Archive for category: Development

The 2023 South Dakota Elk and Bighorn Sheep application period has once again set new records for the number of applications for these seasons. This marks the second consecutive year of unprecedented demand for these highly coveted hunting opportunities.

South Dakota residents may apply during a specific time-period each year for the opportunity to be drawn for a limited license for specific seasons that are available. Licenses are drawn in sequence from season to season. The 2023 application period ended May 18, 2023, revealing a remarkable boost in interest, with an 8% increase in applications compared to the previous year, and an astounding 40% surge compared to 2021.

South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks (GFP) launched its new licensing and campground reservation system in December 2021 and soon after began to see an increase in Elk and Bighorn Sheep applications. Since the new system launched, Elk applications increased from 37,345 in 2021, to 39,380 in 2022. The Bighorn Sheep applications grew from 8,272 to 11,312 during this same time-period. To the excitement of Brandt and GFP, we have seen yet another successful application period in 2023, totaling over 12,000 Bighorn Sheep and nearly 40,000 Elk applications.

“Customer service is one of our top priorities and working with Brandt we have successfully been able to ensure our customers are aware of these opportunities, are easily able to submit their applications, and ultimately able to get where they want to be, outdoors,” stated Nick Harrington, GFP Communications Manager.

With recent improvements to the users’ experience, targeted emails, and mobile app push notification reminders, the Go Outdoors South Dakota system is providing better communications with sportsmen and women, while driving conservation efforts.

Louisiana State Parks and Brandt launched Go Outdoors Louisiana on June 1, 2022, a full-service parks and camping reservation system. The new launch included the release of a new central reservation system, point-of-sale system, call center, and golf course management system. The new reservation system will allow for a more streamlined booking process for customers at GoOutdoorsLouisiana.com to reserve campsites, cabins, purchase park passes, buy merchandise, and make a donation.

“With the launch of Go Outdoors Louisiana, we continue to expand our product offering and provide simple, modern and secure well-designed systems for our state partners. We are excited for the increase in revenue that this system will bring to Louisiana State Parks and its conservation efforts,” stated Richard Wise, CEO of Brandt.

About Brandt

Brandt Information Services provides simple, modern, and secure technology solutions to conservation agencies and their public users that transform the outdoors experience. The company serves organizations in the fishing, hunting, boating, and parks and camping industry with licensing, registration, reservations, and e-commerce technology and services.

NEW YORK, March 17, 2022  Brandt Information Services (“Brandt” or the “Company”), a NexPhase Capital-backed company and a leading provider of outdoor recreational licensing and camping reservation software, today announced the acquisition of Terra Technology Group (“TTG”), a leading SaaS technology provider for outdoor licensing and recreational solutions.

Since 2011, Brandt has grown strategically and organically to become a market leader in outdoor recreational support. The Company provides innovative software, as well as a technology-enabled suite of services, including call center, fulfillment, credit card processing, billing reconciliation, and digital marketing. These services enable public agencies to more effectively engage and grow consumers of hunting & fishing licenses and parks reservations.

With the addition of TTG’s platform, Brandt will be able to provide even more choices to best meet each agency’s needs. Under the Brandt name, Brandt’s Go Outdoors platform and the Terra platform will serve more than 18 partners in the U.S. and abroad.

“Brandt and TTG are two highly successful organizations in the outdoor recreational space, and we are excited to be able to offer both Go Outdoors and the Terra platform to our customers,” said Richard Wise, President of Brandt. “With this acquisition, Brandt has expanded our ability to serve all agencies’ licensing and reservations needs, and we look forward to helping more customers deliver easy and reliable, web-based automated experiences for outdoor enthusiasts everywhere across licensing, permitting, reservations and other purchases.”

“TTG is proud to join Brandt, an outdoor industry leader, with its strong reputation of continuous innovation and technology improvements,” said Jeff Roberts, General Manager of TTG. “Our complementary platforms offer our customers and agency partners unique technology and services built to capture real-time, high quality data that is critical for their success. We are thrilled to be able to continue this mission as part of a broader platform.”

Financial terms were not disclosed.

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About Brandt

Since 1985, Brandt Information Services has provided local, state and federal agencies, as well as private organizations, with innovative solutions to maintain large-scale technology projects, streamline business processes, manage a variety of transaction systems and support agency operations. The company has successfully scaled with organic growth in the outdoor recreational industry with products and services to support hunting, fishing, boating and camping transactions.

About Terra Technology Group

Terra Technology Group is a leading provider of next-generation outdoor licensing and recreational solutions. TTG partners with fish and wildlife agencies to provide innovative technology for conservation and natural resource licensing needs. The company offers more than a decade of experience in developing and operating license and permit point of sale, event management and CRM software throughout the United States.

About NexPhase Capital

NexPhase Capital (“NPC”) is a thematic and operationally focused private equity firm that invests in lower middle market growth-oriented companies within three distinct sectors: consumer, healthcare, and software. The firm partners with companies that have reached a growth inflection point and are seeking a value-added partner to help navigate the company’s “next phase.” The NPC team has extensive industry and operational experience and NPC’s partners have invested together for over a decade. The firm has completed over 80 investments, including add-ons, and targets control equity investments between $25 million and $150 million. For more information, please visit www.NexPhase.com.

