The state Department of Environmental Protection this week announced new regulations changing the tagging and reporting procedures for deer and turkeys harvested in the upcoming season.

The new regulations are designed to make the purchase of deer and turkey permits more convenient for sportsmen, save money on the printing and distribution of permits and tags and improve harvest monitoring methods, the DEP said in a news release.

One of the most significant changes is that the DEP has done away with the Tyvek tags that used to come with deer and turkey hunting permits. Instead, hunters are now required to use newly-designed Kill Tags to record information about deer or turkeys they harvest. Copies of the new Kill Tags are on page 37 of the 2009 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide and are also available on the DEP Web site at www.ct.gov/dep/hunting.

When hunters harvest a deer or turkey, they must fill out a Kill Tag, sign it, and keep the Kill Tag with the animal until it is brought to a check station or is processed for consumption. When transporting a harvested deer or turkey, the tag does not have to be attached to the animal, but can be kept with the hunter. If the animal is left in the woods or at a vehicle, the Kill Tag must remain with the animal.

Also new this year, the number of days that deer must be brought to a check station has changed. Only deer taken during the first four days of the shotgun/rifle season (Nov. 18-21) must be brought to a check station. A listing of deer check stations is available on the DEP's Web site, at DEP offices, and at most licensing agents. At all other times, hunters are required to report their deer and turkey kills within 24 hours on the DEP Web site (www.ct.gov/dep/hunting) or by calling a toll-free number (877-337-4868). Hunters are no longer required to mail in a kill report card.