By Matt Weiser, Sacramento Bee

For the first time, California anglers and hunters can file required harvest reports online rather than by mail.

The California Department of Fish and Game has unveiled a new Internet service that allows hunters and fishermen to report how many fish they caught or results of deer or bear hunts.

The data is required for certain wildlife species to help state officials manage populations and set harvest quotas in future years. But until now, it could only be submitted by the hunter or angler using forms or tags sent in the mail. Fish and Game officials say the new system is faster and easier, though reports can still be submitted by mail.

Such reporting is required for species including bear, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, abalone, lobster, steelhead and sturgeon. In many cases, regulations require reports for these species to be submitted even if none were taken.

The new service can be found online. Hunters or anglers must enter their name, date of birth and driver’s license number. Then they will find an option to enter harvest data.