October 23, 2009 in Idaho

Hunting revenue slumps

After raising fees, Idaho sells fewer out-of-state tags

• Print
• Email
• Share

BOISE – Instead of raising more revenue, a fee increase hitting out-of-state hunters and anglers has resulted in less money flowing to the Idaho Fish and Game Department this year.

“Usually in Idaho we sell out right away when it comes to our nonresident deer and elk hunters, and at this time we are not sold out and we’re seeing a lag,” said Fish and Game Director Cal Groen. “We have tags left over.”

Hunters from outside the state cited the fee increase, the poor economy and the state’s growing wolf population as reasons they’re staying away this year.

Lawmakers had considered a proposal to charge more for the most popular hunts – a plan intended to raise an extra $7 million a year – but instead approved a more modest increase only on out-of-state residents. If nonresident tag sales held steady this year, the change was expected to net $2.5 million more.

That hasn’t happened.

Three months into the state’s new fiscal year, revenue from tag sales is 9 percent, or about $1 million, below the same point last year, said Jim Lau, chief of the bureau of administration for Fish and Game.

Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, said she anticipated that would happen. That’s why she voted against the fee increase, she said.

“People just can’t afford it – it was just totally unfair to put it all on out-of-state hunters,” Broadsword said. “They put a lot of money into our economy when they come to our state to hunt, especially up in my district. They stay in the hotels sometimes, they eat in the restaurants, they buy their supplies from the stores, they rent cabins.”

Nonresidents comprise about a third of Idaho’s hunters and normally account for 70 percent of the revenue from big-game tag sales.

This year, a nonresident deer tag costs $300, up from $256.75 last year; a nonresident elk tag now costs $415, up from $370.75; and a nonresident hunting-fishing license is $235, up from $198.

Fees for residents remain $18 for a deer tag, $29 for an elk tag and $31.75 for a combination license.

Concerned about the revenue drop, state officials sent a survey to 30,000 out-of-staters who previously hunted deer or elk in Idaho. Respondents said there are three issues keeping them away this year: wolves, the nonresident fee increase and the economy.

“Obviously, we’re going to do everything we can to turn those numbers around and sell more tags,” Lau said. “On the one hand, while the revenues haven’t met our expectations, like all other state agencies we’ve reduced our spending. So overall, the financial position of the department is OK.”

The Fish and Game Department receives no general state tax funds, getting by instead almost entirely on license and tag sales.

The department does not plan to propose additional fee increases in 2010.

Eight comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  kc_shaffer on October 23 at 1:46 a.m.

  I don’t believe the wolves or the raise in fees are keeping out-of-state hunters away. It is simply the “recession”. So many of the out-of-state hunters that I know wouldn’t balk at an extra $50 for our trophy bucks and bulls. They are looking for the big buck or bull that you can’t find in many states. As well as the fact that these hunters could have a chance at bagging a wolf (which I am against even though I hunt). They simply don’t want to spend their money right now. If resident fees are raised I do see a slump in sales there. We are a state of unemployed loggers that feed our families off of our tags. We cannot afford the fee increase. If you want to come to our state and hunt our game then you should have to pay what the state feels is fair.

• 

  skierdc1 on October 23 at 6:22 a.m.

  The sticking point is “what is fair”. Judging by the numbers (and the survey) a lot of people think the fee increase was not fair, so you guys will have to settle for reduced revenue. I know I will probably not get a season fishing license again since it went up so much last year.

• 

  westside on October 23 at 8:15 a.m.

  Costing big bucks to fish in Idaho from Spokane, plus boat licensing and stickers for musshell shell..isn’t worth it anymore… $100. for fish lic, etc..

• 

  CMHansen on October 23 at 11:44 a.m.

  I agree it costs too much, we have owned a lake front house since the mid 1950s and I used to fish a lot, but when the season license went to $82 I quit, I can buy a LOT of fish for $82 and when they raised the fee even more I guessed fewer people would buy a license and this story confirms my guess.

• 

  karl2002 on October 23 at 3:04 p.m.

  I was considering fishing in ID this year, but with the increase and the all the additional costs for inspections & tags, I decided that WA fish were just fine.

• 

  DocHunter on October 26 at 5:25 a.m.

  Serves the state right. It is ridiculous that states are allowed to gouge out of state hunters for the right to hunt on FEDERALLY owned lands anyway. (And don’t give me the line about game belonging to the state. It is still WRONG.) They (the state) also seem to have failed to learn (as has most governments) basic economics. Raising the cost of something results in less of it. That is the reason that increasing taxes leads to less economic activity and lower tax revenue, while lowering taxes leads to MORE economic activity and therefore actually HIGHER tax revenue.

• 

  gunrinwa on November 05 at 12:26 p.m.

  It’s like the town I reside in (Kirkland WA) that charges too much for hourly parking downtown when there used to be vibrant downtown. Eventually, people don’t go downtown and businesses start closing and commercial real estate is left vacant. Then they (Council people) complain about not having enough revenue to pay their bills so they raise property taxes, b/c they drove away the commercial tax base. But, alias this is the Liberal mindset that has besieged so called “progressive America”. Once it goes away its hard to bring back.

  This year I considered hunting in Idaho since I own a home in Worley ID, pay property taxes there, boat reg fee’s, hire people to work on my place. No deal for us either for property owners. So then I look at the cost for NR and there isn’t a deer alive worth what they are charging for the so called privilege of hunting in Idaho. I’d rather go to Kansas and pay for a guided hunt. Considering I’ve seen less deer this year than years past.

  Washington is out of control with limited hunting opportunity, a failed “feel free to hunt program” and way too many hunters on to little accessible land. I had 35 hunters in a canyon I’ve had permission to hunt for 6 years. Blatant trespassing, and road hunting seemed to be the norm this year. Not the place I would take my daughters out to for there first deer hunting experience.

• 

  jp on November 05 at 10:30 p.m.

  yea well the fish and game needed new 09 trucks this year the 08 were getting old and oh yea they dont care about the fish or game they just want to get a raise in there salories! i hate fish and game if they want to raise the price then they better have a very good reason why. and i gaurentee that the reason has nothing to do with or wildlife! guess what guys i just got a new company truck!!!!!!! ftmf