Why It Matters: License sales and excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing equipment, motorboat fuel, and other sporting-related goods account for the largest source of conservation funding in the United States. This “user pays – public benefits” approach, known as the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), provides critical annual funding for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG) to manage fish, wildlife, and other public trust resources for all Granite Staters. The last meaningful New Hampshire license fee increase dates back ten years to 2016. The cost of doing business has significantly changed for us all since then, and these rising costs have been especially challenging for the New Hampshire Fish and Game, which is 96% funded through sportsmen-generated dollars. Without the necessary funding, the basic mission of the NHFG to act, “As the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources.” would be in jeopardy.
Highlights:
- New Hampshire Fish and Game recently held four public discussion sessions throughout the state where license fee increases were presented.
- With the conclusion of the public discussion sessions, NHFG will review all input and decide whether to move forward with formal rulemaking.
- With the last meaningful increase occurring a decade ago, license fees are significantly outdated when factoring in the dramatic inflation during the last ten years.
It has been ten years since license fees were increased in New Hampshire. With significant inflation numbers during this period, a license fee increase would help the NHFG keep up with the rising costs of conducting operations. Specifically, funding generated from an increase in license fees could be utilized to increase employee salaries as mandated by the state, fund new positions and training, purchase and maintain equipment, complete backlogged projects, and more.
The proposed increases are nominal, with many of the license and habitat fees increasing by only a few dollars on average. For a Combination Hunting and Fishing license, the total increase would be $8.50 ($2.00 combo license + $2.50 wildlife habitat fee + $4.00 fish habitat). A hunting license by itself would only see a $4.50 increase ($2.00 hunting license + $2.50 wildlife habitat fee). New Hampshire, by and large, remains one of the most price-friendly states in the Northeast (and the nation) for sportsmen and women. With the NHFG currently relying on sportsmen and women for 96% of its budget, the time for common-sense increases is past due. New Hampshire’s wild spaces, waterways, and game and non-game species are hallmarks of the state and attract millions of visitors from out of state and from across the globe. To maintain these cherished resources, sportsmen and women should support the proposed increases to carry forward the rich conservation legacy of sportsmen and women in the Granite State.
Chairman of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission, A.J. DeRosa, stated, “New Hampshire hunters and anglers have shown their willingness to support our Department’s self-funding initiatives and our critical mission of maintaining, restoring, and creating habitats, access, infrastructure, and the science that keeps the Granite State truly wild.”
According to the NHFG summary of the proposal, the process will be “based on public input, the Department may revise the proposal, choose not to move forward, or advance an alternative approach. If proceeding, then a formal public hearing will be held in June, with the goal of presenting a final proposal to the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR) in July. If approved, changes would take effect January 1, 2027.”
Sportsmen and women of the Granite State are encouraged to support these efforts, as well as submit their support to the department. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) strongly supports the proposed license fee adjustment. Revenue generated from the adjustments will directly support the NHFG and its mission to conduct science-based fish and wildlife management and protect New Hampshire’s deep-rooted cultural traditions and sporting heritage. Should the proposals make their way to the JLCAR, CSF looks forward to working with the members of the New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to make their support known to their colleagues.