting to digital e-tagging. We have been a part of the operational and cultural adjustments this change requires. These challenges may be overcome with internal agency support and the right rollout approach for your agency such as a pilot program (one species trial) or multi-year phased transition (first year digital is optional, then it is mandated).

Digital Benefits

Agencies strengthen compliance and biological data collection, and hunters gain trust in the system.

• Improved Biological Data: Real-time reporting drives higher compliance and more accurate insights, enabling better species and quota management.
• Law Enforcement Support: Digital systems provide officers with instant validation tools, reducing the enforcement burden and ensuring accuracy in the field. No more “I lost my tag” excuses.
• Customer Satisfaction: Hunters enjoy fast access, no more tag delivery wait times, and a streamlined experience that makes participation easier and often more affordable. No more last-minute reprint emergencies.

Role of Mobile Applications

Mobile apps are central to successful digital harvest reporting and eTagging. Before your agency can consider going digital, you must have a reliable public mobile app that includes offline mode, and a private law enforcement mobile app with customer syncing. The mobile apps: 

• Enable instant compliance, requiring tagging before a carcass is moved.
• Provide a seamless experience with offline mode in remote areas, syncing when service returns.
• Integrate with licenses and customer accounts allows seamless data sharing.
• Offer advanced features, such as photo capture, location tracking, and push notifications, further improve compliance and enforcement

The Future of Harvest Reporting

The shift to eTagging represents more than a change in technology. It reimagines how agencies, hunters, and enforcement officers interact in the field. The challenges are real, and the benefits are greater: cost savings, compliance, better data, and customer satisfaction.

While cultural traditions and legislative processes may slow adoption in some regions, the momentum is irreversible. With flexible rollouts, from hybrid models to species-specific pilots, agencies can take the path that best fits their readiness and customer base.

Brandt is setting the standard for innovation and partnership. Together with our state agencies, we’re ensuring harvest reporting is tagged, tracked, and built for the future.