Star-Tribune staff

People buying hunting and fishing licenses at Wyoming Game and Fish regional offices and headquarters will now encounter a new Internet-based point-of-sale system. It instantly enters license information into an electronic, statewide database.

Wyoming's new licenses will be wallet-sized and waterproof. Previously, hunters who bought several different types of licenses received multiple documents, but now everything will print on a single license.

"The Integrated Point of Sale System, or IPOS, will bring the Game and Fish license-selling system into the 21st century," said Rich Reynders, chief fiscal officer for Wyoming Game and Fish, in a press release from the agency.

The new system will allow stores selling the licenses to find hunter and angler information through a computer terminal connected to a statewide database.

"The electronic format will help speed up processing at the sale counter by eliminating the need for hand-writing licenses, significantly reduce paperwork for license-selling agents and make the processing of licenses much more efficient for the Game and Fish," Reynders said.

After Game and Fish offices pilot the new program for a few months, the system will expand to some license selling agents.

Currently there are 12 licenses or stamps available for purchase through the new system, including fishing and small-game licenses and conservation stamps. In May, it will include over-the-counter licenses and leftover licenses, and by early 2009 will offer all licenses and stamps, except those requiring an application process.