Legislature Considers Fee Increase

The Idaho State legislature is debating the possibility of an increase in license and tag fees for Idaho hunters and anglers. The Fish and Game Commission endorsed the proposal which must be approved by the legislature before those fees can be increased. Since the last fee adjustment was made in May 2000, the cost of doing business has increased significantly. Fish and Game has taken steps to control costs, but additional funding is needed to maintain services hunters and anglers expect. This is a modest increase in fees. A resident hunting license would cost $1.75 more. A resident fishing license would cost $3.25 more. A nonresident would pay $50.50 more to hunt deer and $64.25 more to hunt elk in Idaho. Residents would continue to pay less to hunt in Idaho than people living in neighboring states while nonresidents would continue to pay more to hunt in Idaho than in neighboring states. The proposal also addresses concerns of small business owners. License vendors would receive an extra 25 cents for each license or tag they sell. More than 400 vendors sell Fish and Game licenses throughout Idaho. In a recent guest editorial, Fish and Game Director Steve Huffaker pointed out that the increase would amount to less than the cost of one gallon of gas for resident hunters, and less than the price of a Mepps spinner for resident anglers. "This approach makes sense," Director Huffaker said "It keeps hunting and fishing affordable. It gives Fish and Game the money to provide the services hunters and anglers want- increased enforcement of hunting and fishing rules, more information, and more access to private land for hunting and fishing." In addition to helping Fish and Game deal with the increasing costs of core activities, the additional funding would be used for the following purposes: ì Give hunters and anglers more places to hunt and fish. Hunters and anglers will have access to an additional 120,000 acres of private land through the popular Access Yes! program. ì Provide hunters and anglers more information about hunting and fishing and involve them in managing fish and wildlife. Hunters and anglers will have more opportunities to get involved in activities benefiting fish and wildlife. The proposal expands educational programs and increases the information available to hunters and anglers. ì Give hunters and anglers more of a voice in fish and wildlife management. The "average" hunter or angler will have more opportunity to influence fish and wildlife management. The funding will provide in-house expertise to help collect and analyze hunter and angler opinions about various options for managing fish and wildlife. ì Target hardcore poachers who steal fish and wildlife. Conservation officers will have more time to focus on the most flagrant poaching cases and enforce fish and wildlife laws. ì Help mule deer. The department will work with private landowners, state and federal land management agencies, volunteers, and others to improve conditions for mule deer. The additional funding will help improve habitat on at least 10,000 acres, benefiting mule deer, sharp-tail grouse, sage-grouse and other species. Fish and Game receives no money from state taxpayers through the state general fund. More than half of the department funding (55 percent) comes from federal government contracts and other sources, the rest from license dollars (45 percent). More than half of the license revenue (55 percent) comes from nonresidents. Idaho hunters and anglers provide less than 20 percent of the total Fish and Game budget through the purchase of resident licenses and tags. If the legislature approves the increase it would likely take effect on July 1, when new laws are typically enacted. For more information on the fee proposal, log on to the web at the following address: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/news/top_story/fee_proposal/proposal.cfm