JACKSON — Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is now a full month into the new fiscal year and reports for July’s license sales was one of a few items on the agenda. MDWFP commissioners had a light agenda for the regularly scheduled monthly meeting. 

Jason Thompson, Director of Administrative Services, opened the meeting with prayer as is tradition. He followed his prayer with an update on license sales which helps fund 90 percent of the Department’s budget. 

“July’s revenue totaled $416,000, $23,000 below last year,” Thompson said. “Resident license sales were down $18,000. Resident waterfowl stamps were up 7 percent. Non-resident license sales were $141,000, a decrease of $1,000 compared to last year. Permit sales were down $825.” 

He told the commission the sales will even out as the year progresses. MDWFP’s fiscal year is from July 1 to June 30. 

Commissioner William Mounger asked Thompson for an update on the new license vendor. PayIt Outdoors will be the new digital licensing system provider for MDWFP as announced in Nov. 2023. 

The Daily Leader reported 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 stated 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. 

Thompson told Mounger they plan to go live in February 2025. 

“We will have more information in the future,” Thompson said. “ There is a lot of testing and meetings right now but we will get there.”