Delaware Launches New Mobile Friendly Hunting and Trapping Registration System
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control 07.16.13
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and Delaware.gov have launched a new mobile-friendly Hunting and Trapping Registration System. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife handles thousands of registrations each year for Delaware hunters and trappers. The new registration system, found at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/delhunt, is part of the Division’s effort to offer new and improved ways to register for required license and registrations and to report wildlife harvests.
“The Governor has directed us to look for ways to make government more efficient, effective and open. Mobile apps and eGovernment tools like this one will help us meet that goal.”
The new Hunting and Trapping Registration System was designed to work on mobile devices as well as larger computer screens. This means greater convenience for Delaware hunters and trappers in the field. And it supports DNREC’s goal of offering services not only online, but also on mobile devices. With the new system, hunters and trappers can obtain required FIN, HIP, and LEN numbers, manage deer registration and snow goose permits, report snow goose harvests, and retrieve lost registration and permit numbers. They can use any device to access the service – desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Users who choose to provide their email can get confirmation messages from the system, making it easier to remember their assigned numbers. The system also includes an administrative backend for DNREC program managers and biologists to search, edit and create reports.
Because not all hunters and trappers choose to use smartphones or computers, the new system gives them the added option of calling, toll-free (1-855-DELHUNT), and speaking with a live person for assistance. This replaces an older phone-in system that used computer-based Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and required a two-day data delay due to transcription of the calls. The call center also reduces data errors common with IVR transcription and provides a better overall experience for the user.
The new Hunting and Trapping Registration System was designed using a mobile-first strategy and taking advantage of Delaware’s “common look and feel” for state agency web sites. Matthew DiBona, a Fish and Wildlife biologist who provided valuable feedback during the development and testing of the application, explains that this approach is what savvy users expect.
“With more and more of our hunters and trappers adopting new technologies like smartphones and tablets, it only made sense to give them a system that is convenient, easy-to-use, and fits their outdoor lifestyle,” he said.
The new system is part of Governor Markell’s initiative to enhance citizen access to government services.
“We’re committed to creating new and convenient eGovernment tools for Delaware,” said Greg Hughes, Director of the Government Information Center (GIC), which leads eGovernment efforts in the First State. “The Governor has directed us to look for ways to make government more efficient, effective and open. Mobile apps and eGovernment tools like this one will help us meet that goal.”
- Division of Air and Waste Management
- Division of Fish and Wildlife
- Division of Parks and Recreation
- Division of Soil and Water Conservation
- Division of Water Resources
