09-25-2004, 02:27 AM
Scheels Sports in Bismarck is now set up to sell hunting and fishing licenses through an internet-based licensing system that ties directly into the State Game and Fish Department, according to Paul Schadewald, chief of administrative services.
"This type of licensing system creates records that are sent directly into the department's data base," Schadewald said, "so it is basically just like buying a license as if you walked into our office, or from our web page."
Which means, along with selling all other non-lottery hunting and fishing licenses, Scheels in Bismarck can now sell licenses to nonresident waterfowl hunters. "For the past two years nonresident waterfowl licenses were sold only through the game and fish department," Schadewald said. "This system allows the sale of nonresident waterfowl licenses because we still have a current record of sales."
Bismarck Scheels will be used as a test site this year, Schadewald said, just to make sure everything is working right. "There are a number of advantages to this system," Schadewald added, "and if there are no major problems, internet licensing is likely to expand to other sites next year."
Along with the advantage of having another place to buy a nonresident waterfowl license, internet-based licensing systems can reprint a lost license, at no charge, for hunters and anglers who purchased a license through the department's website. "That is one of the big advantages of buying an electronic license," Schadewald said. "Otherwise, those buying a handwritten license will have to pay a fee to receive a duplicate license."
Another benefit of internet licensing is the ability to purchase licenses that often are not available elsewhere, such as sandhill crane, nongame, and deer and pronghorn bow. "It gives the hunter more options," Schadewald said.
The Scheels store in Fargo and the Cass County auditor are also interested in internet-based licensing, Schadewald mentioned, and are likely to start using the same system as well.
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"This type of licensing system creates records that are sent directly into the department's data base," Schadewald said, "so it is basically just like buying a license as if you walked into our office, or from our web page."
Which means, along with selling all other non-lottery hunting and fishing licenses, Scheels in Bismarck can now sell licenses to nonresident waterfowl hunters. "For the past two years nonresident waterfowl licenses were sold only through the game and fish department," Schadewald said. "This system allows the sale of nonresident waterfowl licenses because we still have a current record of sales."
Bismarck Scheels will be used as a test site this year, Schadewald said, just to make sure everything is working right. "There are a number of advantages to this system," Schadewald added, "and if there are no major problems, internet licensing is likely to expand to other sites next year."
Along with the advantage of having another place to buy a nonresident waterfowl license, internet-based licensing systems can reprint a lost license, at no charge, for hunters and anglers who purchased a license through the department's website. "That is one of the big advantages of buying an electronic license," Schadewald said. "Otherwise, those buying a handwritten license will have to pay a fee to receive a duplicate license."
Another benefit of internet licensing is the ability to purchase licenses that often are not available elsewhere, such as sandhill crane, nongame, and deer and pronghorn bow. "It gives the hunter more options," Schadewald said.
The Scheels store in Fargo and the Cass County auditor are also interested in internet-based licensing, Schadewald mentioned, and are likely to start using the same system as well.
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