The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s long-awaited switch to a computerized licensing system has brought a lot of changes to the process of buying hunting and trapping licenses, something hunters will notice when 2009-10 tags go on sale Monday.
That starting date itself represents a noticeable change from the traditional July 1 date for new licenses to go on sale. Not only will general licenses go on sale more than two weeks earlier this year, but the starting date to submit applications for antlerless deer licenses will be three weeks earlier than usual – July 13 for residents and July 27 for nonresidents.
“But, that isn’t the only part of the application process for antlerless licenses that has changed this year,” game commission Executive Director Carl Roe said in a press release. “In fact, the entire process has changed dramatically since last year. Besides the early start, an antlerless license application will be printed with every general license purchased, and an application also will be available in the Hunting and Trapping Digest. You may apply for a doe license with either.”
Under the new process, any Pennsylvania county treasurer can now issue an antlerless deer license for any Wildlife Management Unit, so long as the WMU’s allocation isn’t sold out.
Hunters will no longer deal with WMU stickers and post office box numbers.
“The yellow envelopes are history, and pink is back,” Roe said. “Hunters also will list their first, second and third WMU preferences for doe licenses on their applications. Treasurers will fill the highest WMU preference listed by the hunter. This will eliminate reapplication for a doe license if your first WMU preference – or second – is sold out.”
Hunters will find more than dates different when they step up to the counter to get a license. The new Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS) uses a scan of the buyer’s driver’s license instead of a paper application, which the agency said will provide a more secure, reliable and accurate means to gather and store license holder records.
“For all these reasons – and more – the game commission has eliminated paper applications,” Roe said. “Nonresidents who have always submitted a paper application will need to use PALS either on the agency’s Web site or at an issuing agent. It’s fast, easy and secure.”
Roe said that all license-issuing agents are now part of an integrated, real-time, cyber network that allows them to offer licenses that up until now, simply could not be provided via the old license system.
“Now all license agents can issue senior lifetime licenses; elk and bobcat drawing applications; even resident landowner reduced-fee hunting licenses and Deer Management Assistance Program Harvest (DMAP) permits,” Roe said. “And, rather than having to wait until Jan. 1 to apply for the special spring gobbler licenses, which allow you to harvest a second spring gobbler, you can take care of this when you purchase your general hunting license and won’t have to wait for it in the mail anymore.”
He said the system is also set up to handle the new Mentored Youth Hunter Permits, which are now required for youth younger than 12.
Although the costs of licenses haven’t changed, the overall expense of acquiring one has. Buyers will not have to pay a 70-cent transaction fee for each license and permit, which is paid directly to Automated License Systems, the Tennessee-based company that runs PALS. It is the same fee already applied to fishing licenses, which also are sold through a PALS system.
The extra fee will not be the only similarity to fishing licenses that buyers will see. The new tags will be on a yellow strip, as fishing licenses are now, and are designed to fold into a 21/2 by
31/2-inch document that will fit in current licenses holders as well as smaller versions.
Finally, the new system will allow the game commission to make it more convenient for hunters to report harvesting deer and turkeys.
“A hard-copy of the postage-paid report card will still be available in your Hunting and Trapping Digest, but the agency is hoping hunters will report online to save on the cost of postage and data entry,” Roe said. “Reporting online also will ensure your harvest data will not be lost in the mail.”
