Anglers and Divers Can Now Report Harvest Results Online

Anglers and divers can now go online to more easily submit their abalone, lobster, salmon, steelhead and sturgeon report cards required by the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). These report cards provide important harvest data critical to helping fishery scientists better manage these fishing programs.

Reporting requirements for anglers and divers have not changed, but this online submission option makes the reporting faster and easier. By providing harvest details more quickly, fisheries managers can more promptly put the information to use.

Standard mail reporting is still available and can be done through the address printed on the report card.

To report online, just go to CDFW’s Online License Service (www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/ols/) page and search for your profile by entering your last name, date of birth and ID Number, which can be a driver’s license number, a GO ID or other form of identification. When the system finds an exact match, it automatically logs the user on to their profile, where he or she can purchase a license or complete a harvest report card.

Confirmation numbers will be provided to those who report online, so there will be no need to mail in the report card. Write the number on the report card and retain it for 90 days for survey purposes. Once a report card has been reported, it is no longer valid.

Please note: The law requires sport fishing report cards be submitted by January 31 even if divers and angers were unsuccessful or did not fish at all. Please refer to your report card for specific reporting requirements. For additional information on harvest reporting requirements, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/harvestreporting/.

Details on specific species and reporting availability online are listed below.

Requirements for online reporting
Complete data is required and must be completed within 20 minutes to avoid a system time out.

Sport fishing report cards may be reported online only after the last day of the report card’s validity. All entries on the report card must be entered onto the electronic form, including activity where no catches were made.

Reporting Availability – You may submit your information online for items below beginning on the specified date. Only the data from 2012 report cards and beyond may be submitted online.

Dec. 1, 2012
Abalone Report Card

Jan. 1, 2013
North Coast Salmon Report Card
Spiny Lobster Report Card
Steelhead Report Card
Sturgeon Fishing Report Card

Fishing harvest and effort data is essential to help scientists better manage these fisheries, which is why anglers are required by regulation to submit sport fishing report cards in a timely manner.

Contacts:
Glenn Underwood, License Program Analyst, (916) 928-6882
Carrie Wilson, Environmental Scientist, (831) 649-7191

DFG Online Licensing Increases Big Game Draw Applications

Media Contacts:
Joe Hobbs, DFG Wildlife Branch, (916) 445-9992
Andrew Hughan, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8944

California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) licensing automation made it easier for big game hunters to apply for prized tags this year. The new Automated License Data System (ALDS) is credited for a surge in the number of applicants for the highly anticipated Big Game Draw. Total applications were up 10 percent on average for antelope, deer and sheep, with elk applications up 13 percent over last year.

Only a limited number of tags are issued annually for each species. In previous years, hunters had to drop off their applications at DFG offices, sometimes having to brave long lines of last-minute applicants. This year, walk-in traffic was light as most hunters purchased their applications on the Internet or at a license agent.

New this year was the opportunity for hunters to purchase as many chances as they liked (at $5.40 each) to win a rare Owens Valley elk tag and an open zone deer tag.

The Owens Valley elk tag raised $60,120 and the open zone deer tag raised $77,585. The money raised by these tags goes into the newly implemented Big Game Management Account (BGMA).

Senate Bill 1058 (Harman) made specific and important changes to existing law regarding revenues from the sale of antelope, elk, deer, wild pig, bear and sheep tags, including any fund-raising tags. Revenue from these sales must be deposited into the BGMA to provide separate accountability for the receipt and expenditure of these funds. The law stipulates the permitted uses for these funds, including acquiring land, completing projects, implementing programs to benefit antelope, elk, deer, wild pigs, bear and sheep, and expanding public hunting opportunities and related public outreach.

 Typically these two tags would be auctioned off by nonprofit organizations, which generate approximately $25,000.

 Applications for the 2011 Big Game Draw closed June 2, 2011.

Check Station Operations to Change for 2011-2012 Waterfowl Hunting Season

Media Contacts:
Glenn Underwood, DFG License and Revenue Branch, (916) 928-5841
Brad Burkholder, DFG Wildlife Branch, (916) 445-1829
Kyle Orr, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8958

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) advises hunters to plan ahead during the upcoming 2011-2012 waterfowl season inCalifornia. Check stations at Type A Wildlife Areas will no longer sell passes or any license items on-site. Hunters will need to make all such purchases in advance.

One-day passes, which were formerly available only at waterfowl check stations, as well as two-day and season passes and stamps, must be purchased from DFG license agents or license sales offices through DFG’s new Automated License Data System (ALDS) prior to the shoot day. Daily hunting permits will not be issued at Type A Wildlife Areas without proof of a pre-paid one-day, two-day or season pass for the 2011-2012 waterfowl check station. Type B Wildlife Areas will still require proof of a season pass for issuance of a daily hunting permit.

Through ALDS, licenses, stamps, permits and passes are printed instantly at DFG license sales offices and approximately 1,500 license agent locations. The first time a customer purchases a license via ALDS their customer information and hunter education certification is stored in the ALDS database, making future transactions quicker and easier.   

Hunters and anglers may now conveniently purchase most license items online at www.dfg.ca.gov/OnlineSales.

 To purchase a hunting license online, proof of completion of a hunter education course must be on file with DFG. If proof of hunter education is not on file, the purchaser must present proof in person at a license agent or DFG license sales office prior to purchasing a hunting license.

The 2011-2012 waterfowl hunting season will open in October. To find a license agent near you, to purchase items online, or for more information on ALDS, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing. For more information on licenses, stamps, reservations and passes for waterfowl hunting, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/waterfowl/.