Delayed PAL renewal = botched gun season

So my PAL has languished in the bureaucracy of our system and now my card has expired (I began the renewal well ahead of expiration). OK, so there's a 6 month extension that has been granted because of the back log due to everyone's favorite friend COVID so I should be covered right? NO not so. You are covered for the storage of your existing firearms but you can't buy anything (including ammo) and you can't remove them from their place of storage until you have the new card in hand.
Unless you have a valid PAL or proof of current firearms accreditation you can't even share a gun so sayeth the powers that be, RCMP, CFO and MNRF, after I was on hold, dropped calls and conversations over a 4 hour period with those various entities.
On the CFO recorded message it tells you that they are delayed due to an unprecedented amount of handgun requests. Awesome, I'm hearing transfers are taking 7 months for those in Ontario.......
I submitted my renewal in March, and my forms have been stuck in Ontario for 4 months currently (RCMP firearms program says renewal typically takes 45days LOL, even though previous renewals have gone 4-5 months for me in years past)
Ontario's solution to my problem after I said I've already bought all the licenses and booked my vacations is to hunt with a bow. Good thing I have a bow I guess?

If you're in my situation, I sympathize, to all others, take this as a warning to renew your PAL's immediately because it might take them a year to do it.

I look forward to this time of year every year, it's more exciting than Christmas when you were a kid. Now you understand why I'm sickofitall.

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Originally Posted by sickofitall

So my PAL has languished in the bureaucracy of our system and now my card has expired (I began the renewal well ahead of expiration). OK, so there's a 6 month extension that has been granted because of the back log due to everyone's favorite friend COVID so I should be covered right? NO not so. You are covered for the storage of your existing firearms but you can't buy anything (including ammo) and you can't remove them from their place of storage until you have the new card in hand.
Unless you have a valid PAL or proof of current firearms accreditation you can't even share a gun so sayeth the powers that be, RCMP, CFO and MNRF, after I was on hold, dropped calls and conversations over a 4 hour period with those various entities.
On the CFO recorded message it tells you that they are delayed due to an unprecedented amount of handgun requests. Awesome, I'm hearing transfers are taking 7 months for those in Ontario.......
I submitted my renewal in March, and my forms have been stuck in Ontario for 4 months currently (RCMP firearms program says renewal typically takes 45days LOL, even though previous renewals have gone 4-5 months for me in years past)
Ontario's solution to my problem after I said I've already bought all the licenses and booked my vacations is to hunt with a bow. Good thing I have a bow I guess?

If you're in my situation, I sympathize, to all others, take this as a warning to renew your PAL's immediately because it might take them a year to do it.

I look forward to this time of year every year, it's more exciting than Christmas when you were a kid. Now you understand why I'm sickofitall.

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Do you bow hunt? A PAL isn't needed to use archery gear. My son is in the same boat. We bought new archery gear this year.

Wow, that sucks. I hope that you get your PAL soon.

That’s a complete and total disaster.
Brought to you by your rulers.

Yeah, not good for sure. Good Luck

This is why I recommend renewing at minimum 6 months in advance. But this year my son's renewal actually took 6 months so in the future we will renew 7 months in advance. My son has a minors permit but he turns 18 next July, we will submit his application Jan 1 2023 which is 7 months in advance and since hunting won't begin until Sept, that gives the RCMP a total of 9 months I hope that will be enough time for them to process it.

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Originally Posted by sickofitall

So my PAL has languished in the bureaucracy of our system and now my card has expired (I began the renewal well ahead of expiration). OK, so there's a 6 month extension that has been granted because of the back log due to everyone's favorite friend COVID so I should be covered right? NO not so. You are covered for the storage of your existing firearms but you can't buy anything (including ammo) and you can't remove them from their place of storage until you have the new card in hand.
Unless you have a valid PAL or proof of current firearms accreditation you can't even share a gun so sayeth the powers that be, RCMP, CFO and MNRF, after I was on hold, dropped calls and conversations over a 4 hour period with those various entities.
On the CFO recorded message it tells you that they are delayed due to an unprecedented amount of handgun requests. Awesome, I'm hearing transfers are taking 7 months for those in Ontario.......
I submitted my renewal in March, and my forms have been stuck in Ontario for 4 months currently (RCMP firearms program says renewal typically takes 45days LOL, even though previous renewals have gone 4-5 months for me in years past)
Ontario's solution to my problem after I said I've already bought all the licenses and booked my vacations is to hunt with a bow. Good thing I have a bow I guess?

