NOTE: This news release was distributed on 7/15/2011. The information below may no longer be the most up-to-date information available, or may pertain solely to events that occurred in the past. Please contact the person listed as the contact person for this release for the most current information.

DGIF Launches New Hunt Fish VA App

Richmond, VA — The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) today announced the availability of a free Hunt Fish VA mobile application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The Hunt Fish VA app allows users to search for a wide variety of Virginia hunting and fishing related information on their smart phones. Having the new app will allow anglers and hunters to:

*get the latest news from DGIF;
*look up hunting regulations, seasons, and bag limits while in the field;
*view freshwater fishing regulations and state record fish;
*identify the fish just caught;
*get the sunrise and sunset times for their location;
*record trophy harvests;
*find nearby boat ramps, Wildlife Management Areas, and lakes;
*and much more!

"The new DGIF, Hunt Fish VA application allows the department to communicate directly with sportsmen and sportswomen who enjoy the outdoors, allowing them to find valuable wildlife and natural resource information," said Bob Duncan, DGIF Director.

The creation of a DGIF Hunt Fish VA mobile application is the next step in the evolution of the Department's website as more and more people rely on Smartphones to conduct the everyday business of life. According to the Pew Internet & American Project survey some 87% of Smartphone owners access the internet or email on their handheld, including two-thirds (68%) who do so on a typical day. When asked what device they normally use to access the internet, 25% of Smartphone owners say that they mostly go online using their phone, rather than with a computer. While many of these individuals have other sources of online access at home, roughly one third of these "cell mostly" internet users lack a high-speed home broadband connection. *

The DGIF Hunt Fish VA application was developed by Virginia Interactive, LLC which manages the Virginia.gov portal and develops eGovernment solutions for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Lynn McDaniel, General Manager of Virginia Interactive said, "The increasing demand for the many benefits of smart phones is evident by the growing interest among government entities. This is an exciting entry into the numerous opportunities that mobile technology is creating for government. Assisting DGIF in reaching a new outdoor audience will make a difference."

It is the mission of the VDGIF to maintain optimum populations of all species to serve the needs of the Commonwealth; to provide opportunity for all to enjoy wildlife, inland fish, boating and related outdoor recreation and to work diligently to safeguard the rights of the people to hunt, fish and harvest game as provided for in the Constitution of Virginia; to promote safety for persons and property in connection with boating, hunting and fishing; to provide educational outreach programs and materials that foster an awareness of and appreciation for Virginia's fish and wildlife resources, their habitats, and hunting, fishing, and boating opportunities. To learn more about wildlife in Virginia visit www.dgif.virginia.gov.

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Download the FREE DGIF Hunt Fish VA iPhone®; App on the Apple Store(SM) at HuntFishVA.com/app

*Aaron Smith, Smartphone Adoption and Usage, Pew Internet & American Life Project, July 11, 2011, http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Smartphones.aspx.