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Frequently asked questions
What is the Arizona Game and Fish Department asking for?
The department is asking the Arizona Legislature to approve new price ceilings, or caps, for fishing and hunting licenses, stamps and hunt permit-tag fees.
Why do you want to raise the fee caps?
The bottom line: costs have gone up while license sales and revenues have declined. Operating costs now exceed revenues.
How do caps affect fees?
The caps on license, stamp and tag fees are established in state law (A.R.S. ? 17-333). The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has the authority to vote in public session to alter fees within the cap. The department is proposing legislation to raise the fee caps at this time, not actually raise fees. If lawmakers approve the request, the Game and Fish Commission will still be required to hold public meetings and follow the rulemaking process in order to increase fees.
So when would fee increases take effect, and how much would they be?
The earliest a fee increase could go into effect would be 2006 for permit-tags, and 2007 for licenses. Historically, the commission has usually raised fees incrementally within the cap over a number of years. Any proposed fee increase would, by law, go through the formal rulemaking process and involve public input.
When was the last time the fee cap was raised?
It will be eight years from when the last fee cap was approved and when the new proposed cap could become effective. The previous fee cap was requested to cover operating expenses and maintain programs, not undertake program expansions.
What happens if the new fee cap isn't approved?
Without the increase in statutory fee authority, the department?based on current license sales trends?anticipates service and program reductions.
Lost federal revenue?reduced match
Program reductions
Reduced game surveys
Reduced law enforcement/field presence
Reduced recreational access for citizens
Degeneration of facilities
Increased employee turnover
Water development degeneration
Reduced landowner relations initiatives
Lost hatchery production
Reduced customer service capacity (less ability to upgrade technology)
Deterioration of wildlife areas
Can?t the department just get more money from the state?s General Fund?
The department receives no share of General Fund revenues. Licenses, stamps and tag fees constitute a significant source of our revenue and are the foundation of a formula used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine Arizona?s share of federal sport fish and wildlife funds for wildlife management. The federal match is a 3:1 ratio, so Arizona receives $3 of federal funding for wildlife conservation for every $1 of state match. Hunting and fishing license fees are the primary source of state match.
What are some of the costs that affect the department?
Fuel costs
Game and Fish Department employees drove more than 4.5 million miles last year. Fuel prices in the Rocky Mountain region for 2004 averaged 36 percent higher than in 2002 (source: Energy Information Association), consuming an increasing proportion of the Game and Fish Fund budget. Fuel costs just for Game and Fish funded vehicles (one of several department motor pools) have been:
FY 2002 $254,012
FY 2003 $325,256
FY 2004 $332,938 (or the equivalent of more than 13,000 general hunting licenses or nearly 18,500 general fishing licenses at current prices)
Retirement contributions
From FY 2003 to FY 2004, state-mandated retirement contributions rose from $399,520 to $970,555?an increase of 143 percent.
Game Ranger training and field costs
There are 74 wildlife manager districts in Arizona, with an average district size of 1,137 square miles. Training new certified peace officers takes 10 months and costs approximately $71,000 per officer. The department trains and places between six and 10 new wildlife managers per year, at a total cost ranging from $426,000 to $710,000 annually. To put this in perspective, below are the numbers of resident fishing or hunting licenses that would need to be sold, at current prices, to cover these costs.
Training/placement cost range Resident fishing license price Number of fishing license sales needed to cover annual wildlife manager training costs Resident hunting license price Number of hunting license sales needed to cover annual wildlife manager training costs
$426,000 (six wildlife managers) $18 23,667 $25.50 16,706
$710,000 (ten wildlife managers) $18 39,444 $25.50 27,843
Wildlife waters
Water development costs range from $10,000 to $65,000, depending on location and design. Material costs have been going up. Concrete prices rose over 7 percent in the past year (source: U.S. Department of Labor) and steel prices jumped 50 percent or more from 2003 to 2004 (source: MEPS International).
Fish hatcheries
Among hatchery expenses are $400,000 for FY 2005 at Canyon Creek hatchery, and $400,000 for FY 2006 at Tonto Creek hatchery to remain compliant with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Urban Fishing Program
Fuel prices and other rising costs in the fish farming business have increased Urban Fishing Program expenses by $50,000 compared to the year 2000.
Is this proposal being done in response to the 10-percent nonresident cap lawsuit?
No. It's true that raising license and tag fees was one of the options desired by hunters and anglers, and approved by the Game and Fish Commission, to help maintain resident hunting opportunity in the wake of last summer?s court ruling disallowing the 10-percent cap on nonresident big game permits. But falling numbers of licenses sold, along with rising department costs, provide the fundamental reason why the department needs to have the fee cap raised. The department was working on a new fee schedule prior to learning the results of this lawsuit.
How would the department use the revenue from fee increases?
The money would first be used to cover the cost increases of the existing programs our customers have come to expect from us and ensure that our revenues cover costs. Any revenues above costs would be spent on wildlife conservation activities designed to benefit Arizonans. Examples are:
Game management
A portion of any additional revenues would be spent on wildlife management and for improved recreational opportunities.
