34% increase sought in hunting, fishing fees | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register

By PERRY BEEMAN • pbeeman@dmreg.com • December 15, 2008

State wildlife workers want to raise basic hunting and fishing license fees by 34 percent, in part because of lost revenues caused by last summer’s widespread flooding.

“We had fewer people hunting, fishing and camping this year,” said Ken Herring, the state’s conservation and recreation administrator. “Our pheasant population was severely hit by the long winter and wet spring. We had parks closed during the peak camping season. It just was not a good year.”

Herring said this year’s drop in license purchases forced the state to cut the Conservation and Recreation Division’s spending by 7 percent, and move to raise fees. Lawmakers would have to approve the increases, which most likely would take effect July 1.

Rumblings about the proposed hikes already have stirred debate on Internet chat boards and in meetings.  Click Link Below For Full Story!

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