The provincial government launched a new online portal this week that makes it easy for the province’s over 100,000 resident hunters to access a range of e-services.
Services that include hunting licences and applications for limited entry hunting (LEH) draws, according to Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson.
The B.C. hunting portal gives hunters instant access to apply for their resident hunting credentials and the new Fish and Wildlife ID, which replaces the old hunter identification number, says a release. Meanwhile, the new online system offers interactive maps and a simple interface that instantly gives hunters information on upcoming hunting opportunities across the province. With the move online, the Province is no longer issuing paper LEH applications and will not accept paper LEH applications after 2016.
Hunters without Internet access can still visit any Service BC, FrontCounter BC or authorized vendor to apply in person.
Over time, the province will add other e-services like licences, compulsory reporting forms, guide licences and reporting, and applications to accompany a non-resident hunter.
“The launch of the new B.C. hunting portal is the first step in creating a full-service online system for hunters,” Thomson says. “The website is home base for a growing range of services that are easy to apply for and delivered faster and more conveniently than ever before.”
Jim Glaicar, president of the BC Wildlife Federation says this system simplifies the registration process and gets rid of “cumbersome” paperwork.
“Now, hunters can find in a few clicks the information they want without wading through pages and pages of material,” Glaicar says.
The government says moving hunting services online acts on government’s commitment to reduce red tape for British Columbians and is part of the transformation of government’s natural resource services under the natural resource permitting project, as well as following up on a commitment that Thomson made in 2013. The new provincial hunting portal is located at gov.bc.ca/hunting