All,

At last night’s quarterly Fisheries Advisory Council (FAC) Meeting, DEP officials relayed the latest information on how to get your refund.

First the good news. You will be able to get a credit.

You must use a mail-in form or go to one of the below DEP locations
The only way to get your credit is to purchase your 2011 license using a mail-in form or in person at one of the DEP locations below. Starting on or before December 1, the 2011 licenses will be available at the DEP website and at all of the following DEP locations:
- Hartford
- Old Lyme
- Marlborough
- Harwinton
- Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area (Burlington)

The mail-in form will be also be available on the DEP website and at DEP offices on or before December 1.

There will be some type of list on the DEP website (they haven’t figured out the exact format yet) that will indicate what credit amount you qualify for that can be applied to your 2011 license purchase. Once you have the credit amount, you apply it to the 2011 fee, giving you the reduced total, and then you mail-in the form with payment.

If you go to one of the DEP offices to purchase your 2011 license, you will receive your credit. No form is necessary to obtain the credit if you buy the license there. The forms will be there if you want to give them to other people to use who cannot get to one of the DEP offices.

Now the bad news …

Unfortunately, there is a no way to get your credit if you buy your 2011 license online. Again, you must use the mail-in form or go to one of the DEP offices to purchase your 2011 license and get your credit.

Also, unfortunately, this mail-in method cuts the tackle shops out of the transaction. You cannot pay your fee directly to the tackle shop. However, the shops may have the mail-in forms available for you at their location (that is still TBD).

According to the official I spoke to last night, he assured me that they explored all avenues, but the mail-in form is how they must do this.

If you have any questions, let me know and I’ll do my best to answer. I asked a lot of questions last night. And, I may be getting some official language directly from DEP today.

*** 9/22 update ***
DEP now has information on its website here:
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2690&Q=458902&depNav_GID=1511

*** 9/24 update ***
There is now an FAQ section on the DEP website regarding getting your refund:
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&Q=466250&depNav_GID=1511

Also, there is a list of names of who is eligible:
http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/business_forms/CustomerCreditList.pdf

Link to reprint or purchase a license
https://ct.outdoorcentral.net/InternetSales/LicenseSale.aspx

I have to agree with you Blaine . They figure that most of us will forfeit the money because of the inconveniens . TOTAL BS

In this day and age of computerization it seems mighty strange that the state doesnt have the capability or knowledge to issue credits based on the information stored in the system .

When you go to the supermarket and they swipe your customer card the info is stored , tracked , your coupons are generated based on your buying history , future inventory is planned based on demographic tastes , etc....
But the state doesnt have some computer guru who can write a program to issue refunds ?

I know some computer geeks who would be laughing so hard at this they'd be choking on their 00011100010011111's .

Only in CT......

I just hope it doesnt turn into "Nightmare on Elm Street".....

Yep, charge the tackle shops $1800 for the privilege of selling a license and then take the means to actually pay for the equipment away... Freakin' GREAT!