Hunting, fishing license fees to increase
First significant fee increase in a decade needed by agency
Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a law on Thursday boosting Washington’s hunting and fishing license fees by an average of 16 percent, but not across the board.
Youth fees go up 2 percent, but disabled and veteran fees drop 4 percent.
Gregoire’s signature on Senate Bill 5385 authorizes the fees effective Sept. 1.
Resident big game licenses (deer, elk, bear and cougar) will go up from $81.20 to $95; the small game license, when purchased with the big game license, increases from $21.20 to $24.
State migratory bird permits will be up from $12.50 to $17.
Resident freshwater fishing licenses will increase from $26 to $29.50. A combination freshwater-saltwater shellfish license will jump from $48.20 to $54.25.
The increase is estimated to produce $16.1 million in new revenue for the Department of Fish and Wildlife in 2011-13.
“Especially gratifying is the strong show of support we received from hunters and anglers who recognize the importance of sustainable management of our fish and wildlife resources,’’ said Phil Anderson, state wildlife director.
Not all fees are increasing. A resident deer hunting tag drops slightly from $45.20 to $44.90.
A resident elk hunting tag increases from $45.20 to $50.40, which is less than the original proposal.
The two-pole fishing option drops from $24.50 to $14.80. The endorsement for fishing in the Columbia River and tributaries for salmon and steelhead remains $8.75.
“To an even greater extent, recreational fishermen and hunters now support the lion’s share of the Department of Fish and Wildlife,” said Ed Wickersham of Ridgefield, government relations chair for the Coastal Conservation Association in Washington.
“The department needs to recognize the value of recreational fisheries. Commercial fisheries need to operate so they don’t constrain recreational fishing.’’
Larry Snyder, president of the Vancouver Wildlife League, said it has been more than a decade since license fees changed and an increase was due.
A $3.50 increase in a freshwater fishing license is reasonable, he added.
The state Senate voted 38-8 for the increase. The House approved it 55-42.
Non-resident licenses will increase by much larger amounts, about 12 percent overall.
A non-resident freshwater fishing license jumps from $50 today to $84.50 in September. A non-resident freshwater-saltwater shellfish license will change from $91.40 to $123.55.
A non-resident elk license increases from $434 to $497, while a non-resident deer and elk license goes from $674 today to $739 in September.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife had a 2009-11 budget of $327.8 million, down $22 million from 2007-09.
Legislators still are negotiating the 2011-13 amount, but the estimated $16.1 million generated by the fee increase will help offset other cuts.
• Discover Pass approved: Gregoire signed the bill this week authorizing the new Discover Pass, a $30 annual vehicle permit to be required July 1 for access to state parks and other state lands.