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

Sponsors: Senators Oke, Swecker and Jacobsen.

Hearing Date: 2/17/06

Staff: Jeff Olsen (786-7157).

Background:

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is responsible for managing wildlife and authorizing the taking of wildlife. A small game hunting license is required to hunt for all small game classified as 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 must immediately validate and attach their own transport tag to the carcass.

In Chapter 371, Laws of 2002, the Legislature directed the Fish and Wildlife Commission to evaluate the adequacy, structure, and amount of fees for hunting and fishing licenses and make recommendations for revision of the fee structure and schedule as appropriate. Several proposals were developed and recommended, including a proposal to remove the primary turkey tag from the small game license and charge a fee for resident and nonresident tags.

Summary of 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. Fifty percent of revenues generated from the sale of primary turkey tags must be used solely for the purposes of turkey and upland game bird management.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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