The hunting licensing program will receive major upgrades, following a commitment to create an online service that will be flexible, convenient, user-friendly and fit for the 21st century, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson said last week.
A key feature of the upgrade will be an electronic service, which hunters will be able to access 24 hours a day, seven days a week to purchase their hunting licences and apply for Limited Entry Hunting (LEH) opportunities. Currently, licences and LEH applications can only be purchased from Service BC offices or licensed vendors, many of which are not available over the weekend or non-business hours.
The new electronic licensing service will provide resident hunters with easier access to hunter services, increasing participation, and guide outfitters’ in-camp clients will be able to obtain licences without waiting for a vendor to open or travel to a vendor location.
The system will also help the Province meet important resource management objectives to ensure the health and sustainability of wildlife populations. The electronic system will create a single point of reference for data collection, including compulsory inspection information, guide outfitter hunter reports and resident hunter harvest information.
The ministry is targeting the 2015-16 hunting season to have the new service in place.
The Province invites bids to design the upgrade, and those wishing to submit a proposal can visit: www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca (Click “Browse”, then choose “by organization”, click “Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations” then select “Document No ITP-011 Consultants: IT Systems Transformation”.)
The deadline is 2 p.m. Aug. 20, 2013.