1. sports
2. hunting and shooting

AIM FOR SUCCESS
1
INVEST IN GEORGIA FISH AND WILDLIFE!
OBJECTIVE
JUSTIFICATION
Engage hunters, anglers and other stakeholders to discuss license restructuring, fee changes, and priority service delivery.
--A resident license fee change has not occurred for 23 years while costs
have nearly doubled, significantly reducing our ability to maintain services.
--License revenue is the core funding for angling and hunting programs and
is their only stable source of funding.
--Recent budget reductions have negatively impacted Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) operational capacity, resulting in lost full-time
positions and significantly decreased operating funds.
-To
- meet customer demands for services and programs, it is necessary to
increase management and production capacity and offer recreational
services comparable to neighboring states.
--Federal funding sources are volatile. They are not suited to building core
programs, already represent more than 50% of WRD’s budget, 70% of
Coastal Resources Division’s budget, require matching non-federal funds
and have rigid eligibility requirements.
SOME POTENTIAL ENHANCEMENTS BASED ON PUBLIC FEEDBACK
--Increase fresh and salt water
angling opportunities through
habitat improvements, restoration
of historical fisheries such as
American shad, and developing
increased public access
--Enhance current shooting range
opportunities to meet growing
demand for recreational shooting
--Increase law enforcement presence on DNR lands
--Promote ethical hunting and
angling by expansion of outreach
and education efforts, particularly
events for new/youth participants
--Expand assistance to private land
owners in managing for desirable
species and dealing with nuisance
wildlife (e.g. how-to trapping
seminars for coyotes)
--Implement a workforce retention
strategy designed to target and
retain well-qualified professionals
--Re-open PFAs to 7 days per week
(currently open 5 days/week) and
create night fishing opportunities
--Improve habitat on WMAs to
conserve game and nongame
species of concern
--Advance black bass management
to maintain Georgia’s position as
the “Bass Capital of the World”
--Increase overall accessibility and
improve infrastructure (such as
roads, gates, facilities, and parking
areas) on Wildlife Management
Areas (WMA) and Public Fishing
Areas (PFA)
--Evaluate and reconfigure mountain
trout management program to
meet user needs and expectations
--Improve the quality and diversity
of managed hunts on WMAs and
other public lands
--Improve the quality of hunting
experiences on public lands with
habitat improvements such as
food plots, timber management
and prescribed burning
--Develop new boating access to
meet growing demand
05/12/15
--Expand WMA and PFA use opportunities through increased quota
hunts, campground development,
and amenity improvements (e.g.
portable restrooms)
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
AIM FOR SUCCESS
2
INVEST IN GEORGIA FISH AND WILDLIFE!
CURRENT LICENSE PRICES AND POTENTIAL CONCEPT
Comparison: Current Resident License Fees of Southeastern States and Georgia
RESIDENT ANNUAL FEES
Deer Hunting with Any Weapon
HIGH
112.00
LOW
18.00
AVG
39.00
GA
19.00
GA RANK
15 of 16
Spring Turkey Hunting
56.00
17.00
31.00
19.00
14 of 16
Small Game Hunting (not including Waterfowl)
28.00
8.00
20.00
10.00
15 of 16
Waterfowl Hunting (state licenses only, no federal)
59.00
15.50
27.00
15.50
16 of 16
Freshwater Fishing
30.00
9.00
18.00
9.00
16 of 16
Trout Fishing (mountain)
46.00
10.00
29.00
14.00
9 of 10
Saltwater Fishing
40.00
9.00
22.00
9.00
10 of 10
LICENSE PRICES
GOALS
To Simplify License
Purchase Decisions
and
Exceed Customer Expectations
To Enhance Recruitment,
Retention and Federal Funding
while
Maintaining Competitive
License Prices
To Achieve Price Parity
with Southeastern States
thus
Expanding and Restoring
Opportunity and Capacity
The natural resources and recreational opportunities found in Georgia
are among the best in the nation and residents enjoy some of the lowest
hunting and fishing license prices in the Southeast. In order to maintain
programs and to meet the desires expressed by Georgia’s hunting and
angling public, the Department of Natural Resources is proposing a
hunting and fishing license restructure.
Georgia residents have not experienced a resident hunting and fishing
license fee increase since 1992. The 1992 license fee increase was used
to fund land acquisition efforts, as was the previous increase in 1987. The
last hunting and fishing license fee increase made in support of agency
operations occurred 34 years ago in 1981.
Since that time, DNR has greatly expanded its ownership and management
of WMAs, PFAs and boating access sites while maintaining other key programs. Meanwhile, license revenues that fuel the agency’s core mission
and function have remained stagnant for many years.
POTENTIAL CONCEPT
LICENSE
Hunting
CURRENT FEE
10.00
CONCEPT FEE
15.00
9.00
15.00
Combination Hunting and Fishing
17.00
25.00
Hunting + Big Game
19.00
40.00
Fishing + Trout (mountain)
14.00
25.00
Sportsman Combo
55.00
60.00
Fishing
All concept licenses include access to public lands.
05/12/15
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
AIM FOR SUCCESS
3
INVEST IN GEORGIA FISH AND WILDLIFE!
KEY POINTS
KEEP OUR OUTDOOR HERITAGE STRONG
A comprehensive hunting and fishing license fee restructure is needed to
restore and enhance services to the sportsmen and women of Georgia.
Georgians will continue to enjoy some of the most affordable hunting and
angling privileges in the country while gaining the benefits of improved
services and access.
Hunters and anglers have supported past fee changes and past surveys
indicated support for future increases if funds are returned directly to fish
and wildlife programs.
PUBLIC INPUT
SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS
The Georgia DNR needs your input to develop a customer-supported
fishing and hunting license restructure. Please join us at one of the public
meetings scheduled this June to learn more and share your thoughts.
Gainesville—June 15 (Mon.)
Gainesville Civic Center
Chattahoochee Room
If you are unable to attend
any of the meetings please visit
georgiawildlife.com/aimforsuccess
to submit comments and take
part in an online survey
Cartersville—June 23 (Tues.)
Red Top Mountain State Park
Group Shelter #1
830 GREEN STREET NE
50 LODGE ROAD SE
GAINESVILLE, GA 30501
CARTERSVILLE, GA 30121
Baxley—June 16 (Tues.)
Baxley City Hall
City Council Meeting Room
Albany—June 24 (Wed.)
Darton College
Room J121-123
282 EAST PARKER STREET
2400 GILLIONVILLE ROAD
BAXLEY, GA 31513
ALBANY, GA 31707
Richmond Hill—June 17 (Wed.)
Richmond Hill City Center
RICHMOND HILL, GA 31324
Perry—June 25 (Thurs.)
Miller-Murphy-Howard Building
Conference Room
Georgia National Fairgrounds
(in J.F. Gregory Park)
401 LARRY WALKER PARKWAY
Greensboro—June 22 (Mon.)
Grace Fellowship Church
PERRY, GA 31069
520 CEDAR ST
(Exit 135 off I-75)
1971 SOUTH MAIN STREET
GREENSBORO, GA 30642
All meetings: 3–5 pm and 7–9 pm
We appreciate your support and look forward to your input!
05/12/15
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES