ODNR Officials move to offer sporting licenses online

The state intends to keep its relationship with retailers who sell the licenses.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Getting a hunting or fishing license in Ohio will soon be as easy as logging onto the Internet.
The State Controlling Board agreed to allow the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to contract with a California company to develop an online hunting and fishing license application and purchase system.
State officials say that the state will continue to work with local retailers throughout Ohio to sell licenses and that the new system will simply be another avenue for sports enthusiasts.
"Ohio is one of the best states in the Midwest for hunting," said Jim Lynch, an ODNR spokesman. "And people come to fish Lake Erie. We want to open up the accessibility and availability to people to get licenses."
The natural resources department said it will sign an unbid contract with Cupertino, Calif.-based GreatLodge.com Inc. that expires Dec. 31, 2005, to develop the online application and payment system.
The proposed contract could be renewed in two-year increments upon approval by both sides. Department officials hope to have the online system in place by Jan. 1.
At least 45 other states have an online purchase system for hunting and fishing licenses, including Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Will keep retail option
State Rep. Sylvester Patton of Youngstown, D-60th, a controlling board member, asked Chris George, a natural resources department lobbyist, whether development of the online system foreshadowed a possible complete move to an Internet license system.
George said no.
"We are committed to continuing the relationship with the local retailers," George said.
ODNR department records show retailers statewide made more than $848,000 in profits from selling hunting and fishing licenses, nearly $560,000 of that going to small retailers.
Natural resources department officials say they estimate about 5 percent of licenses to be processed and sold via the Internet once the system is in place.
The proposed agreement between GreatLodge and the state says the Internet license sales system will not cost the state anything.
A $1 writing fee per license will be assessed with 70 cents going to GreatLodge to cover their costs, according to the department. The company also will charge the customer a 3 percent transaction fee to cover credit card processing, the department said.
The natural resources department said it would receive 30 cents of the $1 writing fee, which would be used for grants to sportsmen's clubs and organizations to promote outdoor recreation programs.
1.8 million licenses
Officials from GreatLodge couldn't be reached to comment Monday. State records show Ohio issues about 1.8 million hunting and fishing licenses to 1.2 million customers. About 21 different licenses are sold based on distinctions among fishing or hunting, residency and age.
GreatLodge was chosen by the state from five other companies after a request for proposals, state records show.