JACKSON — Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks will have a new license sales partner in the next few years. Jason Thompson, Director of Administrative Services, has given a few details on the new licensing system. 

“We are having weekly meetings on our new licensing system. January 2025 is the go live date,” Thompson said at last week’s MDWFP commission meeting. 

He clarified Monday the licensing system could take a little longer but they are shooting for January 2025 as the go live date. It typically takes a year to 18 months for a project like MDWFP’s to be launched. Thompson said they are in the building process right now. 

PayIt Outdoors announced Monday it will be the new digital licensing system provider for MDWFP. The platform should offer an improved customer experience and allow the MDWFP to better serve outdoor enthusiasts. 

“We want the look and feel to be similar but we know it will be different,” Thompson said. “It will be more customer friendly and on our side we will have more tools for us to use.” 

It is just the recent news of MDWFP working to improve engagement with the public from a rebranding of the State Parks, renovations at state parks and new marketing strategies for license sales. PayIt is a company based out of Kansas City, Missouri and was awarded the contract to provide the digital hunt and fish licensing system through a bid process. 

Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services approved a bid for a five year contract at a cost of $8,987,406 in May 2023. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission currently uses PayIt for license sales if you are curious how their system looks and works. 

A press release from PayIt states the new system will provide a more “modern, convenient customer experience online and in the new mobile app.” 

MDWFP will be able to manage license and permit sales while providing customer insight through “an intuitive CRM,” to help guide further outreach efforts by the agency. It will also help the agency recruit, retain and reactivate customers. Executive Director Lynn Posey said the app will help the agency fulfill its mission of conservation and providing recreation opportunities.  

“As part of our mission to conserve Mississippi’s natural resources we aim to make it as easy as possible for customers to purchase licenses and permits which directly support our conservation efforts,” Posey said. “We are excited to partner with PayIt Outdoors to bring a truly modern and convenient experience to our customers both in and out of the field.”

One neat feature with PayIt will be the ability to submit game checks afield even where cellular connection is limited. GameCheck is already available on the MDWFP app but the new MDWFP app should run smoother. Department staff will have access to insights to simplify administrative processes to help serve the public more effectively. 

License sales are important as they fund 90 percent of the MDWFP budget.