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Show Utah hunting and fishing license fees ranks low Among Uie 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, according to Utah Wildlife News. 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 Com-bination License Nevada . . , $30.00 Wyoming 28.50 California 26.00 Colorado 23.00 New Mexico 21.00 Arizona 19.00 Washington 19.00 Oregon 19.00 Utah 18.00 Montana 17.00 Idaho 15.00 In 1979, Wyoming spent $14.4 million to manage its wildlife. The Wyoming state legislature recently voted to increase in-crease their license fees nearly 100 percent, which will become effective January 1, 1M0. Twenty-two million dollars is expected to be generated for the fee increase. Wyoming 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 it wildlife, reports Utah Wildlife Resources officials. The Colorado Division of Wildlife operated on a budget of $21 million in 1979. Some states with less wildlife that 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 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 managing the wildlife in Wyoming effectively, concluded the Utah Wildlife Resources report. HUNTING AM) FISHING LICENSES EXPIRE All 1979 Utah hunting and fishing licenses expire on December 31, according ac-cording to Jim Ware, chief of the Law Enforcement 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 licease should cut it off and tape it to their new 1980 license. The federal waterfowl stamp does not expire until June 30, 1980. New 1980 hunting and fishing liceases will be available at all Utah Wildlife Resources offices on December 19, 1979. |