If you're in my situation, I sympathize, to all others, take this as a warning to renew your PAL's immediately because it might take them a year to do it.

I look forward to this time of year every year, it's more exciting than Christmas when you were a kid. Now you understand why I'm sickofitall.

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Sorry man that sucks.

Did you do it online or via snail mail? Something is not right. My youngest son applied this year for his first ever PAL so new application that had to go by snail mail - not a renewal and it was issued and arrived in mail 3 months later. For simple renewals done online everyone i know has gotten them back in under a month this year.

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Originally Posted by sickofitall

so my pal has languished in the bureaucracy of our system and now my card has expired (i began the renewal well ahead of expiration). Ok, so there's a 6 month extension that has been granted because of the back log due to everyone's favorite friend covid so i should be covered right? No not so. You are covered for the storage of your existing firearms but you can't buy anything (including ammo) and you can't remove them from their place of storage until you have the new card in hand.
Unless you have a valid pal or proof of current firearms accreditation you can't even share a gun so sayeth the powers that be, rcmp, cfo and mnrf, after i was on hold, dropped calls and conversations over a 4 hour period with those various entities.
On the cfo recorded message it tells you that they are delayed due to an unprecedented amount of handgun requests. Awesome, i'm hearing transfers are taking 7 months for those in ontario.......
I submitted my renewal in march, and my forms have been stuck in ontario for 4 months currently (rcmp firearms program says renewal typically takes 45days lol, even though previous renewals have gone 4-5 months for me in years past)
ontario's solution to my problem after i said i've already bought all the licenses and booked my vacations is to hunt with a bow. Good thing i have a bow i guess?

If you're in my situation, i sympathize, to all others, take this as a warning to renew your pal's immediately because it might take them a year to do it.

I look forward to this time of year every year, it's more exciting than christmas when you were a kid. Now you understand why i'm sickofitall.

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7 months waiting for me

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Originally Posted by Species8472

Sorry man that sucks.

Did you do it online or via snail mail? Something is not right. My youngest son applied this year for his first ever PAL so new application that had to go by snail mail - not a renewal and it was issued and arrived in mail 3 months later. For simple renewals done online everyone i know has gotten them back in under a month this year.

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I did it online just like the last time and started it in March knowing It would take 4-5 months as in the past. Don’t worry though, they took the payment. They said I owed taxes this year as well and paid me for 3 of the 15 days I was forced to take off for COVID protocols so everything is working out with government programs just fine🤪

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

Do you bow hunt? A PAL isn't needed to use archery gear. My son is in the same boat. We bought new archery gear this year.

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I’ll be dusting off the bow tomorrow and starting to practice to get back into form. My dog will be disappointed with no bird hunts that’s for sure.

I had 6 of my coworkers do the PAL and/or RPAL ,end of November..........applied promptly after receiving the needed doc(end of Dec-early Jan)
Half of them got the PAL/or RPAL...first of them only maybe a month ago ........half still not.

At least i feel good"hooking them up "onto shooting or hunting sports........

I renewed mine (non-restricted) online last month and it came within 3 weeks. Weird how it works.

Every person I know who renewed online, including me, received their PAL within a month or less (two weeks for me.) The process can get snagged however if the renewal application is complicated by other issues such as an improper photo, CPIC red flag, form not filled out correctly, spousal issue, etc. New legislation also requires a lifetime background test instead of five years and a "colourful" youth may be coming back to haunt some gun owners.

Did mine online in Feb took 4 months to receive it, luckily mine didn't expire until Oct

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Originally Posted by Badenoch

Every person I know who renewed online, including me, received their PAL within a month or less (two weeks for me.) The process can get snagged however if the renewal application is complicated by other issues such as an improper photo, CPIC red flag, form not filled out correctly, spousal issue, etc. New legislation also requires a lifetime background test instead of five years and a "colourful" youth may be coming back to haunt some gun owners.

