DNR Looking at Cuts in Wake of Bill's Failure

With West Virginia among several states showing declining ranks of hunters and anglers, the state's Division of Natural Resources supported a plan this session that would have offered seniors permanent (instead of annual) hunting and fishing licenses.

The proposed fee was $15, but seniors can now hunt and fish for free. That likely helped kill the bill, though it proposed waiving the fee for those age 65 and older already exempt from licensing requirements.

The Register-Herald of Beckley reports on the reason why DNR wants seniors to hold a license, even a free or discounted one: the number of licenses a state issues determines its share of revenue from federal taxes on fishing gear, hunting firearms and ammunition.

"West Virginia could lose upward of $350,000 by one informal estimate under the Pittman-Robinson Act." the article said.

“It’s as if they don’t exist," DNR chief Frank Jezioro told the newspaper. "So that matching money for their hunting and fishing equipment goes to other states that have a seniors license.”