On December 5, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) announced that it will once again be pursuing legislation to increase resident fees creating a price lock for regular purchasers of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, tags, and permits.
As part of the overall legislative proposal, IDFG will also be proposing an increase in the price of “..most resident licenses, tags, and permits between $1 and $6 starting in 2018.” As noted by IDFG Director Virgil Moore, the push for an increase in resident fees is driven largely because it has been 12 years since the last increase in resident fees, during which time inflationary pressures have increased IDFG’s operational costs by 22 percent.
The price lock component of the fee legislation – starting in 2017 – will allow those purchasing resident licenses, tags, and permits to lock in at the 2017 price they pay for those items during subsequent years. Those who do not buy resident licenses, tags, and permits in 2017 would pay the increased prices for these items starting in 2018. In order to take effect, the legislation will have to pass in the Idaho Legislature during the 2017 session and be signed into law by the governor.
CSF will continue to monitor and provide updates on the price lock and fee increase legislation as it progresses during the 2017 legislative session. To learn more about IDFG’s price lock proposal, click here.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
