Show Legislature passes pisses wildlife license increase bill The Utah State Legislature acted on several bills that will affect Utah's wildlife during the session which wl which ch h ended ede March tarch 13 Of DC primary Importance was Senate Bill which provides for Cor an increase In hunting and nd fishing license fees Cees and a general fund Cund appropriation The bill passed both houses but has not yet been acted on by Governor Calvin L L. Rampton Hampton LICENSE FEE changes provided in the bill would affect residents and residents non-residents alike First resident fee changes Persons age 15 12 would pay for a fishing license up from 2 anglers age 64 16 w would uld pay 8 up from 5 and licenses for persons Gs Gsand and over would be 4 an increase increase increase in in- crease of oC 2 The big game license would go from 5 to 7 Small game licenses for persons age 16 and andover andover andover over would cost 6 compared to the present while those for persons age 15 12 would cost 3 up from Combination licenses would increase from 10 to 18 ADDITIONALLY trapping licenses would cost 10 up from 6 and guides guide's licenses would go from 20 to 40 License agents' agents fees would increase from 15 cents to 30 cents Falconers will not see an increase in fees but will now purchase a 10 license instead of a 10 certificate of registration Among residents non-residents only fishermen would be affected by bythe bythe bythe the increase The season fishing license would go to 25 while the five day license would be The 2 25 50 two-day two license would be modified to a 2 one- one day license THE TIIE BILL includes a recommendation that future appropriations from the General Fund be based on studies of oC needs of oC the Division and not past years' years appropriations s The general fund Cund appropriation in the bill Is for Cor 12 million Other Important changes made in the bill include a license year of or January 1 to December 31 It has been February 1 to January 31 the last several years U If signed by the Governor the increase would up up the Divisions Division's license revenue by an estimated 26 percent The revenue increase would be the Divisions Division's second since 1953 the thelast thelast thelast last one being in 1967 WILDLIFE CODE CHANGES In other action the Legislature passed and the Governor signed House louse Bill 26 wl which ch provides amendments to the Wildlife Resources Code of Utah The bill l grants the Wildlife Board authority to add to the protected list any endangered endangered endangered en en- or threatened species of wildlife as defined by the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 The Boards Board's action however must be confirmed by bythe bythe bythe the Legislature in its next general session TIlE THE BILL adds the Canada lynx and snowshoe hare to Utah's list of protected species It also provides the illegal taking of big game be changed from a Class B misdemeanor to toa toa toa a Class A misdemeanor Assault upon a Division of Wildlife I Resources law enforcement enforcement enforcement en en- officer is also reclassified as a Class A misdemeanor Finally the bill l allows the Wildlife Board to permit paraplegics to hunt from vehicles but under strict rules and regulations to be specified by the Board A provision to regulate taxidermists was removed from the bill l. |