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Show Utah Fees Rank Low Among the 11 western states, Utah hunting and fishing license fees rank low. One western state recently doubled its license fees to give them a larger budget on which to operate. Other states are asking for increases this year. The increases are necessary to keep up with inflation. A COMPARISON of fees charged by the 11 western states for the same hunting and fishing privileges offered by a Utah combination license shows Utah ranks the third lowest. A Utah combination license allows a resident to hunt deer, small game and fish for the entire year. Comparison of the costs for privileges offered by a Utah Combination License is: Nevada $30; Wyoming $28.50; California $26; Colorado $23; New Mexico $21; Arizona $19; Washington $19; Oregon $19; Utah $18; Montana $17; Idaho $15. IN 1979, Wyoming spent $14.4 million to manage its wildlife. The Wyoming state legislature recently voted to increase their license fees nearly 100 percent, which will become effective Jan. 1, 1980. Twenty-two million dollars is expected to be generated from the fee increase. Wyoming Wyom-ing and Utah are very similar in the numbers and kinds of wildlife found within each state; however, Utah spent only $10.2 million in 1979 to , manage its wildlife. The Colorado Division of Wildlife operated on a budget of $21 million in 1979. Some states with less wildlife than Utah spend between $40-$50 million to help insure a place for wildlife in the future. Idaho Fish and Game had a budget of $10.8 million in 1979 and is asking their legislature for a license fee increase this year. Arizona also operated on $10.8 million and is asking for increased funds. INFLATION IS causing budget problems for all western wes-tern states. According to Wyoming wildlife officials, their fee increase of nearly 100 percent will keep them up .with inflation until about 1984. Additional funds will then be necessary to continue manag ing the wildlife in Wyoming effectively. All 1979 Utah hunting and fishing licenses expire on Dec. 31, according to Jim Ware, chief of the Law Enforcement En-forcement Section of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Several hunting seasons extend into January, so those who intend to hunt . must purchase a new 1980 license. Hunters who have federal waterfowl stamps attached to their 1979 license should cut it off and tape it to their new 1980 license. The federal waterfowl wa-terfowl stamp does not expire until June 30, 1980. New 1980 hunting and fishing licenses will be available at all Utah Wildlife Resources offices on Dec. 19, 1979. |