Price Lock Proposal

fishing near the Tetons

Idaho Fish and Game is considering a fee increase for resident licenses, tags, and permits starting in 2018. However, Fish and Game is also proposing a Price Lock that exempts hunters, anglers and trappers from higher fees if they choose to purchase an annual license every year starting in 2017.

When you buy...

Did you know?

hunting and fishing contribute $1 Billion to Idaho

1 in 2 fish, 1 in 3 hunt in Idaho

Why should I renew my license each year?

Your annual license is an opportunity to hunt and fish, and it’s an investment in the future of Idaho’s wildlife. Your license dollars pay for Fish and Game to manage wildlife for your enjoyment and benefit.

Fish and Game does not receive any state general tax dollars.  

Your license dollars pay for the fish stocked and the work needed to set hunting and fishing seasons each year. It also ensures future generations will be able to enjoy Idaho’s great hunting and fishing.

How would a Price Lock work?

Fish and Game will ask the Idaho Legislature to approve an increase of most resident licenses, tags and fees between $1 and $6.

If approved, the new resident prices will go into effect in 2018.

But, if you purchase and maintain an annual license starting in 2017, your price will be “locked in” meaning you will be exempt from the proposed fee increase.

Does the Price Lock apply to tags also?

Yes. As long as you continue to purchase an annual license every year, your tags and permits will be locked in at 2017 prices.

What is the advantage?

If more hunters, anglers, and trappers consistently buy annual licenses, Fish and Game should have enough revenue to overcome inflation without a resident fee increase that applies to all. No other state wildlife agency has tried this approach.

cost comparison

 

Who is eligible for the Price Lock?

Idaho residents who buy and maintain an annual license starting in 2017 for fishing, hunting, or trapping in Idaho. This includes the combination, three-year, and the sportsman’s pack.

How long will it last?

The Price Lock would remain in effect for at least three years. After that, the Price Lock will be subject to review by the Fish and Game Commission.

How does a Price Lock generate more revenue for fish and wildlife management?

Most Idahoans fish and/or hunt. They support wildlife conservation and management through the purchase of licenses and tags.

However, more than 60% of hunters and anglers don’t renew their license each year. If just 10% of those intermittent buyers renewed annually, Fish and Game revenue would increase $1 Million annually. The Price Lock is a way for Fish and Game to provide an incentive to hunters and anglers to help keep prices low by buying each year.

How will more revenue benefit hunters and anglers?

With additional revenue, we will:

Provide more access to hunting and fishing opportunities.
Raise and stock more fish (catchable rainbow trout production has been cut by 18% because of increased fish food costs up 175%).
Improve shooting ranges.
Conduct more surveys to improve monitoring of big game populations.

Why does Fish and Game need more revenue?

Idaho Fish and Game is a dedicated fund agency that is funded by sportsmen, primarily through license and tags sales.

As we can all attest, a dollar just doesn’t stretch as far as it did a decade ago when resident fees were last increased. Since then, Fish and Game costs have increased by 22% because of inflation.

The Price Lock is a new approach to address revenue needs, but still keep prices low for those hunters and anglers who buy their licenses every year, helping Fish and Game do more for hunting and fishing in Idaho.

Why doesn’t this fee increase proposal apply to nonresidents too?

It does, but only on selected items. Included in Idaho Fish and Game’s proposal is an increase to the nonresident daily fishing permit of $2.25 or almost 20%. This permit is the most popular nonresident item sold by Fish and Game. The proposal does not include increases to most nonresident hunting fees which currently cost more than 10 times as much as fees paid by residents. Nonresident hunting license, elk tags and deer tags, were each increased by $13.25, $44.25 and $43.25 respectively in 2009. Conversely, resident fees have not been increased since 2005, and Idaho has the cheapest resident fishing license in all the western states.

The Fish and Game Commission has also taken action to increase the price of discounted nonresident bear and mountain lion tags in 2017.

Under the Price Lock proposal, Idaho residents will be exempted from paying higher fees by purchasing an annual license beginning in 2017.

Fish and Game is not including Price Lock for nonresident fees in this year’s legislative proposal.

Click the graph to view larger.

view hunting Price comparison

View Fishing Price comparison

Virgil MooreA letter to sportsmen and sportswomen [224KB PDF] about the Idaho Fish and Game Price Lock.
 
If you'd like to print this information to share with others, these PDF's are available.

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