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Online for me only took 3 weeks

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Originally Posted by Badenoch

Every person I know who renewed online, including me, received their PAL within a month or less (two weeks for me.) The process can get snagged however if the renewal application is complicated by other issues such as an improper photo, CPIC red flag, form not filled out correctly, spousal issue, etc. New legislation also requires a lifetime background test instead of five years and a "colourful" youth may be coming back to haunt some gun owners.

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I am the most boring vanilla person and have been that way my whole life. All I do is fish and hunt and have my whole life. I’d get dropped off as a kid and take bus back to fish local rivers and then drove when I got my drivers license. I’ve got a few speeding tickets but who hasn’t and those were a long time ago.

You have been given some inaccurate information.

You do not need a valid PAL under the FWCA to hunt. Your expired one is acceptable. And absolutely you can share a gun with an expired PAL, with a licenced person.

The problem you have is with the federal Firearms Act.

Check your PAL status online. As soon as it is approved you could hunt, even if you don't have your actual card in hand yet. Not possessing your PAL is not an offence, under the Firearm's Act. However, a LEO could seize your firearm until you present your PAL. But a LEO can also quickly find out if you are licenced.

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Originally Posted by sickofitall

I did it online just like the last time and started it in March knowing It would take 4-5 months as in the past. Don’t worry though, they took the payment. They said I owed taxes this year as well and paid me for 3 of the 15 days I was forced to take off for COVID protocols so everything is working out with government programs just fine��

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Have you been calling them? Checked the status online?

How early can you renew a PAL? Could you start the process ?10? months in advance?

Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by chesapeake

How early can you renew a PAL? Could you start the process ?10? months in advance?

Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

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I applied this past July and my expiry date isn’t till next April.

I applied for my renewal in March. The website tells me it was approved but I haven't got my card yet. I'll call the toll-free line on Tuesday.

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Originally Posted by brent

I applied this past July and my expiry date isn’t till next April.

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Thanks. I'm in the same ballpark for expiry. I should get on it I guess

Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

Mine was due end of May so I put it in beginning of February and end of April it showed up and all by snail mail... go figure ?

How many would still hunt without it, I mean I hunt down a long lane way with next to no chance of encountering a person as well as two exits to roads and I don’t have my vehicle plastered with stickers or any thing that says guns in here so I would risk it as it’s not our fault that the “government” has made a mess of it.

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Originally Posted by Huntnfish

How many would still hunt without it, I mean I hunt down a long lane way with next to no chance of encountering a person as well as two exits to roads and I don’t have my vehicle plastered with stickers or any thing that says guns in here so I would risk it as it’s not our fault that the “government” has made a mess of it.

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We are checked annually my the MNR during the controlled hunt. He asks to see our PAL every time he stops us.

I wouldn't hunt with-out it unless its approved.

Why risk confiscation with-out compensation and good luck getting your gun back even though the MNR officer is at fault.

Should be fine to hunt if you have your papers, ya the government really is slow right now. Mine expires in two years but I’m renewing it this spring.

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Originally Posted by Huntnfish

How many would still hunt without it, I mean I hunt down a long lane way with next to no chance of encountering a person as well as two exits to roads and I don’t have my vehicle plastered with stickers or any thing that says guns in here so I would risk it as it’s not our fault that the “government” has made a mess of it.

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I think there would be plenty that would risk it. I know of one that did last year when it didn't show up in time for deer but he never leaves his own property.

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Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter

We are checked annually my the MNR during the controlled hunt. He asks to see our PAL every time he stops us.

I wouldn't hunt with-out it unless its approved.

Why risk confiscation with-out compensation and good luck getting your gun back even though the MNR officer is at fault.

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Absolutely no argument there, sorry I should have specified that I was speaking about spring Turkey season as I don’t hunt deer anymore, since 98 I have yet to see a C.O during the spring season and only been stopped once during duck season out by long point 20 years ago.

copy and paste
CANADIAN FIREARMS PROGRAM
MISSION AND VALUES
The CFP’s mission is to enhance public safety by reducing the risk of harm resulting from the misuse
of firearms. Accordingly, the CFP screens individual licencees to confirm their continuous eligibility
to possess firearms, and promotes responsible ownership, storage, and use of firearms. The CFP
also provides Canadian and international law enforcement agencies with specialized services vital
to the prevention and investigation of firearms-related crime.
In pursuit of its mission, the CFP:
• supports the lawful ownership and use of firearms in Canada by regulating firearms
licensing and registration, and provides firearms owners with quality service, fair
treatment, and protection of confidential information;
• recognizes that the involvement of firearms owners and users, firearms businesses,
law enforcement agencies, the provinces, the territories, federal agencies, Indigenous
communities, safety instructors, and firearms verifiers is essential for effective program
and service delivery;