- Wildlife habitat improvements. In partnership with public and private landowners and at state-owned designated wildlife areas. Examples: improvements to help deer populations, habitat treatments on public lands, and water developments.
- Recreational access and hunt opportunities. Easement agreements with landowners to provide access for hunters and anglers; agriculture at state-owned wildlife areas to provide forage, particularly for migratory birds; improved access for disabled hunters; and purchase or lease of hunting access on private lands, especially for migratory bird hunting.
- Predator management. An expanded program for estimating predator populations, such as coyotes and mountain lions, to ensure population stability and to minimize conflict with humans and adverse impacts on other species.
- Pronghorn management and game species reintroduction. Stewardship and cooperative projects with private and public landowners to stabilize or increase pronghorn populations and reintroduce game species such as Gould?s turkey, Merriam?s turkey, pronghorn antelope, and bighorn sheep.
- Water development and maintenance. Construction and maintenance of water catchments crucial to wildlife during summer months and in drought conditions.
Shooting Ranges / Ben Avery Administration Site
Funds would be invested in shooting range development and improvements statewide. The Tucson and Flagstaff areas would be targeted for accelerated development efforts, with improvements planned in eastern, northwestern and southeastern Arizona and the Phoenix metro area. A portion of revenues would be used to construct and consolidate department headquarters facilities on the Ben Avery Shooting Range property, providing additional long-term protection for the range; this facility would be the site of statewide shooting range and wildlife management administration, and hunter and angler education activities.
Increased Fishing Opportunities
Revenues would be used to improve fishing opportunities and fishing quality for Arizona anglers. Activities would include necessary hatchery improvements at Silver Creek Hatchery in Navajo County, Canyon Creek and Tonto Creek hatcheries in Gila County, Page Springs Hatchery in Yavapai and Coconino counties; and would be used to acquire, grow and stock fish, and provide for angler recruitment programs. Expenditures would improve both warm- and cold-water fishing opportunities.
Service improvements
Some funds would go toward customer service improvements, including hardware and database support for law enforcement, additional field officers, employee salaries and personnel-related expenses, and facilities repairs and improvements necessary to support field operations in regional offices and rural areas. The goal: greater officer field presence and created savings through workforce stability and facility efficiency.
Family and Youth Recreation
Money would be earmarked to support local sportsmen?s-and-women?s clubs, to support youth programs and hunter recruitment efforts. Investments may take the form of direct support, expansion of sponsored youth events, and support for club involvement in the Scholastic Clay Target and Archery in the Schools programs.
I'm worried that families won't be able to afford to hunt and fish. Are there any price breaks for youth and families?
The department is proposing some special youth rates and new license products that will give a price break to families.
How do Arizona?s prices compare with other Western states?
Compared with 11 other Western states, the current price of an Arizona general resident fishing license ties for ninth (eighth for nonresidents), making it one of the least expensive. Arizona?s general resident and nonresident hunting licenses both rank fourth among the six Western states that require a general hunting license.
How will Arizona?s fees compare to other states after the cap increase?
It's impossible to project future comparisons to other states? fees. The cap provides an upper limit within which fees could be raised. We cannot predict when or by how much other states will raise their fees. The earliest an Arizona fee increase could take effect would be 2006 for permit-tags and 2007 for licenses. Again, any proposed fee increase would, by law, go through the formal public rulemaking process and involve public input.
How do hunting and fishing prices compare with other forms of recreation?
Hunting and fishing in Arizona will remain an outstanding value. Your licenses can be used all calendar year. Compare the cost and duration with other forms of recreation and entertainment:
Arizona resident general fishing license $18 to $25 Up to 365 days
Arizona resident general hunting license $25.50 to $35 Up to 365 days
Arizona Cardinals single game $15 to $150 Three hours
Golf (18 holes) $25 to $175+ Four to five hours
Dinner at restaurant $20 to $50+ Two hours
Movie $7.50 to $8.50 Two to three hours
What can Arizona sportsmen and sportswomen do?
Your support is crucial. Your license fees pay for Arizona?s wildlife conservation and for game and fish management for hunters and anglers. Your fees pay for:
- Wildlife surveys
- Wildlife law enforcement
- Hunter-accessible wildlife areas
- Hunter and angler access
Who supports this proposal?
The Wildlife Conservation Council has considered this proposal and voted 18-0 in favor of it. Member groups voting in support of the proposal are:
- Anglers United
- Arizona Antelope Foundation
- Arizona Bowhunters Association
- Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society
- Arizona Elk Society
- Arizona Flycasters Club
- Arizona Deer Association
- Arizona Predator Callers
- Arizona Taxidermy Association
- Arizona Trappers Association
- Arizonans for Wildlife Conservation
- Central Arizona Guide & Outfitters Association
- Central Arizona Trial Hound Association
- Coconino Sportsmen
- Copperstate Hunting Retriever Club
- Mohave Sportsman Club
- Phoenix Varmint Callers
- Yuma Valley Rod & Gun Club
Where can I obtain additional information about the fee cap?
Visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Web site at azgfd.gov/feecap. The most up-to-date information will be posted there.
