SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5232
As Passed Senate, February 9, 2006
Title: An act relating to turkey tags.
Brief Description: Requiring a turkey tag to hunt for turkey.
Sponsors: Senators Oke, Swecker and Jacobsen.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation: 1/27/05, 1/31/05 [DP-WM].
Ways & Means: 2/24/05, 2/28/05 [DP].
Passed Senate: 3/10/05, 46-0; 41-6 (reconsidered); 2/9/06, 38-9.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, OCEAN & RECREATION
Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair; Fraser, Morton, Oke, Spanel and Swecker.
Staff: Curt Gavigan (786-7437)
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Fairley, Hewitt, Kohl-Welles, Parlette, Pflug, Pridemore, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Thibaudeau.
Staff: Kirstan Arestad (786-7708)
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 thirty dollars for residents, one hundred fifty dollars for
nonresidents, and fifteen dollars for youth. When purchased in conjunction with a big game
combination license package, small game licenses are sixteen dollars for residents, eighty dollars
for nonresidents, and eight dollars for youth. Revenues from the sale of such licenses are
deposited in the state wildlife fund.
The fee for additional turkey tags is eighteen dollars for residents, sixty dollars for nonresidents,
and nine dollars for youth.
Summary of Bill: 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 twelve dollars for residents and forty dollars for nonresidents. On request, the purchaser of a youth small game license will receive a primary turkey tag at 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.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For (Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation): Additional revenues from turkey tag sales would provide much needed revenue for upland bird management.
Testimony Against (Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation): None.
Who Testified (Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation): PRO: Eric Torrison, Pheasants Forever; Steve Pozzaghera, Department of Fish and Wildlife; Fred Zitterkopf, Inland NW Wildlife Council; Angela Stringer, Game Management Advisory Board; Dave Ware, Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Testimony For (Ways & Means): None.
Testimony Against (Ways & Means): None.
Who Testified (Ways & Means): No one.
House Amendment(s): The House amendment increases the cost of a resident primary turkey tag
from twelve to fourteen dollars and decreases the cost of an additional resident turkey tag from
eighteen to fourteen dollars.
The House amendment also directs that one-third of the monies received from turkey tags be
appropriated for turkey management and one-third be appropriated for upland game bird
management, while the Senate version directs that half of the monies received from primary turkey
tags be appropriated for turkey and upland game bird management.