Hunters and anglers will be able to carry most of the necessary licensing paperwork on their mobile devices in 2017 if the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission goes through with the expected approval of its new computerized electronic licensing plan at its January Commission meeting.
Tony Davis, chief of the AGFCs Internet Technology Division, said the plan is in the 30-day public comment phase and will be voted on by the seven-member Commission at the next monthly meeting. If approved, the electronic licensing program would be rolled out April 1.
It will allow hunters and anglers the opportunity to obtain licenses on mobile devices and store PDFs of the licenses. The saved files will suffice as proof a hunter or fishermen is properly licensed. All necessary paperwork, with the exception of deer tags and turkey tags, can be carried electronically without having to have the actual paperwork on their person. The Hunter Education card, Boating Education card, HIP registration, state duck stamp and Sweet 16 WMA hunting registration will be available. Also duck, squirrel and other game hunting that doesnt require the paper tags and everything needed for legal hunting can be accessed by phone. The federal duck stamp purchases will still require a physical stamp. Purchasers can buy the stamp along with the state paperwork and still have 45 days before they must have the physical stamp on their person.
Tony Davis says Game and Fish are trying to make it easier to sell licenses and to get more hunters into the woods and anglers on the water. Outside vendors, such as Walmart stores, will still be available for hunters and anglers to purchase licenses. The information will be logged into the AGFCs website and paperwork will be printed at the vendor location, while still available on a mobile device. The AGFC will send out a new package of vendor applications and train the vendors in the new system’s operation after the new plan is approved.
For more information go to http://www.agfc.com.
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