For the first time in almost 17 years, hunters in the state of Pennsylvania may see a $10 increase in the price of resident general hunting or furtaking licenses.
In a senate bill sponsored by Sen. Chuck McIlhinney, R-Bucks County; and cosponsored by Sen. Jim Brewster, D-Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, Sen. Richard Alloway II, R-Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York counties; and Sen. Mario Scavello, R-Monroe and Northampton counties, would increase the fee for a resident general hunting or furtaker license by $10, from $19 to $29.
While resident and non-resident junior and senior license fees would not be subject to increase under the proposal, fees for other licenses such as both resident and non-resident classes of bear, antlerless deer and archery licenses would also increase.
The bill also proposes an inclusive license aptly named the “Ultimate Outdoorsman”, allowing residents to pay a $110 fee and receive their general license, furtaker license, archery license, muzzleloader license, bear license, special wild turkey license and migratory game bird license. This new license would give hunters $38 in savings as opposed to securing those licenses separately.
Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough applauded the sponsors of the bill, highlighting the fact that, if approved, this bill would allow the Pennsylvania Game Commission to become healthier, financially.
“Seventeen years is a long time, and I’m sure almost everyone can relate to how costs have escalated since the last license-fee increase took effect in 1999,” Hough said. “Without a single increase to cover the cost of inflation during that time, it has become increasingly difficult to stretch the same dollar any further, and we are at the point now where we have needed to make some very difficult decisions to cut staff and scale back programs solely for budgetary reasons.
“The license-fee increase proposed by Senators McIlhinney, Brewster, Alloway and Scavello, would put the Game Commission back on solid financial footing, and the sooner this proposal is approved, the better for the state’s wildlife, and its hunters and trappers, and all citizens of the Commonwealth who care about wildlife,” Hough said.
For more information, read the release on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s website.
