PAY TO PLAY – Washington’s first general hunting-fishing license fee increase in a decade kicks in Sept. 1.

Now’s the time to buy and save on most licenses – but you might want to hold off on buying some youth, senior or disabled licenses, which will decrease in cost. And the endorsement that allows angers to use two rods while fishing some waters will decrease substantially.

All of the new license fee prices are available on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

But here’s a sampling of increases for resident fees (nonresident increases are much more substantial):

• Deer, elk, bear and cougar tag package, currently $81.20, will increase to $93.50.
• Small game license, $38, will increase to $38.50.
• Freshwater fishing license, $24, will increase to $27.50.
• Combination fishing license, $48.20, will increase to $52.25.

Decreasing:  Examples of fees that will go down starting Sept. 1 include:

• Senior freshwater fishing license, $8, will decrease to $5.50.
• Two-pole endorsement, $24.50, will decrease to $14.30. 

---

---