Beneath a bufflehead duck mounted on his wall, Jack Wolf studied his computer screen, clicked his mouse and tapped his computer keyboard the other evening.
An avid bird hunter, Wolf, 51, of Lakeville, could have been researching hunting prospects for fall. Or messaging his hunting buddies. Or checking out the latest hunting gear online.
Instead, he was buying his 2007 Minnesota small game hunting license from the comfort of his home.
Since 2001, shortly after the Department of Natural Resources installed its computerized Electronic Licensing System statewide, hunters and anglers have been able to buy their licenses online. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. They can even print their licenses at home.
Other states offer the same service, and hunters and anglers have found it convenient, though sometimes difficult to navigate.
But last year, the Minnesota DNR shut down its online licensing system for six months because of concerns it didn't properly safeguard privacy. There were no security breaches or identity thefts, but officials decided to reprogram the system to better ensure security.
Now the revised system is up and running.
"It's more secure now," said Steve Michaels, DNR program manager.
And with the fall hunting season fast approaching, some hunters will do what Wolf did and take a shot at buying their license online.
Navigating the Web
Most Minnesota hunters and anglers buy their licenses at one of the 1,800 ELS outlets around the state. Of the 2.5 million transactions that have been made this year, only about 54,000 -- about 2 percent -- have been bought online.
But that could change as hunters and anglers become more computer-confident or more aware of the online licensing option.
Wolf usually buys his licenses at a nearby outdoors store, along with many others (see accompanying chart).
"Normally I'd buy it there while I was shopping for something else," he said.
But he agreed last week to try the revamped online licensing system from his home office, adorned with hunting memorabilia, while I watched and documented his efforts.
"OK, so I want to go get my license," he said, quickly finding the "Regulations, Permits and Licenses" tab on the DNR's website.
After entering his name, address, date of birth, height, weight, eye color, gender and Social Security number, Wolf clicked his mouse.
"What's this?" he said as a box popped up on his screen saying his name didn't precisely match the DNR's database.
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