I got my annual "lifetime licenses" from our NY Excelsior DEC. For the first time in 51 years, I will not carry a backtag to let any Tom, Dick and Henrietta know that I have my "credentials". Sorry I am old school and was shocked when there was no "back tag" included in the papers. Yeah, experience has proven those paper tags will not handle NY hunting weather! Gosh , the plasticized tags were bad, the paper ones gotta go deep in the ear to survive even the most careful transport.

And to add insult, do you know how big turkey ears are? Jus' askin' for the innocent folk.....RANT COMPLETE!

You must only hunt the southern zone of NY ? Back tag was/is not required in the northern zone.

Pretty sure they eliminated the back tag requirement everywhere, and you print out your license on your own printer.....crap paper, runny ink, what could go wrong?

I have every back tag since I started hunting stapled on shop wall , now I gotta start putting paper up there. Times they are a changin. Bob Dillon was right.

Print off as many as you like...

I have hunted both South and North since I went to college. Grew up on a dairy farm in Theresa, Jefferson County above Watertown. That will always be home. I bought the swamp ground below the farm and use it for gathering my groceries. My work was in Western NY and I always left the tag on the coat. Been doing it for almost 50 years. Old dogs learn new tricks S..L..O..W..L..Y..

Why not just go digital? Have a grace period to register your game in case you're in a spot that doesn't get reception.