Why it matters: Year after year, the cost associated with natural resource management, as with all things, continues to increase. Given the “user pays – public benefits” framework of the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), ensuring that license prices keep up with inflation helps state fish and wildlife agencies continue their work of providing quality recreational opportunities while successfully managing their state’s public trust resources. Recognizing this, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) supports opportunities to ensure the sustainability of sportsmen-led funding for conservation throughout the nation.
Highlights:
- Recently, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) approved regulatory changes to increase the price of several nonresident deer, antelope, and turkey licenses.
- Price increases in Nebraska will take effect on January 1, 2024.
- The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is also considering a regulation change needed to increase the price of several nonresident licenses.
- KDWP is also in the process of finalizing a regulatory change that would remove the fee for resident disabled veterans hunting and fishing licenses as a result of House Bill 2039 being signed into law earlier this year.
With the cost of natural resource management increasing yearly, it is important that hunting and fishing license fees are regularly evaluated to ensure that state fish and wildlife agencies can continue their crucial conservation work. As the entities best equipped to manage their respective state’s public trust resources, state fish and wildlife agencies rely on the ASCF to support their crucial work.
Recently, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved Nebraska Regulation 3172. By approving this regulation, the price of several nonresident big game permits will soon be increased, including: the statewide buck only (whitetail only) increased from $704 to $747, statewide buck only (any deer) increased from $935 to $992, season choice antlerless only increased from $79 to $92, to name a few. The nonresident antelope permit was increased from $198 to $232, and the nonresident landowner permit was increased from $99 to $116. Finally, nonresident turkey permits increased from $125 to $140. These increases will help offset the revenue lost from reducing the number of nonresident permits available.
Heading down to the Sunflower State, the Commissioners of the KDWP will be considering Kansas Regulation 7814, which will increase the price of several nonresident licenses while also removing the fees for resident disabled veteran hunting and fishing license. As previously reported on by CSF, the passing of Kansas House Bill 2039 requires the KDWP to issue a permanent license to hunt and fish to disabled veterans, free of charge. The proposed regulations would also increase the nonresident hunting and fishing combination license from $135 to $190, nonresident hunting license from $95 to $125, the nonresident fishing license from $50 to $70. Certain big game permits are also being increased, including nonresident combination 2-deer permit increased from $415 to $450, and nonresident spring turkey permit from $60 to $75. Along with the turkey permit increase, the Commission is also proposing a $10 nonresident turkey permit application fee, since nonresidents turkey hunters will now be required to submit applications for the limited amount of permits.
