A Look Back

This year marks the first time that all prospective hunters must apply online for deer gun and muzzleloader licenses.

The deadline is June 6.

Considering the significant advances in technology over time, and that the majority of regular lottery and gratis applications were submitted online/electronically in 2017, this all-in approach is not a big leap.

Photo from September 1964 North Dakota Outdoors Magazine

To really raise some astonished eyebrows, we believe, you need to march back about a half-century.

In 1964, when you could buy a ticket to a movie for $1.25, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department held its first computerized lottery using the Department of Transportation’s IBM 1401 computer.

“An antelope license untouched by human hands! For those sportsmen familiar with the old, handwritten hunting license, something new has been added … This year, for the first time in license writing history of the Game and Fish Department, a license will be issued by a machine provided by an IBM card,” from the September 1964 issue of North Dakota OUTDOORS.

The author assured readers at the time that automation hadn’t taken over completely, as “Someone is still required to insert the antelope license in an envelope for mailing, along with the metal locking seal, and with a quick glance ascertain that the serial number of the license matches the number on the metal tag.”

At the time, Game and Fish had its own key punch machine and operators, and the information on the pronghorn license applications was converted to IBM cards after the applications were received at headquarters.

“On the day of the drawing, the IBM cards are fed into Unit 1402. This unit, identified as a card reader, transmits the information from the cards to the 1401 computer (the brains) at a rate of 600 cards per minute. The computer makes an impartial selection of cards for the total number of licenses issued. Each card is processed through the machine three times and each hunter actually has three chances of being drawn,” from the September 1964 issue of North Dakota OUTDOORS.

It was estimated at the time that the entire drawing, including printing the licenses, would take less than an hour.

“IBM machines do not care who gets a permit, and they make their selections in a completely detached and accurate manner. The machines do not recognize a V.I.P. when they see one and every applicant has an identical chance of being drawn,” the author concluded in 1964.