The state Department of Conservation is proposing rate increases for hunting and fishing permits for 2025. If that news sounds familiar, it's because the state raised the rates for most licenses this year, after nearly two decades without a change.
More regular increases to keep pace with inflation and rising costs is probably the right strategy, but it is likely to not go over as well when adjustments are announced annually. The process requires requests for public input, so see below if you would like to make a comment about the pending price hikes.
The majority of the changes will affect non-residents, and even the department's biggest detractors are usually on board for putting the pinch on outsiders. It’s one of the most common complaints I hear about hunting permit prices. “We don't charge as much as” (Iowa or Illinois or fill in the blank) do when our state's hunters and anglers travel there for outdoor recreation.
The rationale in Missouri has been that most of the non-residents who come to the Show-Me State are former residents and relatives of current residents. Permit prices should not be a deterrent to outdoors-oriented family reunions that follow the rules. The proposed increases for 2025 still keep the state below the average rates that our eight neighboring states charge us when we visit.
If approved by the conservation commission in September, non-residents will pay $243.50 for a spring turkey hunting permit, compared to the neighboring-state average of $255.22. Firearms deer hunters from out of state will be asked to buy an any-deer permit for $288, which is still much lower than the $374.31 average of our neighbors. Archers face the greatest disparity with a recommended non-resident permit price of $288 to hunt in Missouri compared to $436.69 elsewhere.
Residents will be asked to pay more for their annual trout permits with a proposed hike from $10 to $12. Because trout are a non-native species, all fish caught by trout anglers in Missouri have hatchery heritage. In most cases they are stocked regularly for anglers. The annual permit is required for fishing in Lake Taneycomo and other waters outside the state's trout parks. Anglers in the trout parks must purchase a daily tag for $5.
“Costs continue to increase for habitat management and improvements, cost-share funding, fuel, equipment, contract and construction work, and other aspects of the work MDC staff does,” said conservation department director Sara Parker Pauley. “We need to keep up with rising costs and can do that by adjusting permit prices. Even with the minor price adjustments we propose, Missouri permit prices remain good bargains when compared to surrounding states.”
The state Conservation Commission gave initial approval to the proposed permit price adjustments at its May 24 meeting. Public comments are welcome from July 2 through Aug. 1. Online input will be considered by the commission at its meeting Sept. 6. Visit mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/public-commenting-opportunities after July 2 to submit comments. If approved, the price adjustments would go into effect Jan. 1, 2025.
According to conservation department data, revenue from permit sales accounts for about 16 percent of the department's budget. The conservation sales tax provides about 61 percent, and federal taxes and reimbursements make up about 17 percent. Sales and rentals, interest and other sources contribute the remaining 6 percent. On average, Missouri residents pay $26 annually for conservation through the one-eighth-of-one-cent sales tax.
John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine. If you have story ideas, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com, and you can find more outdoor news and updates at johnjwink.com.