MDC’s new e-Permits begin today

MDC Director Bob Ziehmer was among the first to purchase a 2011 Resident Hunting and Fishing permit using the MDC’s new e-Permits system.

E-Permits will enable hunters, anglers and trappers to buy, print and immediately use permits.

JEFFERSON CITY Mo – Beginning today (March 1), the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) new e-Permits system will enable Missouri hunters, anglers and trappers to purchase, print and immediately use most permits.

All sport-fishing and sport-hunting permits will be available through e-Permits, along with trapping permits and the Apprentice Hunter Authorization. Commercial permits and lifetime permits will continue to be sold through MDC’s Central Office by calling 573-751-4115.

Hunters, anglers and trappers will be able to buy permits online and print them 24/7 anywhere they have access to a computer and printer. They can still buy permits from vendors, and by phone by calling toll-free 1-800-392-4115. Phone purchases are subject to a $2 convenience fee, while the fee for online permit purchases is $1.

They also can save e-Permits on their computer and print extra copies of permits in case one is lost or ruined. As always, permits may not be shared, and additional copies of a permit do not provide additional valid permits for the buyer or others to use.

Missourians have been able to buy permits online since 2002. However, under the old online system, buyers received only confirmation at the time of purchase. They used this confirmation while waiting to receive the actual permits through the mail, which could take up to two weeks. This was no help to turkey and deer hunters, who need actual permits to tag game. With e-Permits, turkey and deer hunters will be able to buy permits, print them and have valid permits immediately.

Deer and turkey tagging procedures will change with the change to e-Permits. The main difference is that permits no longer will include a removable transportation tag. Instead, the permit itself will be the transportation tag. Deer and turkey permits will have months printed along one edge and dates on another edge. Hunters will notch the month and day as part of recording their harvested game and attach the permit to the animal. They will continue to check harvested animals through the Telecheck system.

E-Permits will not be printed on adhesive-backed material, so hunters will need to provide a means of attaching them to harvested game. Hunters are encouraged to put e-Permits inside zipper-type sandwich bags and attach them to deer or turkeys with string, twist-ties, wire, plastic cable ties or tape.

“Our change to e-Permits will also reduce costs as we phase out software, hardware and special permit material used in the old Point-of-Sale permit system,” said MDC Director Bob Ziehmer. “When fully implemented, e-Permits will reduce the cost of issuing permits by approximately $500,000 annually.”

For more information on e-Permits and how to buy them, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/epermits.

-- Joe Jerek –

Missouri Public Land Hunting