Title: An act relating to turkey tags.

Brief Description: Requiring a turkey tag to hunt for turkey.

Sponsors: Representatives B. Sullivan, Upthegrove and Buck.

Brief History:

Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks: 2/3/05, 2/4/05 [DPS];

Finance: 2/23/05, 2/28/05 [DPS(NREP)].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives B. Sullivan, Chair; Upthegrove, Vice Chair; Buck, Ranking Minority Member; Kretz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, DeBolt, Dickerson, Eickmeyer, Hunt, Orcutt and Williams.

Staff: Jeff Olsen (786-7157).

Background:

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is responsible for managing wildlife and authorizing the taking of wildlife. Except for big game, a small game hunting license is required to hunt for all classified wild animals and wild birds. The fee for a small game hunting license is $30 for residents, $150 for nonresidents, and $15 for youth. A turkey transport tag is included with the purchase of a small game license. Additional turkey tags cost $18 for residents, $60 for nonresidents, and $9 for youth. Transport tags are required for certain game, including wild turkeys, and a person who kills a wild turkey shall immediately validate and attach their own transport tag to the carcass.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

A turkey tag is required to hunt for turkey in addition to a small game license. The fee for a primary turkey tag is $12 for residents and $40 for nonresidents. A purchaser of a youth small game license may request a primary turkey tag for no charge. Moneys received from turkey tags are directed to the wildlife fund and must be used to implement upland game bird management programs.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill directs moneys received from turkey tags to the Wildlife Fund and restricts their use to implementing upland game bird management programs.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The bill would increase the current fees to hunt for wild turkeys from $30 to $42 for a Washington resident. The intent is to raise revenues and use the funds for upland game bird management programs. There is general support for the fee increase from the hunting community if funds are allocated to the upland game bird program.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Sullivan, prime sponsor; Len Brandt, National Wild Turkey Federation Washington State Chapter President; Bob Wherrett, National Wild Turkey Federation; Steve Pozzanghera and Dave Ware, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; and Fred Martinson, National Wild Turkey Federation.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Majority Report: The substitute bill by Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 6 members: Representatives McIntire, Chair; Hunter, Vice Chair; Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Conway, Hasegawa and Santos.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Roach, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ahern and Ericksen.

Staff: Mark Matteson (786-7145).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Finance Compared to Recommendation of Committee On Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks:

No new changes were recommended.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill creates additional revenue that will be used for upland bird management. The bill simply returns the regulatory structure to the pre-1999 form.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife supports this agency request legislation. The National Turkey Federation supports this as well, but our survey of upland bird hunters found a split on the proposal. We're asking that only $125,000 be appropriated for upland bird hunting with the remainder of the funds being used to support the Wildlife Fund balance.      

The National Wild Turkey Federation does indeed support the bill, and would like to see money used for upland bird management, a prerequisite of our support.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Sullivan, prime sponsor; Bob Wherrett, National Wild Turkey Federation; and Dave Ware, Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.