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:

Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks: 2/16/06 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives B. Sullivan, Chair; Upthegrove, Vice Chair; Buck, Ranking Minority Member; Kretz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Chandler, Dickerson, Eickmeyer, Hunt and Kagi.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Orcutt.

Staff: Jeff Olsen (786-7157).

Background:

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) 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.

Testimony For: Wild turkeys were introduced to Washington back in the 1960s, and the DFW manages the population to provide hunting opportunities. The DFW has developed a five-year management plan for wild turkeys, and they need additional funds to implement the program. Half of the funds from the turkey tag will be dedicated to turkey and upland game bird management.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Senator Oke, prime sponsor; Senator Morton; Ed Owens, Hunters Heritage Council; and Steve Pozzanghera, Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.