Moya okhota App Lets Novosibirsk Hunters Get Permits Digitally
Electronic documents are becoming standard for hunters and anglers as well. The success of the Novosibirsk region demonstrates how regional digital services can modernize wildlife management and simplify access to permits.
Hunters in Russia’s Novosibirsk region can now obtain permits to harvest birds and fur-bearing animals in digital form through the mobile application Moya okhota (My Hunting app).
Harvest With a QR Code
Applications can be submitted through the Gosuslugi (State Services portal), while the permit itself is stored inside the mobile application. When required, hunters can show the permit to inspectors as a QR code – even without internet access. This approach removes paperwork and saves time because permits are stored directly on a smartphone. At the same time, the government continues expanding digital public services to make them easier for citizens to use. Digital permits also help authorities monitor the use of natural resources more efficiently and at lower cost.
Bear Hunting Still Uses Paper
The Russian government recently amended the experimental legal framework for digital innovation that governs the issuance of electronic hunting permits. These changes allow additional Russian regions to join the experiment.
For now, electronic permits are not available for every type of animal. Permits for harvesting bears and ungulates, for example, remain paper documents. However, officials plan to expand the list of species that can be covered by digital permits in the near future.
Because digital technologies already underpin most sectors of the economy, electronic permits could eventually connect with environmental information systems, geospatial maps of hunting grounds and monitoring platforms for biological resources. Such integration would create a unified digital ecosystem for managing wildlife. In the longer term, Russia could even export this electronic hunting permit model to countries where hunting tourism is a major industry.
Following Hunting Into the Digital Era
The Novosibirsk region became the pilot territory for electronic hunting permits, introducing them as early as 2023. During the experiment, authorities issued more than 20,000 digital permits. The Russian government has now extended the program until 2029.
Federal agencies have also begun issuing electronic permits for harvesting aquatic biological resources. The change shortened the approval process from 15 days to five. Starting March 1, 2026, these permits moved to a registry-based system: officials record an entry in an electronic register, and fishermen only need to present an official extract from that register to confirm their right to harvest.
Digital Tools for Hunters
Management of hunting, fishing and natural resources is gradually moving to digital platforms. This transition is creating new opportunities for IT specialists, including the development of industry-specific mobile services for hunters, inspectors and other natural resource users.
In effect, an entirely new digital segment of the economy is emerging. The shift is expected to make the sector more transparent. Electronic permits make it easier to track animal harvesting, fight poaching and manage natural resources more effectively. Hunters, meanwhile, no longer need to obtain or carry paper permits.
