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Sun to set on traditional game check stations in 2014

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The upcoming big game and trapping season in West Virginia will be the last one in which West Virginia sportsmen will be required to check in their deer, bear, turkey, and trapped critters at a traditional check-in station across West Virginia.  The signs in the windows of country stores in all corners of the state were beacons which welcomed hunters for decades. But time and technology march on and things change.

“Next year on April 1, 2015 will be our go-live date for our electronic checking system,” said Chris Ryan with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. “That will be the date when hunters and trappers can start using the phone and Internet or go to any of the 200 license agents in the state and check their animal also.”

The electronic checking system is one many have long anticipated in West Virginia.  Many other states have already implemented the system, but because of the high cost West Virginia hasn’t been as been slow to change.

The system was developed by JMT Corporation of Maryland. The company designed Maryland’s electronic checking system and won the contract to develop West Virginia’s system.

The system will go on line January 1. The most critical thing for hunters to use the system will be a new hunter identification number.  The number is assigned to each license holder for life and must be used to check an animal, but you’ll have to get it from the DNR.

“If you’re one of the 130,000 sportsmen who buy an annual license, it will be on the upper left hand corner of your license,” said Ryan.

Provisions are also made for getting your assigned number if you hold a lifetime license or if you’re one of those who doesn’t need a license like a landowner.  Even if you’re not required to have a license, you’ll still need the ID number to use the electronic check system.

Once hunters get their ID number, they’ll be able to check their deer or other game online at wvhunt.com, over the telephone, or at any license retailer in the state.

“The phone is extremely popular and this is why Director Jezioro gave us the mandate to get the telephone check,” said Ryan. “We wanted to make it as easy as possible for sportsmen to check in their game.”

Ryan stressed however, this will not be implemented until the first of the year.  For this 2014 fall hunting season all game checking laws and responsibilities will be same as they have been for decades in West Virginia.





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