ADVISORY COUNCIL ON WILDLIFE & FRESHWATER FISH APPROVED HUNTING AND TRAPPING FEE INCREASE RECOMMENDATIONS
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AIMS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL VALUE TO HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS BY FORMALLY SUPPORTING:
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LEGALIZATION OF SUNDAY DEER HUNTING
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ALLOWING CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT HOLDER TO CARRY CONCEALED GUNS ON WILDLIFE AREAS
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ALLOWING DEER HUNTING WITH RIFLES THAT USE STRAIGHT-WALLED PISTOL CALIBER CARTRIDGES
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LISTING ACCEPTED HUNTING CALIBERS AS A RANGE, RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL CALIBERS
As we reported on January 8, 2016, the Delaware Division of F&W attempted to raise hunting and trapping license fees in 2014, but public feedback showed that hunters were against license fee increases, especially if they received no additional value for the increases. Hunters asked for legalization of Sunday hunting, additional public hunting locations, and better maintenance and preparation of existing facilities. Hunters also disagreed with the amount of the proposed increases and wanted to see implementation of cost-sharing measures so that non-hunting users of wildlife areas will have to pay access/use fees.
As a result, the Advisory Council on Wildlife and Freshwater Fish voted against increasing fees at their December 9, 2014 meeting.
The Division of F&W again asked the Advisory Council to vote on fee increases this year and in early January held public workshops in Delaware’s three counties to gather public input.
DSSA advocated on behalf of Delaware hunters and trappers, and we demanded real and verifiable value for any fee increases. We asked Delaware hunters and trappers to express their support at the meetings for the following conditions:
- Hunting and trapping license fee increase should not exceed 15% (which is in line with the inflation rate since the last fee increase in 2007);
- Sunday hunting for all game species except migratory birds must be legalized;
- People with concealed carry permits must be allowed to carry their concealed guns while hunting;
- The current language regarding acceptable handgun calibers for hunting must be modified to show a range of accepted calibers, rather than listing individual calibers (that are potentially limiting);
- Deer hunting with rifles that use straight-wall pistol cartridges be allowed;
- Fees must be charged to non-hunting users of public wildlife areas.
Thanks to the unwavering concern and support of Delaware’s sportsmen and sportswomen, the Division of F&W and the Advisory Council clearly heard the demand for additional value as it relates to hunting and trapping fees.
At the public Advisory Council meeting held in Dover on January 26, 2016, F&W presented the feedback gathered from the public workshops. Statistics presented by F&W showed support for hunting and trapping fee increases with value-added conditions, including legalization of Sunday hunting and ensuring that non-hunting and –trapping users of state wildlife areas also pay for use of the areas. F&W data distributed during the meeting also showed support for other value-added conditions, including conditions demanded by DSSA.
In the Advisory Council meeting, F&W proposed two alternate fee packages that included slightly modified fee increases than those discussed in the workshops. The Council voted to endorse one of the alternate fee packages. The fee package will now be presented to the legislature for final approval.
Some highlights of the proposed fee structure include:
- Resident hunting license increase from $25 to $39.50
- Non-resident hunting license increase from $130 to $199.50
- Resident Hunter’s Choice/Quality Buck tag increase from $10 to $20
- Resident Trapping license increase from $3.50 to $10.00
- Creation of a new Conservation Access Pass – $20 for individuals, $300 for an Annual Group Guide pass
After voting on the fee increases, the Council addressed and acted on the feedback from the public workshops and passed a motion to formally support:
- legalization of Sunday deer hunting
- allowing concealed carry permit holders to carry concealed guns on wildlife areas
- allowing deer hunting with rifles that use straight-walled pistol caliber cartridges
- listing accepted hunting calibers as a range, rather than individual calibers
Although the Council only acts in an advisory capacity, their support and endorsements speak volumes. To our knowledge, this Advisory Council on Wildlife and Freshwater Fish is the first such council to take a stand and formally support such actions. We—and hunters and trappers throughout Delaware and the United States—commend their actions.
In order for any of the Council-supported actions to occur, legislation must be introduced and approved. You can rest assured that we at DSSA will continue to fight for your hunting and trapping rights as we address these issue in the near future.