Columnist Barb Henderson: Increased license fees go to improvements

Barb Henderson

Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 | 9:51 a.m.

Barb Henderson is an outdoors enthusiast, freelance writer and producer/host of outdoors radio television programming. Her column appears Friday in the Sun.

Hunting, fishing and the great outdoors -- for some, there might not be anything more enjoyable.

As an avid hunter and angler, I think not.

After all, there's something special about the rhythm and artistry of each cast, a tug at the end of fishing line, a fish jumping from the surface of the water, an unique sound that often squeals from a reel and that wonderful feeling you receive when you've released a fish back into the waters.

Hunting also offers fond memories such as sitting quietly in a cold, wet duck blind waiting for waterfowl to make their flight into decoys, hunting the field with a trained bird dog, listening for that distinctive bugle from a majestic bull elk, a gobble from a wild turkey or an opportunity to tag along with a son or daughter as they harvest their first mule deer.

We enjoy these type of outdoor experiences thanks to financial support from hunters and anglers.

Nevada's hunting and fishing license year runs March 1 through the end of February.

Money received from the sale of hunting, fishing and trapping licenses goes into a NDOW Wildlife Fund, which is used for salaries of biologists, game wardens and other staff, equipment, wildlife management, conservation programs and more.

Interestingly, these fees are not used for Nevada boating programs.

Next month, when Nevada hunters and anglers head out to purchase their new 2004-05 hunting and fishing license, they will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets because an increase in the Nevada hunting and fishing licenses was passed by the 2003 Legislature.

The money from these increases in licenses will be directed toward habitat improvements throughout the state.

The new prices for resident adult licenses are: fishing licenses $29, hunting licenses $33, combination hunting/fishing $54. There will also be a $3 habitat improvement fee included this year in the sales price of licenses.

Something else new for hunters: Bird hunters will need to purchase an upland game stamp for $10 before heading out to the field during bird seasons. The money from the stamp will be used for upland game projects including the maintenance and construction of water developments and/or guzzlers.

Currently, there are nearly 1,500 water developments/guzzlers in the state.

Fishing and hunting licenses will be available by late February and can be purchased at any of the Nevada Department of Wildlife offices and most sporting goods stores.