I learned that there 2 million people applying for pal

PLEASE GIVE ME TOLE FREE PHONE ##.... 8 MONTHS NOW
THEY ARE NOT ANSWERING E MAILS
i SENT 2 LETTERS NO ANSWER

You have to start calling at 9:00 am, expect to be on hold for a long time and the system might hang up on you, try again.

1-800-731-4000

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Originally Posted by COYHUNTER

PLEASE GIVE ME TOLE FREE PHONE ##.... 8 MONTHS NOW
THEY ARE NOT ANSWERING E MAILS
i SENT 2 LETTERS NO ANSWER

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Call them. Emails won't work. Mine was delayed when this covid started. I called them every other day for 2 weeks and then they finally sent mine. Once they do process and send it back it will still take over a month to get to you.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

THANKS

Good Luck

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Originally Posted by COYHUNTER

THANKS

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mine was due last May. I applied online mid-February got the card Mid-March so about 4 weeks.

I have to do both my PAL and Outdoors Card. I'll do them both on-line. I bet I know which one will come in first.

phoning was a waste...call back later,was the message+
1-800 731 4000.........if you need to

You have to continue calling over and over until you get through. Took me hours.

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Originally Posted by COYHUNTER

phoning was a waste...call back later,was the message+
1-800 731 4000.........if you need to

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

You have to continue calling over and over until you get through. Took me hours.

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^^^^ just keep redialing until you get through. Once you get through do not hang up while in line on hold. Put it in speaker and start watching TV for a hour

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

Mine expires end of 2025. Maybe I should renew now.... lol

I'm recommending to people 12 months in advance now.

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Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter

Mine expires end of 2025. Maybe I should renew now.... lol

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8 months and counting

If you don't call you will never get through. I spent more than put over 40 hours of actual time trying to get through.

I was in the same situation.
I submitted in March and up to last month nothing.
I called , and I called.
Finally I decided to stay on hold for 50 minutes and finally got through to a human .
She was very helpful and directed me to the Ontario firearms office.
Again, on hold for 50 minutes before getting through.
And again, a very helpful person that pulled my file, sorted out the problem.
Because I did it on line, I couldn't complete the spouse section.
She talked to my wife, asked whatever questions and Voila. Settled.
I got my PAL yesterday.
The lady in the Ontario office was very understanding , realizing the hunting season was upon us , so she helped as best she could.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

I'm recommending to people 12 months in advance now.

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This is good advice for someone in or about to enter their last year of PAL eligibility. The problems at Miramichi and Orillia are caused by the handgun "freeze" as people are scrambling to transfer handguns they don't want to be stuck with or buying handguns so they will have the ones they want when the legislation is passed.

If you've got two years or more to go I wouldn't worry about it. The backlog should be cleared by then.

Sad what is next

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Originally Posted by COYHUNTER

Sad what is next

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I SENT EMAIL TO RCMP BEGGING FOR MY PAL to be finalized

I have never sent them an email, your best to spend the day on the phone and call over and over again starting at 9:00 AM

I got my letter in the mail early September, applied from my I pad on September 14 and received my new card-non restricted in 3 weeks.

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Originally Posted by RHYBAK

I was in the same situation.
I submitted in March and up to last month nothing.
I called , and I called.
Finally I decided to stay on hold for 50 minutes and finally got through to a human .
She was very helpful and directed me to the Ontario firearms office.
Again, on hold for 50 minutes before getting through.
And again, a very helpful person that pulled my file, sorted out the problem.
Because I did it on line, I couldn't complete the spouse section.
She talked to my wife, asked whatever questions and Voila. Settled.
I got my PAL yesterday.
The lady in the Ontario office was very understanding , realizing the hunting season was upon us , so she helped as best she could.

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My PAL expires in early 2023 and I'll be e-filing. What was it about the spousal section that couldn't be filled out?

