South Carolina residents and visitors who plan on engaging in outdoor activities that require a state hunting or fishing license this weekend need to think ahead if they will need to purchase a license, tag or other permit issued by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR).

Due to a necessary security upgrade and installation, South Carolina Interactive (SCI), the technology company that operates official state agency websites and facilitates online transactions for many state and local government agencies in South Carolina, including the SCDNR, will be shutting down the computer networks that these transactions run on beginning at 7 p.m., on Friday, July 20. The outage could potentially last through Sunday night.

What this means for SCDNR customers is that license purchases normally available through SCDNR offices, online, through the toll-free call center, or via third-party vendors such as sporting goods stores, bait and tackle shops, or Wal-Mart stores will not be available this weekend.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

Those most likely to be affected by this could be individuals (residents or non-residents) who plan on going fishing this weekend and who will need to purchase a recreational fresh or saltwater fishing license to do so legally. If you are planning a trip or vacation this weekend that involves fishing, please double-check to make sure you have the required license prior to Friday afternoon.

The planned work by SCI may also impact services offered by other state and local government agencies in South Carolina who offer online transactions facilitated by SCI such as the SCDMV, S.C. Elections Commission and others.

More information about SCDNR licenses and permits can be found at: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/licensing.html