Since our story first aired last week on CBS 21 News, I've received a few inquiries about the new way the Pennsylvania Game Commission is issuing hunting licenses.
I recently bought mine, and had a very positive experience with the electronic transaction.
Below, I've posted some examples of the new 2009-2010 licenses, so you'll know what to expect when you buy yours.
I've also got pictures of the new Antlerless Deer (doe) License Application and envelope, which has also changed.
Hope this helps...
This is what your 2009-2010 PA Resident General Hunting License now looks like (actual size). This sample license was provided by the PA Game Commission, and is not a valid license:
Besides the smaller size of the license, which is now the same size as a PA fishing license, you'll notice a another key detail:
-- There is a CID (Customer Identification) number, above your name. From what I understand, this will now be your permanent number, whenever you get a new PA hunting or fishing license from now on, for the rest of your life. While it is a convenient way to identify you, and will replace the need to provide your social security number each time you buy a new license, it does take some of the fun out of the licensing process. I always enjoyed comparing license numbers with fellow hunters. You could usually tell who'd bought their license the earliest or latest, and where, by looking at the back tag number.
-- Privileges: Will indicate whether you are a hunter, trapper/furtaker, or both.
These are examples of the new "ear tags," which replace the former tear-off tags on your old licenses:
A few things to note here:
-- The tags, which are now the same size as your hunting license, have two holes in them to accomodate a string.
-- They are made of a durable, plastic material that won't soak with blood, and should hold up on a long drag across the forest floor.
-- They are also pre-printed with your back tag and address already on it, so you only have to fill in the WMU (Wildlife Management Unit) in which you were hunting, the County, the Township, date, and time.
-- Each tag features a small silhouette image of the game animal in the upper left corner.
This is a sample of the Additional Priviliges Tag, which you will receive if you buy an Archery, Bear, or Muzzleloader license:
-- The basic thing to note about this, is that it eliminates the need to put all the stamps on your license at the store, which can be time consuming. Also, I have been frustrated in the past, when a store ran out of Archery stickers, and I had to go to another store to have it added to my license. This single license format ensures that will never happen again.
This is the one everybody seems to be talking about... The new Antlerless (Doe) License Application:
A few notes:
-- The application looks just like all of the other licenses, so don't get it confused. It says "ANTLERLESS DEER APPLICATION" at the top.
-- Filling this thing out is a little different than before;
* You'll notice that the price of a doe tag has gone up to $6.70, from the previous cost of $6.00. The extra $.70 is actually a transaction fee that goes to the license vendor, not the PA Game Commission.
* You now have the option of writing in your "Top 3" preferred WMU's. This way, if your first-choice of WMU is sold out, the County Treasurer will check to see if your second, or third choice is available. This should eliminate the disappointment of getting that rejection notice in the mail, when its already too late to apply for another WMU.
*You will now also be able to send your application to any County Treasurer across the state for processing. Before, you had to tear off the little address tag from the yellow envelope, and send it to the County Treasurer who covered your particular WMU. Starting this year, every County Treasurer will be able to issue a doe license for any WMU across the state.
* The envelopes in which you will send your doe applications are now pink.
-- Besides the obvious color change, there are a few more things you'll need to know about the new doe license application envelopes:
* County Treasurers will now begin accpting doe license applications on July 13, 2009. This is roughly three weeks earlier than recent years past, so don't wait too long to buy your license!
*Since the tear-off address tags have been eliminated, you will need to find the address for the County Treasurer you wish to use, on Page 48 of the 2009-2010 PA Hunting and Trapping Digest (below):
So, what's next?
The controversy I forsee with this new process is that there is no guarantee that the County Treasurer you choose will act promptly to process your application. My fear is that one Treasurer's offices may make doe license applications less of a prioroty than others, which could leave you without a tag. Or, even if a Treasurer does make it a top priority, they could be flooded with applications, which could put yours at the bottom of a tall pile, lessening your chances of getting into the WMU you hoped for. We'll have to see.
My Experience...
I bought my 2009-2010 PA Hunting license on Monday, June 15th, the first day they went on sale. I was the first person to buy a license at the K-Mart where I made the purchase, and there was a little bit of confusion by the cashier at the sporting goods register. However, after a few deep breaths, she managed to get the process going.
First, she asked for my driver's license, which I provided.
Second, she asked for my social security number. Hmmm... Knowing the controversy with this particular topic, I decided to test the waters. As explained earlier, I was under the impression that once I had purchased a PA Fishing or Hunting license in the past, I would no longer need to give my social security number atthe register. I would only need to provide my CID (Customer Identifcation) number.
Since I purchased my 2009 PA Fishing License online this year, I had already been issued a CID.
I told this to the cashier, and showed her the CID on my fishing license. To my disappointment, said she didn't know what I was talking about. After a few seconds, I made the decision that getting my new license was more important than arguing, and I just gave her my SSN.
Next, the cashier began punching numbers into a small keypad, on what looks similar to a credit card machine. Along the way, she asked me questions, like "Do you want an archery license, etc."
With each response, she punched another button.
At the end of it all, after buying my general hunting license, archery tag, muzzleloader tag, migratory game bird tag, etc... she hit "Print," and a long strip of yellow plastic-paper came spitting out of the machine.
The price tag?... $74.50 for everything I needed at this point. Keep in mind, there is that $0.70 processing fee for each license, which will add a few bucks to the tab, if you buy as many supplemental and doe tags as I do!
It was my first realization that while these new tags would still fit in my old hunting license carriers, I could definitley get by with one of those smaller, clear, plastic fishing license protectors. So, I bought one for $1.25.
Overall, I was pleased with the experience.
While I will miss the old tags, which I have proudly displayed on my back since age 12, there is a benefit to this new technology, and I support it.
Any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them on this blog, or email me at mikeparker@cbs21.com
Good Luck Hunting!
Until next time,
-- Mike
