Mark Nale: PA needs to raise hunting, fishing license fees

No one likes to pay more for anything — including me. However, it is time to face reality. An increase in the cost of general hunting and fishing licenses is long overdue. Even though neither wildlife agency receives any money from the state tax coffers, it is the state legislature that must approve any license increase.

It has been a long time since license increases have been granted. Instead, the legislature — particularly the House of Representatives — seems to be pushing both agencies to the brink of extinction. Last session (and the one before), the Pennsylvania Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation that would allow our game and fish commissions to set their own license fees. Legislative oversight is still included in the process. The House will not even vote the bill — or any bill allowing a license increase for either agency — out of the Game and Fisheries Committee. The current legislative vehicle is SB 192, that was tabled in committee in late April.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission last had a general license increase in 1999. The average cost that year for a gallon of gas was $1.14 and a new pickup truck cost about half of what it does today. The cost of their workforce and everything they purchase to help them manage and protect the Commonwealth’s wildlife and improve habitat has increased greatly during those 18 years, but not the cost of a general hunting license.

The number of wildlife conservation officers is well below normal staffing levels, leaving some districts with inadequate protection. Two pheasant farms have been closed and the agency instituted a $25 pheasant license, but that will not be enough to offset their projected deficit.

One of the biggest roadblocks to a license increase is state Rep. David Maloney (R-Berks), who sits on the House Game and Fisheries Committee. Maloney, an ardent hunter, harvested a turkey, a black bear and a large whitetail buck last year — all with a compound bow. Interestingly, he is opposed to license increases.

Maloney’s beef with the Game Commission primarily relates to the agency’s management plan for whitetailed deer. He claims there are not enough deer for hunters. He refuses to consider a separate bill that would allow an increase for Fish and Boat until the Game Commission comes around to his line of thinking. In other words, Maloney is playing politics.

The financial situation is even worse for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Based on the Consumer Price Index, inflation has increased the cost of living more than 36 percent since 2000. This would indicate the need for a 2 to 3 percent fee increase each year, although none has been granted since 2004. Executive Director John Arway says a 30 percent license increase (approximately $7) will now be necessary to cover expenses.

The Fish and Boat Commission is also understaffed and their habitat improvement division has been depleted. There are areas lacking waterways conservation officers due to unfilled positions. According to Arway, big cuts in services will be necessary without a license increase. This will likely be in the form of decreased trout stocking in future years.

Since 70 percent of the agency’s budget is for personnel, according to Arway, he is proposing at least two of their 13 fish hatcheries be closed and those employees laid off. While this would result in savings, it will directly affect the number of fish stocked.

A certain line of thinking in the legislature — and with some hunters and anglers — is that the cost of a license will be too high if the agencies are allowed to set their own fees.

In my opinion, this logic is fuzzy. If that were the case, far fewer people would hunt and/or fish, and agency personnel would price themselves out of a job. Even if we disagree about issues, intelligent professionals run both agencies and a board of commissioners oversees what the staff does. Who knows best what a hunting or fishing license should cost?

This column is not an endorsement for everything that happens on Elmerton Ave. — where both agencies are headquartered in Harrisburg. I am relatively sure that almost every hunter or angler could find fault with something the agencies do. Am I totally happy with the way either agency spends its money? No, but I appreciate all of the good things they do.

A license increase is needed now.

If you care about our aquatic and terrestrial wildlife resources, I hope you agree with me. Contact your elected officials and share your opinion.

Antlerless Deer License Applications

The applications for antlerless deer permits will first be accepted from resident hunters by county treasurers on July 10. If you have not done so already, it is time to mail your application. The application should be mailed in the pink envelope that came with your 2017-2018 hunting license. Last year, antlerless licenses for Wildlife Management Unit 2G, which includes the northern third of Centre County, were sold out by July 18. The licenses for WMU 4D, including the southern two thirds of Centre County, sold out by Aug. 1.

This story was originally published July 8, 2017 at 9:49 PM with the headline "Mark Nale: PA needs to raise hunting, fishing license fees."