VIRGINIAN hunters are bracing themselves for a hike in license and permit fees as the fisheries department struggle with a tight budget.

The new proposal from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources would see the life-time hunting license jump to $270, while the under 12s would remain at $260.

The proposed increase would see the lifetime hunting license increase to $270

The proposal is to raise additional funds to counteract a tight budget

The yearly in-state freshwater fishing license would be upped to $27 a year – from $22.

The yearly out-of-state license would rise to $71 – from $47.

One year hunting licenses would see a $5 increase.

The change has been proposed as a remedy to an already constrained budget not meeting with the fishing and hunting demands of Virginians.

Michael Bednarski, The Chief of Fisheries for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, said his agency is working to meet demands on a budget that has not kept pace.

The proposal said: “The recommendation is to update certain hunting, fishing, and trapping fees up to the amount allowed by law to offset increased costs associated with managing fish and wildlife populations and the habitats that support them and providing and maintaining access to these resources.”

Mr Bednarski said the additional revenue would help cover the rising costs, including fish feed.

He said: “While I know that nobody likes to pay a fee, our fees have been stable since 2011.

“It’s been really difficult to provide 2026 expectations on a 2011 budget.

“It costs quite a bit to stock and produce trout.

“Trout requires feed, we hold them on-site, we grow them to catchable size, then we stock them.

“What that means is we not only need infrastructure in terms of hatcheries raceways and hatchery ponds, but we got to feed the fish.

“We have to buy fish feed.”

It would also help cover the cost of transporting fish to Virginian waterways.

Adam Holt, owner of Albemarle Angler, said he does not believe the increase will keep people off the water.

“If you fish 10 times a year, that’s less than three dollars a day. That’s a pretty good use of money, I think,” Holt said.

The public are invited to comment on the proposed changes, with period ending at 5 pm. on August 5.

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources are broadly considering several fee increases  for hunting, fishing, camping, and motorboat registration.

They have suggested bringing in a new $10 fee to camp on lands that were previously free to use.

It comes as the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission considers hunting limits as well as introducing a potential ban on fur sales.

The proposed wildlife law, if implemented, would introduce a daily hunting limit.

One option would see a limit of 15 furbearers a day, the other would be a limit of eight kills, applying only to  species that are known for causing property damage.

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/16693553/hunters-brace-for-new-270-license-and-permit-fees/