HARRISBURG, Pa. (January 5) – Anglers and boaters should be aware that beginning at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 12 through approximately 8:00 a.m. on Friday, January 15, the Pennsylvania Automated Licensing System (PALS) for purchasing fishing licenses will be unavailable.
In anticipation of this scheduled maintenance period, anyone planning to participate in 2021 fishing and boating activities while PALS is unavailable should purchase their licenses and permits prior to January 12 through The Outdoor Shop (www.pa.wildlifelicense.com), the FishBoatPA mobile app, or by visiting a retail license issuing agent.
While PALS is inactive, fishing license sales will be temporarily available for purchase by phone. For purchase-by-phone information, customers should visit the “Buy a License” section of www.fishandboat.com beginning on January 12.
Hunting licenses will also be unavailable while the PALS system is inactive, and customers should refer to the Pennsylvania Game Commission website for more information.
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HARRISBURG, PA – Those who haven’t purchased their 2020-21 Pennsylvania hunting or furtaker licenses, or who need to purchase a permit or privilege for a late-season hunting adventure should do so this week.
Pennsylvania’s Automated Licensing System (PALS) will be unavailable for a week, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12.
Pennsylvania fishing licenses and permits also will not be sold during this time.
The temporary shutdown is necessary to complete an upgrade to a new licensing system. More information on the new, more-user-friendly system will be available once the process has been completed.
While most hunters and trappers have purchased their general licenses already, many hunting seasons are underway, and some individuals might find themselves in sudden need of an archery, muzzleloader or migratory bird license, or perhaps a shooting-range permit or Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permit. Those licenses, permits and privileges all are available this week through PALS, online or from any license-issuing agent.
However, it’s recommended that any license or permit that includes a harvest tag be purchased, in person, from a license-issuing agent, since hunters and trappers are required to carry their valid licenses and tags afield. If purchased online, licenses and permits with harvest tags are sent by mail. A list of license-issuing agents is available at www.pgc.pa.gov. Click on “Buy a License,” then select the “License Issuing Agents” link.
Hunters will not be able to report harvests online during the time that PALS is unavailable, but can continue to report through the mail with the postcards included with the Hunting & Trapping Digest. In addition, those needing to report harvests by phone during this time should call 1-833-463-6293. Those with questions or needing assistance with a license issue can call the Game Commission’s Harrisburg headquarters at 1-888-888-3459.
