For the first time since 1996, MassWildlife is considering an increase in freshwater fishing and hunting license fees. The following is from a recent press release from them. “The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) is grateful to the many annual hunting and freshwater fishing license buyers who help the agency ensure the health of wildlife populations, protect habitat, and maintain access for outdoor recreation. License fees are essential to ensuring the continuation of scientific management of fish and wildlife, management of over 226,000 acres of wildlife lands, and popular programs including trout and pheasant stocking, Hunter Education, and Angler Education.
During a January 14, 2021 public presentation to the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, MassWildlife officials noted that expenses have been exceeding revenue for several years. MassWildlife cited contributing factors such as inflation and declining license sales. Additionally, they have taken on increased responsibilities over the last 25 years including stewardship of 226,000 acres of wildlife land, habitat management activities on those lands benefiting wildlife, and administration of the Hunter Education Program. The agency derives its funding primarily from hunting and fishing license sales and federal excise taxes from the sale of hunting and fishing equipment.
The public is invited to ask questions and learn more about MassWildlife’s programs, how they are funded, and why a license fee increase is needed by attending an upcoming virtual information session on the Zoom platform:
- Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 6, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
Instructions for joining the information sessions online or by phone can be found on mass.gov/masswildlife-funding.
Information sessions provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the process and provide input to MassWildlife in advance of any formal proposal to raise fees. MassWildlife anticipates releasing a list of proposed fees at a subsequent Fisheries and Wildlife Board Meeting and holding formal public hearings in the spring.
The public may also provide input using an online form on the above website or by mail to: MassWildlife, Re: License Fee, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.
Some background information from the MassWildlife web site: Over the past 25 years, MassWildlife has been able to maintain its high level of services and programs through the careful and responsible management of its funds without raising license fees. But with inflation up nearly 67% since 1996; increased agency responsibilities; and steadily increasing state-mandated costs such as payroll taxes and health insurance, revenue has not been meeting expenses for several years. Additionally, hunting and sporting license sales have been declining over time, and an increasing number of license holders are aging and becoming eligible for free licenses. Periodic license increases are an unfortunate necessity to keep pace with inflation and general costs of living. Unless we act now, the Inland Fish and Game Fund is projected to be out of money by 2025.
As noted above. MassWildlife is primarily funded through the sale of hunting, freshwater fishing, and trapping licenses, permits, and stamps, in addition to dedicated federal funds. Dedicated federal funds account for approximately half of MassWildlife’s budget through the Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration grant program. A small remainder of MassWildlife’s budget comes from bond initiatives, donations, and general funds. Unlike other state agencies, MassWildlife receives only a small percentage of its operational budget from state general funds, such as those derived from state income or sales taxes. All funds from freshwater fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses go directly into the Inland Fish and Game Fund, which can only be used for administering programs for MassWildlife.”
“License buyers are MassWildlife’s partners in keeping wildlife populations healthy, protecting habitat, and maintaining access for outdoor recreation. Fees from fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses, permits, and fees provide a variety of services for sportsmen and women, including the scientific management of fish and wildlife, trout and pheasant stocking, habitat management, and educational programs such as Angler Education, Hunter Education, Becoming an Outdoors Woman, Junior Conservation Camp, Teaching with Trout, Junior Duck Stamp, and National Archery in the Schools. All Massachusetts residents and visitors benefit from MassWildlife’s work to conserve wildlife, protect open space, and preserve clean water and air. They manage over 226,000 acres of conserved lands and waters open to the public for fishing, hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing, and other outdoor recreation. Wildlife-related recreation in Massachusetts generates about $2 billion in retail sales annually and supports about 35,000 jobs. Through science-based management and strong educational programs, MassWildlife ensures healthy fish and wildlife populations, abundant natural resources, and scenic landscapes.
“The issue is not complicated” says DFW Western District Supervisor Andrew Madden, “ but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy or enjoyable topic to face. Our agency has not increased license fees for almost 26 years (and only once in the past 40 years). Meanwhile, we have been facing cost increases associated with significant inflation since 1996, and ever-increasing State-mandated costs (payroll, insurance benefits, retirement, etc). This is coupled with decreases in hunters/hunting license sales and increases in free (70yrs +) licenses. During this time, we have continued the programs that hunters and anglers enjoy and expect, while adding and expanding opportunity. We have greatly increased the days available for hunting deer, turkey, bear, geese, and woodcock. We have improved our fish stocking efficiency and productivity. We have increased our land holdings from 87,000 acres to 226,000 acres (much of that in the Western District). Hunters and anglers should expect this level of service from their fish and wildlife agency. Unfortunately, like any business or organization with increasing costs and flat or declining revenue, eventually you arrive at a point where revenue must be increased.”
“We fully recognize that hunters and anglers in Massachusetts, and throughout the country, have always been the primary contributors to wildlife conservation. We strive to remember that in all our actions and decisions in the Western District. Sportsmen and women carry this charge because it matters to them and all should be very proud to do so. Once again, Massachusetts hunters and anglers will be asked to assert their role as leaders in conservation.”
“I/we understand that paying more for licenses is a big ask, particularly right now. I encourage each of you to read more about the agency’s funding and attend one of the listening sessions for more detail. Hopefully, that will provide some perspective on why we need to ask more of you. We really want your feedback, so please consider tuning into one of the sessions, or filling the online form. If anyone would like to talk to me directly please reach out, I’d be glad to discuss things individually or with a group”.
Mark Jester, former president and currently a delegate of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, is also available to discuss the need for a potential license fee increase. He can be reached at 413-822-7243
Outdoor sportsmen probably know that the inflation rise since 1996 alone should warrant a fee increase and many expressed surprise that a fee increase hasn’t happened earlier. In addition to inflation, there is more justification for the increase. Since 1996, MassWildlife is now stocking more, larger trout; more pheasants, more days to hunt, more land protected, more habitat management -2,000 acres per year, more land stewardship – over 2,200 miles of boundaries, hunter education classes have been implemented as well as the youth pheasant hunt, youth turkey hunt, youth deer hunt, and other projects listed above. (In the Berkshires, New England cottontail conservation efforts to protect and create habitat on MassWildlife lands for this uncommon native rabbit has been ongoing for a number of years. MassWildlife is also working with adjoining landowners on rabbit habitat restoration through grant funding and technical advice.)
The increase in programs has necessitated increases in staff, which in turn resulted in increased state-mandated costs such as health insurance, retirement, payroll taxes, etc, (20% of the agency’s total costs). This,at a time when there are declining sales of hunting and fishing licenses.
MassWildlife urges all MA hunters and anglers to attend one of the virtual information sessions. I already attended one and it was an eye opener.