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January 24, 2004
License fees to hunt, fish could double
By Charles Ashby, Durango Herald Denver Bureau Chief
DENVER - A state lawmaker wants to double the costs of most hunting and fishing licenses for state residents.
Rep. Joe Stengel, R-Littleton, said the increase is necessary to help the Colorado Division of Wildlife pay the ever-increasing costs of managing the state's animal population.
Stengel, whose measure has not yet been scheduled for debate, said the recent problems with chronic wasting disease, West Nile virus and whirling disease in fish have taxed DOW's budget.
"Those are things the Division of Wildlife has to address on an ever-increasing basis in addition to everything else they have to do," Stengel said. "We've got the best hunting in the world because the division does a good job. But the needs of the division are increasing."
The division manages about 960 wildlife species in the state. It also manages more than 230 wildlife areas and conducts research to improve wildlife management.
DOW pays for all of that from various sources, the bulk of which are from severance taxes on the state's oil and gas production. Those taxes, about $54 million, account for most of the division's $79 million annual budget.
Remaining funds come from federal grants, licenses, Lottery funds and tax contributions.
The division gets no money from the state's general fund, Stengel said.
"We run the division like a business and when a business undersells its product, that's not good business sense," he said. "We have the best hunting potential in the world. This is going to really enhance the whole hunting experience here."
Stengel said it has been about seven to 10 years since the division raised license fees. He said his fee increase has the support of outdoors groups across the state.
Thomas Downing, manager of Gardenswartz sporting goods in Durango, agreed that raising the cost of the licenses was the right thing to do.
As a member of the Colorado Hunting Alliance, Downing said he understands that the division needs to raise additional funds to pay for existing programs.
Still, he said the division should take it one step further.
"Where I have my hang-ups with it is they need to limit the tags as well," Downing said. "They're going to try to curb the number of hunters out there by raising the price. But to me, if you're going to raise the price on the residents, you should limit some of those tags, too. What that does is improve the quality of the (hunting) experience as opposed to the quantity."
Proposed fee increases
Proposed hunting fee increases under House Bill 1208:
Animal Current Proposed
Turkey $10 $20
Pronghorn $20 $40
Deer $20 $40
Elk bull $30 $60
Elk cow $30 $40
Mountain goat $150 $300
Moose $200 $300
Mountain lion $30 $60
Bighorn sheep $150 $300
License fees to hunt, fish could double
By Charles Ashby, Durango Herald Denver Bureau Chief
DENVER - A state lawmaker wants to double the costs of most hunting and fishing licenses for state residents.
Rep. Joe Stengel, R-Littleton, said the increase is necessary to help the Colorado Division of Wildlife pay the ever-increasing costs of managing the state's animal population.
Stengel, whose measure has not yet been scheduled for debate, said the recent problems with chronic wasting disease, West Nile virus and whirling disease in fish have taxed DOW's budget.
"Those are things the Division of Wildlife has to address on an ever-increasing basis in addition to everything else they have to do," Stengel said. "We've got the best hunting in the world because the division does a good job. But the needs of the division are increasing."
The division manages about 960 wildlife species in the state. It also manages more than 230 wildlife areas and conducts research to improve wildlife management.
DOW pays for all of that from various sources, the bulk of which are from severance taxes on the state's oil and gas production. Those taxes, about $54 million, account for most of the division's $79 million annual budget.
Remaining funds come from federal grants, licenses, Lottery funds and tax contributions.
The division gets no money from the state's general fund, Stengel said.
"We run the division like a business and when a business undersells its product, that's not good business sense," he said. "We have the best hunting potential in the world. This is going to really enhance the whole hunting experience here."
Stengel said it has been about seven to 10 years since the division raised license fees. He said his fee increase has the support of outdoors groups across the state.
Thomas Downing, manager of Gardenswartz sporting goods in Durango, agreed that raising the cost of the licenses was the right thing to do.
As a member of the Colorado Hunting Alliance, Downing said he understands that the division needs to raise additional funds to pay for existing programs.
Still, he said the division should take it one step further.
"Where I have my hang-ups with it is they need to limit the tags as well," Downing said. "They're going to try to curb the number of hunters out there by raising the price. But to me, if you're going to raise the price on the residents, you should limit some of those tags, too. What that does is improve the quality of the (hunting) experience as opposed to the quantity."
Proposed fee increases
Proposed hunting fee increases under House Bill 1208:
Animal Current Proposed
Turkey $10 $20
Pronghorn $20 $40
Deer $20 $40
Elk bull $30 $60
Elk cow $30 $40
Mountain goat $150 $300
Moose $200 $300
Mountain lion $30 $60
Bighorn sheep $150 $300
