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Enjoying the outdoors will be easier than ever when the new Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Permitting System goes online Nov. 5 for 2008 permit sales.
Just click here to begin the simple purchase process.
With the new permitting system, permits may be purchased and printed out quickly from home using a personal computer and printer. That means Nebraskans may purchase at their own convenience and get out to their favorite state park or fishing hole faster than before.
The easy-to-navigate system will allow users to purchase, for themselves or others, multiple hunt and fish permits and stamps, and park entry permits. It also has clickable and printable maps, as well as useful links, including hunting regulations, park lodging, and NEBRASKAland Magazine.
“We’re quite excited about this new version of our electronic permit issuance system,” said Patrick Cole, administrator for the Commission’s Budget and Fiscal Division. “We were quite fortunate in 2000 to work with GreatLodge Inc. (now part of Outdoor Central), in the development of our first system. While that system served us well, and put us in the field as one of the first state fish and game agencies to offer permits for sale over the Web, we believe this next generation of electronic permitting will set a new standard.”
From start to finish, the system clearly details each step in the purchase process. There are two requirements to use the system: 1) Purchases must be made with a credit or debit card (Mastercard or VISA only); and 2) the user will have to print the permits through Adobe Reader. If not already on the computer, the free software may be loaded from the permitting system site before printing.
Purchasers should be careful to give an accurate last name, date of birth and final four digits of the Social Security Number for the person who will hold the permit. That information tracks the applicant’s preference points. Applicants should use their legal first name (William instead of Bill).
The existing permitting system will continue to sell 2007 small game, hunt, fish, big game, and park entry permits and annual stamps through the end of the year, and 2007 late season deer permits through mid-January.
On Nov. 5, the new permitting system will begin selling 2008 small game, hunt, fish, lifetime, and park entry permits, annual stamps and lifetime habitat stamps. The Lifetime Migratory Waterfowl Stamp will be offered beginning Jan. 1. Starting in January, permits sold during specific purchase periods – such as statewide buck – will be available. A transition page will be in place at the Commission’s Web site to direct users to the proper system, depending on the permit year that is to be purchased.
The new system’s home page offers seven permit options: Fishing, Hunting, Paddlefish, Park Entry, Big Game, Fur Harvest, and Stamps/Miscellaneous. Each option lists fees for many of the permits. Federal stamps will not be available.
“Since permits are neither refundable nor transferable, a great effort was made to incorporate rules behind the scenes to ensure individuals don’t accidentally purchase permits they are not eligible for or that they may already own,” Cole said.
Among the other benefits of the new permitting system are:
 the printed dimension of the small game permit has been reduced and may be trimmed and folded, making it a convenient billfold size;
by using the online “shopping cart,” users may purchase several permits, for more than one person, with one transaction; and
users may view maps and descriptions of big game management units before they select one for purchase.
“As most avid hunters know, we have a wide array of hunting units to ensure our big game species populations are managed optimally,” Cole said. “This wide array of units sometimes produces some confusion on boundaries, thus there are special unit maps that are expandable on the unit selection page. These expandable maps will give the hunter a better idea of the unit location he/she is selecting. Also, the unit maps will print out with their permit.”
Those born on or after Jan. 1, 1977 should include an accurate Firearm Hunter Education or Bowhunter Education identification number. The absence of these numbers will not prevent purchase of permits, but the applicant will be reminded that the courses must be completed before he may hunt.
To purchase landowner permits, an accurate legal description of the property owned or leased must be provided. Use of parcel ID numbers no longer will be accepted. Once entered, the legal description information will remain with the landowner throughout his or her future purchases. Only when land is added or deleted will the landowner need to make an adjustment.
Veteran and senior annual hunt-fish combination permits may be renewed online and lifetime permits will be available for direct purchase online.
“While we are not initially requiring it, we are strongly encouraging online users to provide an e-mail address,” Cole said. “That will allow us to contact permit holders directly in the future to get input on proposed license and/or wildlife regulation changes, provide for a more economical method for conducting harvest surveys, and, eventually, a method for notifying and delivering successful draw permits.”
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