Iowa license fees

Searching around the web and saw this article about license fees in Iowa. Thought it might help someone.

License fees for fishing, hunting to stay put
DesMoines, Iowa
By WILLIAM PETROSKI February 3, 2009
Hunting and fishing license fees will stay the same in Iowa this year because of the ailing economy, state officials said Monday.

The Department of Natural Resources had proposed increasing fees by 34 percent. The goal was to address the cost of inflation and to offset revenue lost by last summer's flooding.

Hunting and fishing licenses now cost $17.50 each for Iowa residents. The plan had called for raising those fees to $23.50. Any-sex deer fees would have been increased from $25.50 to $35.50. Turkey fees would have gone up from $23 to $27.50.
DNR Director Richard Leopold issued a statement Monday announcing he had decided to shelve the proposal after consulting with Gov. Chet Culver's office. The increases would have required approval from the Iowa Legislature.

"Because adjustments to license fees are made so infrequently, the proposal was under consideration prior to the economic downturn," Leopold said. "We already knew two years ago that we would need to make a rate adjustment either this year or next, but had no idea at the time the economy would experience such a profound downturn."
Some license fees haven't been increased since 1991. Others have been raised within the last decade.

License fees go into the Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund. The Iowa Constitution allows those funds to be spent only on fish and wildlife programs.

Leopold said many conservation groups and some legislators had backed the fee increases. But several Iowans associated with the hunting and fishing industries said Monday that they strongly opposed the idea.
"Our customers just can't afford to spend any more money on licenses. The way the economy has gone, fishing just might be one of the cheapest forms of recreation. I can't see taking that away from them," said Kathy Hughes, co-owner of the Second Avenue Bait House on Des Moines' north side.

Jack Smith, owner of Jack Smith Gun Sales at 2828 Hubbell Ave. in Des Moines, said he agreed with the DNR's decision.

"This is the worst economy we have had since 1929. You can't just keep laying more fees and more fines and more taxes on people just because the state can't manage its money," he said. Todd Conover of Ida Grove, tournament director for Iowa Bass Anglers, a nonprofit group, said he would have preferred to see the DNR go ahead with the proposal.
A DNR survey of seven Midwest states found the cost of Iowa's season fish licenses were below average in 2007. Basic hunting fees were slightly above the Midwest average.

Leopold said the idea of raising fees will be reconsidered when the state's economy improves.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090203/NEWS10/902030371/1001/