Hunting, fishing licenses will be unavailable next week as Pennsylvania updates system

Pennsylvanians who plan to go hunting or fishing in the next few weeks but have yet to get a license should do so soon, according to the state Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission.

Pennsylvania’s Automated Licensing System will be down for several days next week as it undergoes an upgrade. The shutdown will begin at 12:01 a.m. Jan 12. It is tentatively scheduled to end the morning of Jan 15.

State officials do not believe many people will be affected by the temporary shutdown. It’s a slow time of year for both hunting and fishing, according to Fish and Boat Commission spokesman Mike Parker.

“It’s not a super popular time for hunting and fishing right now compared to our peak trout or deer season, but we do have people who are fishing, who may be looking for some ice fishing opportunities,” Parker said.

It’s steelhead trout fishing season in Erie. Deer hunting with regular firearms is open in several counties, including Allegheny, and deer hunting with bows and flintlock firearms is open statewide.

Licenses are still required, even when the system is down, Parker said.

Fishing licenses will still be available for purchase by phone during the shutdown at 877-707-4085.

Hunting licenses will not be available at all while the system is down. Stores which sell licenses require the system to print them.

Hunters will not be able to report harvests online during the shutdown, but may do so by mail or by phone at 833-463-6293.

The state is preparing to launch a new licensing system next week to replace the current version, which is more than a decade old. Officials are keeping details about the new system under their hats until closer to the launch, but Parker said the licensing process won’t change much.

“The consumer experience is basically the same,” he said.