Price Increase for Utah Hunting and Fishing
January 17th, 2006 David King - King's Outdoor World
As many of you in Utah are probably aware, a proposal has been approved to increase the fees we pay for our hunting and fishing privileges. This proposal now goes before the legislature for approval before it goes into effect. Following is an e-mail sent from Trout Unlimited with the e-mail addresses of the legislators that set the DWR budget.
As you have probably heard the DWR is proposing to raise the cost of licenses in 2007 to cover a DWR shortfall. It is a sad state when they only get 8% of their funding from the general fund and the rest entirely comes from hunters and fishermen, unlike most of the other state agencies. In anattempt to be heard by our representatives– lets all take a minute to writeemails to the list below and explain that the DWR benefits more than just us and that the percentage of the DWR budget should be increased to a reasonable level. In a time when the numbers of lic holders in Utah is decreasing an increase in fees is not the answer to the budget problems for the DWR and could just widen the gap in the years to come. TU presidents and others please send this out to anyone with any interests in the outdoors.
Ed Kent (Utah Angler Coalition) emailed me a list of the people on theNatural Resources Appropriations subcommittee, these people decide on the DWR budget. Let’s all find a minute and send each of them an email stating that the 8% of the DWR budget that comes from the general fund needs to be increased instead of raising hunting and fishing lic fees like proposed.
Sen. Thomas V. Hatch, Co Chair thatch@utahsenate.org
Rep. Bradley T. Johnson, Co Chair bradjohnson@utah.gov
Rep. Carl W. Duckworth cduckworth@utah.gov
Sen. Beverly Ann Evans bevevans@ubtanet.com
Rep. Ben C. Ferry bcferry@utah.gov
Rep. Kerry W. Gibson kwgibson@utah.gov
Rep. James R. Gowans jgowans@utah.gov
Sen. Parley G. Hellewell parley@parleyhellewell.com
Rep. Rebecca D. Lockhart blockhart@utah.gov
Rep. John G. Mathis jmathis@utah.gov
Rep. Ronda Rudd Menlove rmenlove@utah.gov
Rep. Michael E. Noel mikenoel@kanab.net
Entry Filed under: News and Stuff
4 Comments Add your own
1. Jeff | January 20th, 2006 at 11:54 am
I recently emailed the Utah Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommitte to voice my frustration and concerns about the rapidly rising cost of hunting and fishing licenses. I am very thankful that Trout Unlimited took the time and effort to let sportsmen know who to contact about these important issues. So far, I have heard back from a few of the representatives and they agree with my comments. Below is one of the responses:
Dear Friend,
First of all let me thank you for taking the time to write and for expressing your concern for the proposed increases in hunting/fishing license fees. I have received hundreds and hundreds of email messages from concerned sportsman, such as yourself, sharing their dismay at the possible fee increase. I myself have enjoyed hunting and fishing for many years and I too am concerned that fees may be raised on permits and licenses.
I am opposed to such an action because it will discourage the younger generations from becoming involved in traditions such as, hunting and fishing, which have been enjoyed by Utahns for many years.
I will do everything I can to see that this increase in fees does not happen. Thank you again for your concern. If you have any other questions or concerns feel free to contact me.
Respectfully Yours,
Representative Brad Johnson
District 70
2. Mark Ishii | June 18th, 2006 at 12:17 am
The growth of the administrative portion of the DWR has been a major concern of mine for a very long time. I can remember when the entire DWR fit into a building the size of the average post office. There were more game wardens in the field and more fish in the lakes and a lot more fishermen. The focus was on the product.
Those were the days when forgetting your fishing license meant a trip back to the house for fear of being approached by a game warden. Those were the days when the proclamation fit on a single 11×17 inch, black and white piece of paper that was folded in half and then letter folded–no need for advertising to pay for it. Those were the days hatcheries were open for tours and not closed for repairs. Those were the days more of the license dollar went into the product and less into feathering the nest of the administration.
The DWR used to boast that they were the only government agency that did not draw from state funds. That must have been the kiss of death as the DWR has joined the many government agencies that have found themselfes on the wrong side of the welfare equation.
I don’t suspect things will change much soon as all organizations posess a will to survive using any means necessary. I can only imagine how hard it must be to tell a longtime work associate that their department needs to make cuts or that their funding has been shifted to fish hatcheries.
I’m not sure that “catch and release” is the answer either especially if you are trying to introduce a new generation of children to fishing. This requires either standing in moving river currants or floaing on lakes. Neither of these situations can be considered safe for children under 12. Children 12 and over have already found other ways to entertain themselves. I’m seeing less and less father and son teams fishing anymore. Try to keep a child entertained with a 4 fish limit. It either means a short day or a long drawn out day.
I took my daughter out for a day of fishing the year before they lowered the limit to 4 fish with her getting only a half limit. She had a great time. When I told her about the new fish limit she got upset and has completely lost interest.
My heart goes out to the members of the DWR as I can only imagine how hard it is going to have to be to put the focus back on the product in the form of more game wardens, biologists and if course.
3. Em Kahler | September 18th, 2006 at 9:39 pm
I Used to travel to Utah every year with several friends to hunt. Out of the 4-5 years in a row I went, stayed in hotels, bed and breakfast houses or camped, shopped the stores and ate at small cafes I never even filled a tag as I was out for the huge Utah Buck.. Well folks since the state became so hostile towards out of staters i.e. limit tags and lottery draw, excessive tag fees.. I stopped even trying to come to Utah.. Living in Calif we are seeing a yearly rise in Tag/License fees also. I am at the point of stopping the activity completely.. What will be next a special tax in homeowners to offset the shortages.. It’s all smoke and mirrors..
4. John Tate | February 4th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
My family has been paying non-resident fees to hunt Utah for many years. That includes my kids and wife and my brother and his boys My first trip was in 1982 and on two occasions I have had things come up and donated two tags without even hunting. We hunt larger bucks so we have only taken 5 or 6 in the last 10 years. My brother and I have just reached retirement age and both of us are planning on stopping our annual hunt if fees go up. His kids and mine will not go unless we do. Hunting is in enough trouble with the anti’s without ruling out more people. Idaho did the same thing some years back and I have not been back since then. It would seem to me the wildlife dept. is doing the same thing the USFS is guilty of. More administration and less product. The national park service is enjoying a virtual boycott of the parks due to fees and restrictive policies of their enviromentally minded folks. I hate to see the Utah game managers fall into the same trap. Keep our hunting affordable for the new generation. They are trained by people like me.
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