2008-09 hunting/fishing licenses on sale Aug. 15, buy early to be the rush

It happens every August. Texas hunting and fishing licenses along with various stamp endorsements valid for the new fiscal year go on sale around the middle of the month. Not surprisingly, most consumers don't step up to pay the piper until they absolutely have to.

New annual hunting and fishing licenses for Texas are scheduled to go on sale on Aug. 15. The 2008-09 licenses will be valid until Aug. 31, 2009, unless you purchase a special license or package with a different expiration date.

Current annual licenses expire on August 31. You will need a new license to hunt or fish in Texas beginning Sept. 1.

If history repeats itself this year, 2,000-or-so license vendors around the state will peddle a few new licenses soon after the sale gets underway. But the early numbers will be minute compared to the landslide of business that will walk through the doors in coincidence with the Sept. 1 dove season opener in the North and Central Zones.

"We typically see two big rushes each year on license sales," said Tom Newton, licensing manager with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. "The first one happens right before dove season and the second comes just before deer season. The first rush is always the biggest."

Newton referenced the four-day period spanning Aug. 29-Sept. 2 of 2007 to illustrate his point. License vendors across the state sold approximately 357,000 licenses during that time frame. The same vendors accounted for fewer than 20,000 license sales per day during the two week period leading up to the first big rush.

With opening day of upcoming dove season scheduled to fall on Labor Day, Newton is expecting to see a similar sales pattern this year. He predicts that license vendors will be particularly busy during the weekend prior to the season opener as shotgunners stock up on shotshells, ice chests, camouflage clothing and other last minute items they might need in the field.

"And that could mean standing in a long line," Newton said. "We have tried for several years to smooth things out by putting licenses on sale early, but for some reason it just doesn't work. The same thing happens every year."

It is anybody's guess why so many sportsmen choose to wait until the last minute to buy their new licenses.

It stands to reason that some are natural born procrastinators. My theory is many hunters and anglers wait to buy for the same reason that some taxpayers wait until the April 15 deadline before dropping their IRS tax returns in the mail. People want to hold on to their money as long as they can.

"The difference is you don't have to stand in line to put something in the mailbox," Newton said. "But there is a pretty good chance you will (wait in a line) if put off buying your new hunting/fishing license until the last week of August. It can get crowded when everyone shows up wanting the same thing at the same time."

The amount of time it takes to process a license transaction for a walk-in customer can vary from one merchant to the next. On average, Newton said it takes around 3-5 minutes to complete the process.

That could eat up an entire lunch hour if you show up to buy a license and there are a dozen other guys are already waiting in line. Possibly more if the clerk at the desk is a rookie or the vending machine goes on the blink.

The best advice is to buy early, before the last minute rush hits, or utilize one of two alternative purchasing methods.

Licenses can be purchased online from the TPWD's website (www.tpwd.state.tx.us), or through a toll free phone line, 1-800-895-4298. Both options require a major credit card. It takes about the same amount of time to complete the transaction online or over the phone. However, both options cost $5 extra and you won't have a hard copy in hand for 2-5 days.

The license confirmation number issued during online and phone purchases is sufficient to satisfy a game warden should you get checked in the dove field, but it won't make you legal to take game animals or fish that require a tag.

"We can overnight a license for an added fee if someone needs it, but it can be expensive," Newton said. "It is best to plan ahead and buy your license early to avoid potential problems."

It also is important that license purchasers complete HIP certification correctly. HIP (Harvest Information Program) certification is required of anyone who hunts migratory birds. Just answer a few questions about the number of migratory birds you harvested last season and you are done. Certification will be verified on the license. There is no additional charge.

HIP information is used in developing harvest estimates and making decisions about season dates and regulations. Hunting without being HIP certified is illegal and could earn you a citation from a game warden.

Most license clerks are pretty good about asking the HIP questions, but not all of them are. A few years ago I bought my Super Combo license at a large sporting goods retailer. The young clerk who sold it to me never mentioned the first thing about HIP certification.

"Here you go — that will be $64," he said as he handed me the license.

When I asked about HIP certification, the clerk said he had already taken care of it.

"How do you know how many doves and ducks I killed last year," I asked.

"I don't," he responded. "I just threw in some numbers. Speeds up the process."

The clerk was shocked when I asked him to rework the entire transaction using the information I provided as opposed to pulling numbers out of the sky.

"Remember, it is your responsibility to make sure you are properly licensed, so be sure to check your license before you leave the sales counter," Newton said. "We do get a fair number of requests for re-issuance of licenses because the hunter forgot to get HIP certified."