BY DONNA SWICEGOOD
The Iredell County Register of Deeds Office will make history on Friday, August 1, when it becomes the first office of its kind to become a Wildlife Service Agent.
That designation, Register of Deeds Renee Holland explained, will allow her staff to issue hunting and fishing licenses, including lifetime licenses, to the public.
The impetus for achieving the WSA designation was requests from citizens.
“We had several folks wanting to get lifetime fishing and hunting licenses when they got a certified copy of their child’s birth certificate,” Holland said.
Holland then reached out to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission to see if that was feasible.
The WRC sent a wildlife officer out to take a look at the county’s facilities and computers. After the inspection, the county was given the go-ahead. Officers then came in and trained her staff to issue the licenses.
“This initiative was developed right here in Iredell County to better serve our citizens—especially those already visiting our office to obtain a certified birth certificate,” Holland said.
Anyone planning to purchase their newborn a lifetime hunting and fishing license is required to submit a certified birth certificate to the WRC before the child turns 1.
“Ultimately, my goal is to offer a one-stop, convenient service that saves the citizens both time and money,” Holland said.
Prices of the licenses vary depending upon the type, but parents may want to consider getting licenses for their children before they turn one.
“They are much cheaper before the age of one,” she said.
The service will be available at the Register of Deeds offices in Statesville and Mooresville.
The licenses can be printed on site but anyone wanting a hard copy of the license will have to request that via mail.
However, she said, self-addressed, stamped envelopes are provided to the register of deeds office.
“This is not costing us anything,” she said.
Holland said the paper for printing the licenses, the training and the envelopes for hard copies are all being provided by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
She said that this service will offer members of the public another alternative for obtaining the fishing and hunting licenses.
Holland said she believes this initiative will catch on since other Registers of Deeds have reached out about following Iredell’s lead.
“Multiple registers have reached out since they found out so it could be offered in other locations eventually.” she said.
The licenses will be available during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Statesville office, located at 211 Constitution Lane, and in Mooresville, at the Government Center South, located at 610 E. Center Avenue.