I have the biggest challenge complying with the tag requirements. I wrote on the tag with a ball point pen and by the time I got it back to camp it had smeared. Anybody have a secret way to handle this?

I use a fine print permanent marker

Yep, plus they work better in cold weather.

Permanent markers, especially the fine points, dry out so quick, you'd have to buy a new one at the beginning of every season. The cheapest ball points don't smear that easy, like the kind they give away. You can't use the nice gel ones on tags; they smear if you look at them wrong.

Yep, Sharpie.

Sharpy and then into a zip-lock bag then zip tie onto deer.

+1 on the cheap ballpoint.

Thankya. Thankyaverymuch.

Sharpie. Buy a new one every September for my backpack, much cheaper than a fine.

another vote for the cheap ones.

Yes you are spot on. But I keep mine in a ziploc bag with a few drops of water. Zip it shut and it doesn't dry out a bit. The ball points just gum up and won't write on tags because of the coating.

I keep plastic sandwich bags in my cleaning kit. I fill out the tag and drop in the bag then electrical tape the bag/tag to the leg or antler. Never have any issues and GW can read tag without removing it.

I like this idea. I keep bags at the trailer.

Tags what is this tags you speak of.

Great idea.

I fill mine out at camp. Then head to stand and look for that type of deer. Saves time, plus makes hunting more fun.

That does sound fun!

Word to the wise make sure you always tag in the field. Failure to tag in the field is a ticket that is not fun. It will ruin your hunt.

No wait. Maybe I haven't killed a deer since 1995 unless it was hung in a fence. .

I rely on leaving multiple cheap pens and fine tip sharpies scattered throughout my truck and gear. It is organized chaos.

Box of gloves and gallon size bags in the toolbox help too.

Been using the cheap ballpoint for 20 years and never had a problem.

I use pencil or gel pen so I can reuse the tag.

Have you ever tried to fill out a Texas deer tag at night (lots of bucks are killed just before dark), when it'd cold out.
First you need a pen that will work without smearing, then you need a small pair of scissors or a small knife to cut out the date information, by the way if you are over 40 you probably need reading glasses, so make sure you bring them with you, then you need a zip tie or string and that is if you can find the darn hole in the tag that it's suppose to go thru.
And if your lucky enough to get all that accomplished in the dark, while holding your flashlight in one hand or using a small hat light, then you can fill out your log information with the same non-smearing pen.
All this at night, in the field because you are not suppose to transport your deer anywhere until it is legally and properly tagged.
Usually you do this after you have already gutted your deer so your hands are all bloody and/or cold.

Ya sure gotta think as smart as the TPWD is they could think of a more user friendly tagging system, wouldn't ya.