Document text
1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Boys want to cook for mom and her friend ... New piers offer access at Denman's Whetstone Pond ... Gov. Brown declares state of emergency as Oregon storm damage mounts ... Boys want to cook for mom and her friend ... New piers offer access at Denman's Whetstone Pond ... Gov. Brown declares state of emergency as Oregon storm damage mounts ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: New Pioneer license now costs $6 Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 5, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Dec. 5, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife seems to have snuck a new fee past us. They are now charging $6 a year for my Pioneer license to hunt and fish. It's always been free. What gives? — T.T., Medford After 70 years of being a way to recognize long-term Oregon residents, the Pioneer license will cost $6 beginning in 2016 for hunters and anglers 65 or older and who have lived in Oregon for at least 50 years. It once cost 50 cents, but it has been free the past 15 years. The new $6 fee was part of nearly across-the-board increases for licenses and fees adopted last summer by the Oregon Legislature as part of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's budget. Those who qualify will get not only the Pioneer license for $6 in 2016, but also the Columbia Basin Endorsement for fishing there ($9.75 savings). The reason for the charge is that free Pioneer licenses were costing Oregon a bunch of money. It was preventing the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife from collecting about $250,000 a year in federal excise takes, says Chris Willard, ODFW's recruitment and retention coordinator. Under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rules, the agency doles out excise tax money collected on hunting and fishing equipment to states based on the number of licensed hunters and anglers, Willard says. But the rules do not let states count unpaid licenses and tags toward that money, he says. So, for every person who got a free Pioneer license and who does not purchase any additional tags, ODFW was losing out on $14 in federal funds, Willard says. That added up to about $250,000 per year of federal funds not coming to Oregon, Willard says. "We simply can't continue to leave this money on the table while at the same time eliminating positions that are vital to providing and defending fishing and hunting opportunities in our state," Willard says. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 5, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501