I did mine online in March and got it in June 3 months. I submitted / mailed my sons (Minor can only be done by mail) 2nd week of Jan and we got his in June.

He turns 18 next July and we plan to send his in Jan for his real PAL, so 6 months early.

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

My PAL expires in early 2023 and I'll be e-filing. What was it about the spousal section that couldn't be filled out?

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I had no problem doing the spousal section online. Wife just had to be there to click the required sections.

If your PAL expires in early 2023 I would be applying now for your new one.

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

My PAL expires in early 2023 and I'll be e-filing. What was it about the spousal section that couldn't be filled out?

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Mine took 6 weeks for my renewal.

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

My PAL expires in early 2023 and I'll be e-filing. What was it about the spousal section that couldn't be filled out?

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It's just the questions asked.
How does a spouse answer these questions on an online questionnaire????
They had her phone number ,yet never called her. Not once in seven months
They know they have a flaw in the system but don't know how to fix it

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

If your PAL expires in early 2023 I would be applying now for your new one.

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Good idea. I just finished the on-line renewal. I've printed the application,confirmation and credit card receipt. It went off without a hitch. Thanks everyone.

In 26 Long years of marriage:silly:. the RCMP has never called my wife for a renewal. They have called me before because I had been laid off from employment, only because there was no place to check off that you were only unemployed for 2 weeks.

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Originally Posted by COYHUNTER

PLEASE GIVE ME TOLE FREE PHONE ##.... 8 MONTHS NOW
THEY ARE NOT ANSWERING E MAILS
i SENT 2 LETTERS NO ANSWER

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I was in same boat phone Ontario number and emailed received email confirmation that PAL had been approved and received two weeks later. See link below
Contact a Chief Firearms Officer | Royal Canadian Mounted Police (rcmp-grc.gc.ca)

My buddy applied for his in April and still doesn’t have it.

I applied for my RPAL in late March and got it in early August, friend of mine applied in late April and still doesn’t have it. It’s that time period where PM Dumbdumb enacted the handgun freeze and half the firearms owners went shopping before it could become law…the firearms office is overwhelmed with transfer requests and naturally our government isn’t in any hurry to expedite the process

From friends in the federal and provincial civil service,I'm hearing different things regarding firearms registration in Miramichi where 75% of the civil service are still working from home under contract post Covid. Work is being done sporadically,late or not at all. Provincial CFO's are completely swamped,actually FUBAR was the exact comment, an absolute bureaucratic worst-case scenario at every level with no end in sight. RPAL's and first time issue permits that require some amount of due diligence and follow up seem to be at the heart of the issue. The government has mandated that every one of them fall into that category without exception. Simple PAL renewal apps without errors that are very straight forward without raising data based red flags go into an almost completely automated system. Those are the ones that are being processed quickly,usually within 30 days.

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

From friends in the federal and provincial civil service,I'm hearing different things regarding firearms registration in Miramichi where 75% of the civil service are still working from home under contract post Covid. Work is being done sporadically,late or not at all. Provincial CFO's are completely swamped,actually FUBAR was the exact comment, an absolute bureaucratic worst-case scenario at every level with no end in sight. RPAL's and first time issue permits that require some amount of due diligence and follow up seem to be at the heart of the issue. The government has mandated that every one of them fall into that category without exception. Simple PAL renewal apps without errors that are very straight forward without raising data based red flags go into an almost completely automated system. Those are the ones that are being processed quickly,usually within 30 days.

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Amen, I think the biggest part of the problem is working (or lack thereof) from home. I don't any reason why they can't get back to the office.

I bet they got theirs done

What we did was had the expired on us and the original forms (copy) of the completion of the course.

Conservation officers won’t ask for PAL, but can ask for the proof of completion. That was actually sent into an email for moose hunters this year. They know the system is backed up, id do the same and still go. Just sucks you can’t buy ammo though we tried.

One of my coworkers who did not get his PAL yet ,went thru the phone to them,on one call.
One day early this week,between 4 pm and 5 pm.............worth trying that time slot.

I called at4.00 pm and got through in 22 minutes
They said my application is to be reviewed by group that does that for all yea or nay

Has anyone got their pal lately

I got mine yesterday in the mail. Took 3 weeks.

Mine took 4 months and my sons took 6 months.