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

Sponsors: Senators Oke, Swecker and Jacobsen.

Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks
House Committee on Finance
House Committee on Appropriations

Background: A small game hunting license is required to hunt for classified wild animals and wild birds and unclassified wildlife, but does not authorize the hunting of big game. Included in the purchase of a small game license is one turkey transport tag.

Small game license fees are set at $30 for residents, $150 for nonresidents, and $15 for youth. When purchased in conjunction with a big game combination license package, small game licenses are $16 for residents, $80 for nonresidents, and $8 for youth. Revenues from the sale of such licenses are deposited in the state wildlife fund.

The fee for additional turkey tags is $18 for residents, $60 for nonresidents, and $9 for youth.

Summary: Hunters must purchase a turkey tag, in addition to a small game license, in order to hunt for turkey. The fee for a primary turkey tag is $14 for residents and $40 for nonresidents. On request, the purchaser of a youth small game license will receive a primary turkey tag at no charge. The fee for each additional resident turkey tag is decreased from $18 to $14.

All revenues from turkey tags must be deposited in the state wildlife fund, with one-third of these revenues to be appropriated solely for turkey management and one-third to be appropriated solely for upland game bird management.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      41   6
House      92   6   (House amended)
Senate      40   6   (Senate concurred)

Effective: June 7, 2006