5/30/2007

Commissioners Increase Some Hunting and Fishing Permit Fees
Tom Keith

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioners voted to increase the cost of some hunting and fishing permit fees following a public hearing at a May 24 meeting in Brady. The fees for these permits have not been raised since 2002.

Funding for the Commission is 85 percent by licenses, permits and use fees such as camping, cabin rentals and horseback riding. The remaining 15 percent is appropriated by the Legislature from the general fund.

The permit fee increases become effective Jan. 1, 2008. are:

Permit 2007 Cost 2008 Cost

Resident Hunt $12.00 $14.00

Nonresident Hunt $68.00 $81.00

Nonresident Youth Hunt $12.00 $14.00

Fishing Permit

*Includes cost of Aquatic Habitat Stamp which must be purchased at the same time

*Resident Fish $21.00 $26.00

*Nonresident Fish $51.00 $58.00

Resident 1-Day Fish $7.00 $7.50

Nonresident 1-Day Fish $9.00 $9.50

*Resident 3-Day Fish $16.00 $20.00

*Nonresident 3-Day Fish $20.00 $25.00

Paddlefish Application Fees

Resident Paddlefish Archery $5.00 $6.50

Nonresident Paddlefish Archery $6.50

Resident Paddlefish Snagging $5.00 $6.50

Nonresident Paddlefish Snagging $5.00 $6.50

Combination Hunting & Fishing Permits

Resident Fish/Hunt $31.00 $37.50

Aquatic Habitat Stamp Incorporated in $7.50

Habitat Stamp $13.00 $16.00

Resident Spring Turkey Firearm $21.00 $24.00

Resident Spring Turkey Archery $21.00 $24.00

Elk Applications $8.50

Resident Fall Turkey Firearm $21.00 $24.00

Resident Fall Turkey Archery $21.00 $24.00 Spring Turkey - Limited Landowner $11.00 $12.50

Fall Turkey – Limited Landowner $11.00 $12.50

Lifetime Habitat Stamp $260.00 $320.00

Miscellaneous Permits

Hunting Coyotes from Aircraft $7.00 $8.50

Raptor Permits

Resident Age 14-17 years $14.00 $17.00

Resident Age 18 years and older $40.00 $46.00

Resident Captive Propagation $200.00 $230.00

Recall Pens $13.00 $15.00

Captive Wildlife Permit $25.00 $30.00

Captive Wildlife Auction $50.00 $65.00

Controlled Shooting Area License $130.00 $149.50

Nonresident Controlled Shooting License $11.00 $13.00

Taxidermist Permit $7.00 $8.50

Bait Vendor

Resident Bait Vendor $32.00 $37.00

Nonresident Bait Vendor $200.00 $230.00

Commercial Seining Vendor Permit

Resident (500 foot seine, tramel, 10 hoop) $85.00 $98.00

Resident (additional seine) $25.00 $29.00

Resident (additional hoop) $3.00 $3.50

Nonresident (500 foot seine, tramel, 10 hoop) $170.00 $195.50

Nonresident (additional seine) $50.00 $60.00

Nonresident (additional hoop) $6.00 $7.00

Nonresident Fish Dealer Permit $65.00 $75.00

Aquaculturist Permit $65.00 $75.00

Commercial Put and Take Fishery License $65.00 $75.00

Boat Registration (3-Year Fee)

Class I $20.00 $23.00

Class II $40.00 $46.00

Class III $60.00 $67.50

Class IV $100.00 $115.00

Boat Dealer Registration $40.00 $46.00

County Issuance Fee on each $3.00 $4.00 * All fees include $1.00 agent fee

In other action, the Commissioners:

– set July 27 as the date for a public hearing to amend regulations for the 2007 fall turkey season;

– set July 27 as the date for a public hearing to amend wildlife regulations pertaining to coots, ducks, geese, crow and falconry;

– set July 27 as the date for a public hearing to amend wildlife regulations pertaining to the drawing for special hunt access at Gifford Point Wildlife Management Area;

– voted to grant an easement to the United States Army Corps of Engineers at Randall W. Schilling Wildlife Management Area for the purpose of construction, operation and maintenance of a flow-through chute;

– approved adopting a resolution pertaining to water surface applications in the Niobrara River Basin directing staff to file a letter with the resolution requesting the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources to hold public hearings on pending surface water applications in the Niobrara River Basin, and deny such applications until public interest applications for Niobrara instream flow needs are identified and filed with the NDNR;

– approved a recommendation to enter into a third-party agreement with the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District for development of a new 154 surface acre public reservoir and motorboat access facility near Leigh;

– approved the recommendations of the 2007 Range Grant Committee for projects to be funded by the Shooting Range Grant Assistance Program. The approved proposals and the amounts of the grants were: Kearney Area Community Foundation, $10,000 to continue development of a new shooting range in the Kearney area; Antelope County Gun Club in Neigh, $13,652 to replace a trap thrower, trap house and storage buildings; Central City Sportsmen’s Club, $6,880 to develop a two house skeet range; Spencer NE Gun Club, $9,759.43 to provide enhancements to trap and rifle range, including a new trap thrower and trap house modifications; Beatrice Gun Club, $17,000 to provide for the purchase and installation of two skeet throwers, one trap thrower and two wireless voice release systems; Nebraska Trap Shooter’s Association in Doniphan, $2,600 to reseed the trap range after lead mining; Lincoln Trap and Skeet Range,14 Lincoln throwers that were returned to the Range Grant Program when a pervious partner was unable to fulfill their contract.