License Fee Hike Recommended

Sun., Jan. 4, 1998

Bob Mottram Tacoma News Tribune

Washington sportsmen may find buying licenses a little easier - if a little more expensive, in some cases - starting in 1999, provided the Legislature goes along with changes the Fish and Wildlife Commission has recommended.

Both fishing and hunting license purchases would be affected.

Adults who fish marine waters east of the Sekiu River, or who fish freshwater for both trout and warmwater species, would pay slightly less. Those who currently fish only on the outer coast would pay more, and seniors would lose their special price-reduced status and pay significantly more.

Fishing license changes would eliminate licensing by species. Instead, resident adults and seniors would pay $20 for a freshwater license, up $3 for adults; $17 for a saltwater license, up $11 for adults, and $7 for a shellfish license, up $2 to adults. For seniors, 70 and older, those increases would be $17, $14 and $4 respectively.

However, existing warmwater and Puget Sound salmon enhancement of $5 and $10, respectively, would be eliminated.

Adults and seniors also could obtain a combination license, including shellfish, for $34.

Juveniles would pay $5 for a combination fishing license and $3 extra for a shellfish license.

Also available would be an optional $25 family fishing weekend license for as many as six persons, including one or two adults.

Hunters could opt for a new big game, small game licensing system, or opt for hunting single species.

Resident adult and senior big game hunters would pay fees ranging to $80, depending on options. A $65 big game combination license would allow a hunter to take a deer, an elk, a cougar and a bear. At current rates, tags for those species cost a hunter a total of $84.

Under the proposed system, deer tags and elk tags would cost $35 each if bought separately.

A $30 small game combination license would allow hunting for turkey and upland birds, including Eastern Washington pheasant. It also would include falconry.

An $80 combination license would allow both big game and small game hunting.

Juvenile license fees would be half those charged adults.

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