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Fish and Game might charge you more for a
license, unless you purchase every year |
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January 7, 2015 |
Idaho Fish and Game will ask Idaho lawmakers
this legislative session to consider a proposal
to increase resident Idaho license and tag fees,
but the request has a twist; the proposal, if
approved would be followed by a Fish and Game
Commission order allowing license buyers to
exempt themselves from the increase, as long as
they buy an annual license starting this year.
The Fish and Game Price Lock proposal is unique
to Idaho. The goal is to create an incentive for
hunters, anglers and trappers to buy annual
licenses, whether they use them or not.
"We know that most Idahoans consider themselves
to be hunters and anglers, but many don't
purchase a license and get out in the field
every year," Fish and Game Director Virgil Moore
said. "If just 10 percent of intermittent
license buyers started purchasing every year,
license revenue would increase $1 million
annually and we could improve hunting and
fishing opportunities in Idaho and keep prices
low."
It's been a decade since the last resident fee
hike in Idaho. Since then, Fish and Game's
operational costs have increased 22 percent due
to inflation. As a result, the agency is raising
and stocking fewer fish and conducting fewer
game population surveys.
Fish and Game is proposing to raise the price of
resident licenses, tags and permits between $1
to $6 starting in 2016. If approved by the
Legislature and signed into law by the Governor,
Idaho residents would be able to "lock in" at
current prices for all licenses, tags and
permits simply by purchasing an annual license
in 2015, and each year thereafter.
"As long as you buy an annual license, you'll
continue to pay the current fees, not the
increase fees we are proposing," Moore said.
"This approach hasn't been tried anywhere else,
but we think it will work. Many of our elected
leaders are intrigued and we hope they decide to
let us give it a try."
More information about the Fish and Game Price
Lock is posted on the Fish and Game website:
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov |
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