Wdfw pitching license fee increase

[Eric M]

In 2001 an adult resident Washington Deer-Elk-Bear-Cougar license cost $72.27. This year the cost is $95.50. The average per year increase over the 15 year period was 1.88%.

During the same period of time, the CPI increased by an average of 2.07%. If license costs has increased at the same rate as the CPI, the license would cost $98.29 this year.

You are right, except I usually get small game with it so I'll pay $117.50 plus anything else I apply for (just spring bear probably), plus my $30 Discover Pass, plus my $30 NW Forest Pass. The reason I thought the fees were ridiculous was when my brother in law was considering coming out here to hunt. While my non resident for NY is $100-150, his for the same license you mentioned, would be $860.00 in Washington. I was flabbergasted. Maybe Bearpaw is right, and the quality of hunting is right up there, but I think if I was paying that kind of money I mine as well hold out for New Mexico's draw. A lot of you guys know a lot more than me about western hunting, but why would someone pay that to come here and shoot a spike when they can spend the same in several other states for better chances at better animals? I'm thinking of New Mexico and Idaho's lottery system or maybe Colorado's OTC licenses for some good areas. Why does a company like GoHunt service all these other states, and when you ask about Wa., it's next right after they finish the research on Oregon and Pennsylvania. So they do all the good western states, then Penn. and then Washington?!?! Sorry for the rant. I guess I'm talking apples and oranges compared to most of the guys complaining here about the fees.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

After listening to  Director Unsworth from Idaho I'm all for increase. I believe it to be his agenda to get more salmon and steelhead into Idaho rivers. What a better way to get that than get our part of the Columbia filled with more fish.    I know I don't mind having more fish swim by our place!

[Dhoey07]

In 2001 an adult resident Washington Deer-Elk-Bear-Cougar license cost $72.27. This year the cost is $95.50. The average per year increase over the 15 year period was 1.88%.

During the same period of time, the CPI increased by an average of 2.07%. If license costs has increased at the same rate as the CPI, the license would cost $98.29 this year.

I'm pretty sure the CPI is a westside thing. 

[bigtex]

In 2001 an adult resident Washington Deer-Elk-Bear-Cougar license cost $72.27. This year the cost is $95.50. The average per year increase over the 15 year period was 1.88%.

During the same period of time, the CPI increased by an average of 2.07%. If license costs has increased at the same rate as the CPI, the license would cost $98.29 this year.

I'm pretty sure the CPI is a westside thing.

It's a national statistic.

[Dhoey07]

In 2001 an adult resident Washington Deer-Elk-Bear-Cougar license cost $72.27. This year the cost is $95.50. The average per year increase over the 15 year period was 1.88%.

During the same period of time, the CPI increased by an average of 2.07%. If license costs has increased at the same rate as the CPI, the license would cost $98.29 this year.

I'm pretty sure the CPI is a westside thing.

It's a national statistic.

It's a statistic based on metropolitan areas, which is why if you compare tag costs to CPI, it isn't apples to apples.

[Bob33]

In 2001 an adult resident Washington Deer-Elk-Bear-Cougar license cost $72.27. This year the cost is $95.50. The average per year increase over the 15 year period was 1.88%.

During the same period of time, the CPI increased by an average of 2.07%. If license costs has increased at the same rate as the CPI, the license would cost $98.29 this year.

I'm pretty sure the CPI is a westside thing.

It's a national statistic.

It's a statistic based on metropolitan areas, which is why if you compare tag costs to CPI, it isn't apples to apples.

What percentage increase per year have prices in your "non metropolitan" area increased in the last 15 years?

[Dhoey07]

In 2001 an adult resident Washington Deer-Elk-Bear-Cougar license cost $72.27. This year the cost is $95.50. The average per year increase over the 15 year period was 1.88%.

During the same period of time, the CPI increased by an average of 2.07%. If license costs has increased at the same rate as the CPI, the license would cost $98.29 this year.

I'm pretty sure the CPI is a westside thing.

It's a national statistic.

It's a statistic based on metropolitan areas, which is why if you compare tag costs to CPI, it isn't apples to apples.

What percentage increase per year have prices in your "non metropolitan" area increased in the last 15 years?

I don't know if this is a reputable source or not but googled popped up with this

https://inlandnw.wordpress.com/category/income/
https://inlandnw.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/spokanebirthsbymedicaid.png

[bobcat]

I don't really mind a small increase. I don't know much about the fishing side of it, but maybe since the WDFW's priority is fishing, and that's what most of the time and money is spent on, it would be fair to increase the fishing fees substantially more than the hunting fees.

They wasted $850,000 just on a referee for the wolf advisory group. I don't want my hunting license dollars used on something like that. Wolf money should be from the general fund, or anywhere besides hunters. Why should we be the group responsible for supporting wolves?

I don't know, it's just hard to support an increase in hunting fees when there are so many things making hunting worse in this state, or at least more expensive.

I expect to see a decrease in hunting license sales this year. Last year they propped sales up by moving the archery elk season back, adding many more GMUs to the early muzzleloader season, changing the Margaret GMU from a permit only elk hunt to general season, etc.

There was a lot of excitement last year because of that, in my opinion. This year, not so much. The timber company fees have increased yet again, and the number of access permits have become even more limited.

Personally, a small increase won't affect me much, I may just continue to buy only a deer license like I did this year. It was only $45 so if it goes up to $50 it's not a big deal.

[singleshot12]

No salmon season and an increase from free to $17 for a catch record.  Sounds reasonable 

Crazy huh? They are dilusional. Out of touch and plain ole just ignorant of what we want and what their job is......fire them all and get some folks who aren't sitting on their brain. 

  nuff said!

[Special T]

I think the simple solution is to just change your buying habbits. Your $ is the only real imput they care about. Last year i only purchased a cougar tag to go along with my waterfowl stuff... didnt even get out for that... perhaps its just time for a bunch of traditionally deer and elk hunters to turn i to bear or cougar and small game hunters. 2c you can do more "hunting" & give them a lot less.

[Dhoey07]

Spokesman article breaks the increases down pretty good.

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2016/jul/22/increased-hunting-fishing-fees-explored-washington/

[huntingfool7]

I think the simple solution is to just change your buying habbits. Your $ is the only real imput they care about. Last year i only purchased a cougar tag to go along with my waterfowl stuff... didnt even get out for that... perhaps its just time for a bunch of traditionally deer and elk hunters to turn i to bear or cougar and small game hunters. 2c you can do more "hunting" & give them a lot less.

I'm going this route.  Bear tag and small game this year.  The bear tag was included because of the reduced pricing for small game with that tag.  Otherwise, I'd have gone without it.  +No special permit apps for elk/deer. 
There are two other states that will get higher license revenues from me.

[Special T]

I think the simple solution is to just change your buying habbits. Your $ is the only real imput they care about. Last year i only purchased a cougar tag to go along with my waterfowl stuff... didnt even get out for that... perhaps its just time for a bunch of traditionally deer and elk hunters to turn i to bear or cougar and small game hunters. 2c you can do more "hunting" & give them a lot less.

I'm going this route.  Bear tag and small game this year.  The bear tag was included because of the reduced pricing for small game with that tag.  Otherwise, I'd have gone without it.  +No special permit apps for elk/deer. 
There are two other states that will get higher license revenues from me.

It's what I've done the last few years.