Relating to youth deer and youth wild turkey hunting licenses, and providing effective date and applicability provisions

Description

Senate File 610 makes the following changes for youth hunting of wild turkey and deer. Changes include:

• Establishing the cost of a youth deer hunting license and a youth wild turkey hunting license at no more than 50.00% of the cost of a resident deer hunting license and resident wild turkey hunting license.
• The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will have youth deer hunting licenses and youth wild turkey hunting licenses available for sale the entire calendar year.
• The youth wild turkey hunting season will last for nine days that includes two full weekends.

Background

Over the past five years, the DNR has sold an average of 5,400 resident youth licenses annually for the wild turkey hunting season. In addition, the DNR has sold an average of 760 resident hunting licenses annually to youth hunters for the wild turkey hunting season. Over the past five years, the DNR has sold an average of 9,100 resident youth deer licenses annually. In addition, the DNR has sold an average of 5,500 resident hunting licenses annually to youth hunters.

In FY 2018, the DNR sold 550 youth antlerless deer licenses.

Assumptions

• Youth hunters who have been purchasing resident hunting licenses will now purchase resident youth hunting licenses at the discounted price.
• On average, 760 more resident youth wild turkey hunting licenses will be sold (in lieu of regular resident hunting licenses).
• On average, 5,500 more resident youth deer hunting licenses will be sold (in lieu of regular resident hunting licenses).
• The same number of Youth Antlerless Deer hunting licenses will be sold (550).

Fiscal Impact

Reducing the price of the spring wild turkey hunting license from $26.50 to $13.25 will decrease revenue to the Fish and Game Trust Fund by $72,000. When those youth hunters who have been buying regular resident hunting licenses buy youth hunting licenses instead, it will decrease revenue by an additional $10,000. Total estimated reduction in revenue for the wild turkey hunting season is $82,000.

Reducing the price for a resident youth deer hunting license from $30.00 to $15.00 will decrease revenue by $137,000. When those youth hunters who have been buying regular resident hunting licenses buy youth hunting licenses instead, it will decrease revenue by an additional $83,000. Total reduction in revenue from deer hunting is approximately $220,000. Reducing the price for youth antlerless deer hunting licenses by half would decrease revenue by $6,100. The total estimated reduction in revenue for deer hunting is $225,000. The estimated fiscal impact of SF 610 is a revenue reduction of $307,000 to the Fish and Game Trust Fund for FY 2020 and each subsequent year. Table 1 summarizes the changes.

Sources

• Department of Natural Resources