Why It Matters: The well known “user pays – public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF) has allowed the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation to be regarded as the most successful conservation framework in the world. The successful ASCF model can be attributed to a three-tiered funding system that include: revenue from sporting licenses, and excise tax revenue from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs. Thus, dollars generated from the sale of sporting licenses are critical funding mechanisms for state fish and wildlife agencies.
Highlights:
- On Friday, December 6, the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission (TFWC) voted to increase most hunting and fishing license prices by 28%, among other adjustments.
- The much-needed fee adjustment was the first in ten years and was done as provided by Tennessee law which allows the TFWC to increase prices in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter of support to the TFWC emphasizing the importance of the much-needed license and permit fee increase.
Following last week’s license fee adjustment, Tennessee joins other Southern states like Mississippi, Kentucky, Louisiana, and North Carolina to increase their sporting license and permit fees in the last ten years. No different than we face as consumers, state fish and wildlife agencies have been challenged with addressing the rising cost of doing business – that is, managing our public trust natural resources.
To the surprise of many, few state fish and wildlife agencies have the ability to set license, permit, and tag fees. Despite being recognized as the primary and most well-equipped managers of fish and wildlife populations in the country, the control of setting sporting licenses and permit fees often belongs to the respective state legislature, which requires legislation each time license and permit fees need to be adjusted. However, in states like Tennessee, the state fish and wildlife agency, through its commission, has the authority to set license and permit fees in accordance with the CPI.
With more money from sporting license sales likely coming, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) will be able to address critical aspects of managing Tennessee’s fish and wildlife resources like: increasing employee salaries to attract, maintain, recruit and train new staff, funding new positions, improving infrastructure, purchasing and maintaining equipment, completing backlogged projects, and supporting other operations faced with increasing operating costs.
Further, dollars generated from sporting license sales are even more important in Tennessee due to the funding mechanism in place, which provides very little money from the Tennessee General Assembly to the TWRA. For example, only 0.4% of the TWRA’s FY26 budget consists of money from the General Assembly. Still yet, Tennessee ranked tenth nationally in total ASCF dollars in 2023, totaling more than $96.5 million generated by over 1.6 million paid license holders.
CSF commends the TFWC for addressing a much-needed funding increase to better provide for scientific management of Tennessee’s wildlife. CSF will continue working with the TWRA and our in-state partners to conserve Tennessee’s public trust natural resources.