January 3, 2022

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) launched a new e-commerce system, Go Outdoors South Dakota.

This system combines the purchases of hunting and fishing licenses with state parks camping reservations and other purchases. The new system makes it easier and more convenient for the public to log in and view their preference points, purchase hunting and fishing licenses, make park reservations, and manage their profile information.

“We are very excited to offer a one stop shop for customers looking to pursue their next outdoor adventure. The new e-commerce system makes it easier for family and friends to get outdoors and create long lasting memories and traditions,” said Kevin Robling, GFP Department Secretary.

Log in and check out the new system today at GoOutdoorsSouthDakota.com. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I log in to the new system?

Go to gooutdoorssouthdakota.com and begin by logging into or creating a mySD account. New with the system is integration with the statewide single sign on to provide additional account security and connection between other state agency systems. If you have an existing account with mySD, please use the email address on file. If you need to create a new mySD account, you will be prompted to do so after entering your unique email address. Every family member will need a unique email address for their mySD account to proceed. Upon verifying your customer information, you will be brought to the Customer Home Page where you can manage your profile information.

Will I still be able to purchase at a license agent location?

Yes. Most license agent locations will continue to sell GFP licenses. While the system launched on December 15, 2021, it would be a good idea to call ahead before visiting a license agent to make sure they are prepared to sell you a license.

Did my preference points get transferred?

Yes! All preference points on your customer account will remain valid with the new system. The preference points purchased for 2022 season are already included in the point values displayed on your account available now. For example, you purchased one preference point for Gavins Point Paddlefish on December 10, 2021 where previously you had zero. Now you will have one displaying for 2022. If you notice any irregularities with your account, please call our customer support line at 605.223.7660.

What is Auto-Renew?

Once you complete a purchase through the new system, you may be asked to sign up for auto-renew. This is a feature that allows you to automatically renew any applicable licenses/permits when they are about to expire using a stored payment method. If you choose to enroll, you will receive an email 10 days in advance notifying that your eligible licenses will be renewed using Auto-Renew. You may adjust your auto-renew settings (including stored payment) at any time before your license(s) expires through your customer profile.

Licenses eligible for auto-renew include resident small game, annual fishing, combination, and furbearer licenses. The habitat stamp will be automatically added to your cart and auto-renew with your other licenses you have selected. Nonresident annual fishing, shooting preserve, and predator/varmint licenses are also eligible for auto-renew.

Did my Auto-Renew run?

Automatic renewal of customer licenses were issued on January 3, 2022 this year. Customers with a valid payment option on file, who met the customer criteria to automatically renew their licenses, received a purchase confirmation email to the email address listed on their customer account. Log in to your account to confirm your current and 2022 licenses are on file. The system is up to date on all transactions. If you do not see the licenses you were expecting to auto-renew, please purchase accordingly.

What is a Durable South Dakota Collector’s Card?

When you purchase a license and/or permit through the system, you may be asked if you would like to upgrade to a durable card for $5. This optional, durable card is a valid form of proof of purchase that will not be damaged by water, sun, dirt, or regular wear and tear like the traditional paper document. The card is made of credit card-like material that contains your customer and license information on one side, and on the other side features artwork from Terry Redlin, America’s most popular outdoor artist and South Dakota native.

Cards are mailed within 5-10 business days of purchase to the customer mailing address on file. At the time of printing, eligible licenses currently held by the customer will print on the card. Hunters are still required to carry the physical tags for big game in addition to the collector’s card. Current licenses that will be printed on the card include: habitat stamp, annual fishing, annual small game, combination, furbearer, predator/varmint, and migratory bird.

Two artwork options are available to print on your collector’s card at this time. You may order one of each design, if desired, at time of purchase. GFP intends to offer new artwork on the collector’s cards each year, so start with the first one!

Will my mobile app still work?

As part of the system transition, there are new mobile app versions available for download. If you have the previous mobile app, please update the app through the app store. If you do not have the app already downloaded, search for “Go Outdoors South Dakota” to find GFP’s official mobile app for iOS and Android. Note: users will not automatically be updated to the latest app version. To access the latest version of the app each user must manually update/download the Go Outdoors SD app.

The app will allow you to purchase licenses and access your license information, no matter where you are. You may download multiple customer licenses to offer one secure digital license document location for families, groups, and more. This will also be a legal means of carrying your licenses in the field. In addition to storing multiple customers’ documents, you are able to sign up for season reminders and access regulations documentation.

How do I check my upcoming parks reservations and make a new reservation?

GFP has consolidated the camping reservations system into the new e-commerce system! You may now log in to gooutdoorssouthdakota.com with your mySD account to access your upcoming reservations. You may also purchase Park Entrance Licenses and/or make a campsite reservation at any state park in our great state.

If you notice any irregularities with your account, please call our customer support line at 800.710.2267