The Virginia Board of Wildlife Resources will decide this week on whether to implement increased fees for hunting, fishing and trapping licenses — among a number of new rules and regulations for outdoor activities.
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources released the proposals in July. Among them were new safety rules for boating, increased fees for motorboat registrations and a new fee to camp on department-owned lands, as well as regulations to protect endangered species and stop the spread of invasive species.
Through a Freedom of Information Act Request, Cardinal News obtained the responses to the department’s public comment form that ran through Aug. 5.
Respondents provided over 1,200 comments — some positive, some negative. Here are a few of them.
Some sportsmen don’t want the squeeze; others are happy to chip in
The department is seeking to increase the price of licenses to hunt, trap and fish by the maximum amount required by law — roughly $5-$20 for Virginia residents, depending on their package. Higher price hikes up to $50 would apply to nonresidents.
Passing the proposals would mean increasing the price of those licenses for the first time in 14 years.
The department has said the price hikes are meant to offset the rising costs of the services they provide. The department’s operating budget has gone up too slowly to meet those needs, according to spokesperson Shelby Crouch.
Edward Warmus of Warrenton lives on a fixed income from Social Security. He said it can be frustrating to pay more and more while his income remains the same.
“If the fee increases become excessive, the choice might be hanging up the hunting rifle which I don’t want to do,” Warmus wrote.
Raymond Carter of King William County said the fees could be helpful, but without looking into alternative avenues it would just be “putting a band-aid on a hemorrhage.”
Carter proposed more specific price hikes for the Deer Management Assistance Program fee, the Public Access Lands for Sportsmen fee and the Virginia State Forest Use Permit. He noted that hound hunters are one of the only groups of hunters without a specific license or permit.
Keegan Gordon of Narrows said he does not mind chipping in for better services, as long as it is used for “good.”
“I expect to see national forest gates open in SWVA, and it be taken care of better all over Virginia, not just [the] northern part where y’all make the most money,” Gordon wrote.
Some show support for new endangered species protections
Peggy Clark of Radford expressed her support for adding Abrams Creek and its tributaries in Washington County to a list of waters in which using seines, traps and nets are prohibited to protect populations of Tennessee Dace, a state endangered species.
The proposal is one of many to conserve habitats and protect endangered species — including barring anglers from catching snapping turtles using trotlines, juglines, limblines or set poles.
Multiple people left comments showing support for the department putting money toward elk conservation, among other species.
“The DWR needs more revenue to hire more conservation officers,” said Richard Hynes of Earlysville.
New camping fee proves controversial
Respondents left over 100 comments regarding the new $10 fee for camping permits on department-owned wildlife management areas and other lands. While some see the benefits in offsetting the increasing costs to maintain and regulate the lands, others do not want to hike one of the cheapest ways to enjoy the outdoors in Virginia.
Patrick Carey of Powhatan — home to the Powhatan Wildlife Management Area — said it is “misleading” to claim camping on the lands is already free for Virginians.
“Access to these lands is already funded through the purchase of hunting, fishing, trapping, or other qualifying licenses,” Carey wrote. “At the same time, DWR is proposing increases to many of those license fees.”
Charles Hurt of Gordonsville does not foresee any positive impacts for the proposal.
“It has always been free and should stay free!” Hurt wrote.
Ronnie Tiller of Spotsylvania supports the $10 camping fee.
“Campers should shoulder some of the financial cost to maintain and police these areas,” Tiller wrote. “And $10 is a lot cheaper than renting a space at a commercial camp ground for one night.”
How to attend the meetings
There are dozens of proposals relating to hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, boating and conservation not discussed above. Full descriptions for all of the proposed new rules and regulations, including multiple code updates and language clarifications, can be found here.
The deciding meetings will take place at the DWR building in Henrico County on Wednesday and Thursday. More focused committee meetings will take place on Wednesday, and the full board will meet on Thursday. See the full schedule here.
Anyone can sign up to speak during a committee or the full board meeting. Those who cannot make it to the meeting can attend virtually.
