Get used to it............It's California............And yes, it needs to be validated.......Here's a list of people who can do it.
.§708.6. Tag Validation, Countersigning and Transporting Requirements.
• (a) Any person legally killing a deer in this state shall have the deer license tag validated and countersigned by a person authorized by the commission as described below before transporting such deer, except for the purpose of taking the deer to the nearest person authorized to countersign the license tag, on the route being followed from the point where the deer was taken (refer to Fish and Game Code, Section 4341).
• (b) No person may validate or countersign his/her own deer tag or tag.
• (c) Deer and Elk Tags, Persons Authorized to Validate. ◦
(1) The following persons are authorized to validate or countersign deer and elk tags:
(A) State:
1. Fish and Game Commissioners
2. Employees of the Department of Fish and Game, including Certified Hunter Education Instructors
3. Employees of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
4. Supervising Plant Quarantine Inspectors
5. Junior, Intermediate and Senior Plant Quarantine Inspectors
(B) Federal:
1. Employees of the Bureau of Land Management
2. Employees of the United States Forest Service
3. Employees of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service
4. All Uniformed Personnel of the National Park Service
5. Commanding Officers of any United States military installation or their designated personnel for deer taken on their reservation.
6. Postmasters & Post Office Station or Branch Manager for deer brought to their post office.
(C) Miscellaneous:
1. County firemen at and above the class of foreman for deer brought into their station.
2. Judges or Justices of all state and United States courts.
3. Notaries Public
4. Peace Officers (salaried & non-salaried)
5. Officers authorized to administer oaths
6. Owners, corporate officers, managers or operators of lockers or cold storage plants for deer brought to their place of business.
