licenses and regs available now.
 

For those who cant wait till april 1st,, new licenses are now available as well as paperback regs to go.

I renewed mine today when I was downtown just so I wouldn't forget. They gave me my paper license when I handed them my WIN and they recommended that I keep and sign my paper license. I don't know why I'd have to do this, I mean as soon as I buy my new license after handing them my WIN shouldn't my new license be linked to that?

not valid till signed.

Your license is not valid until it is signed....otherwise you could hand your license off to a buddy along with your WIN and he could fish under it pretending to be you....your license says something to the effect of "not valid until signed"

The WIN enables you to buy a license but it is not your license.

LC

I understand this but that little piece of paper is pretty damn fragile. I have it and its signed, but give it 5 or so months in my wallet and it will be in pretty poor shape. I'm just surprised that your WIN can't house all of your active licenses and be used as such.

And no you can't just lend someone your win and an unsigned license. Your WIN card has your name on it. That person would need a fake ID with their picture and your name on it for that to stand up to any sort of scrutiny, and a decent fake ID costs more then the license does in the first place.

So it again comes down to this, why can't I buy a fishing license every year and have that license linked to my WIN card so when asked to produce it by fish and wildlife, all I'd have to do is hand them my WIN and my government issue photo ID? It just seems incredibly stupid, and defeats the point in having the card in the first place.

Buy your licence on line and you can print them off anytime you want or print a few extras to keep in your tackle box, vehicle, boat etc. And if they get a little hard to read just grab a new one.:)

A License to buy a License ! Only in Canada. LOL. They will tax anything. Oh sorry, it's not a tax.
Next thing it will be, License to buy bait. Then, License to buy a License to buy bait. I wonder if if the Alberta gov. will give me a bonus for thinking of this for them. NOT !

No licence for seniors
 

No licence for seniors I see.....:sHa_shakeshout:

Rightfully so.....

That's why you buy your license online and that way you can print out as many copies as you wish and it has been this way forever....and likely will continue.

In BC the licenses are all paper....in Saskatchewan the same thing....the officers would need to be issued card readers for their boats and such to read your WIN card....so you think that sort of infrastructure is going to be handed out to our officers?

LC

F&W should make it that if they stop a guy they can just scan the WIN card and identify if you have a fishing license or not. That way you don't have to carry around an unreadable fishing license or print it off online a bunch of times. But that would make too much sense I guess :thinking-006:

Like Lefty just said...where's the money for this idea going to come from? F&W is already in a hurting financial spot and can hardly afford the meager enforcement that they currently have in place...

Get a little card holder like the ones you get for insurance to put your license in. Less likely to get messed up. Put it in your tackle box so you always have it with you when your fishing...

X2 I know TFH always gives you one of those with your license :)

Its easier and cheaper for you to carry a piece of paper than for enforcement to carry a reader around the lake/river.:snapoutofit:
:)

This year:mad3::)

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS SUPOSSED TO HAVE HAPPENED. The WIN card was supposed to track all your fishing and hunting licences so you would only have to carry the WIN with you, at least that is what we were told at that time. We were also told it would be a once in a life time fee when it first started but that also did not seem to last.

The rumor at the time was that this was brought in by a minister who’s friend owned or had interest in the company. Though I do not know this for a fact.

As far as I can see the WIN system is pretty much useless in that it is basically a licence so you can by a licence for which you still need separate additional I D. (e.g. my fishing licence is tagged to my Drivers Licence) Just adds extra cost and accomplishes nothing except turning people off from purchasing a licence.

You're absolutely right about the financial aspect of it! Don't need anymore irresponsible spending by the government

Would the licence still be valid if it was laminated

Yep got my boating licence and win card in a little zip lock wallet. The issue I have is remembering it in my fly vest if I'm not fly fishing.:)

At the top of my licence from 2012/13 it reads "DO NOT LAMINATE"

Given that you can print them off your self, from an online purchase, on to just about anything you want I would think laminated would be fine. They only have non laminated laws where the paper and printing type are part of the security I belive.

FYI if you laminate the copy you get in the store, it is on heat activated paper... it all turns black...lol DO NOT LAMINATE!!! personal experience...lol

Ok new to Alberta from BC but resident now. How do I get a fishing license.

Go to a Canadian Tire or any place that sells licenses. You will have to purchase a WIN Card(Wildlife Identification Number), which is good for 5 years and then you can purchase a fishing license for the 2013 year at the same time/place. You can also do this all online as well if you prefer.

I carry my license and win card in a small zip lock bag. Keeps it dry and safe

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Laminated Licence
 

Would that apply to Saskatchewan Licences as well.Last time I purchased an Alberta licence was 10yrs ago.

Your WIN card costs you $1.60 per year. If that's going to turn people off of buying fishing and hunting licenses, they need to have their heads examined. :snapoutofit:

and why not? They are essentially police officers for wild life, why not give them the ability to just scan / read a WIN card. It'll be somewhat expensive upfront but it is a worthwhile investment in infrastructure.