The following fee changes were recommended beginning in 2003:
• Increase resident fishing and hunting licenses and tags for combined angling harvest, deer, and elk by $5.
• Increase resident combined hunting/fishing licenses and resident tags for antelope, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat by $10.
• Increase the resident/nonresident daily angling license by $4, the non-resident 7-day angling license by $9, and the nonresident annual angling license by $13.
• Increase the nonresident hunting license by $18, nonresident deer tag by $73, nonresident elk tag by $55, nonresident antelope tag by $76, and nonresident mountain goat and bighorn sheep tags by $107.
• Increase resident "Sportpack" by $25.
• Increase resident turkey tag by $6.50 and nonresident turkey tag by $22.50.

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission supported fee increases because of the continuing budget crisis in state government. Without a fee increase, ODFW would have to cut 45.5 staff positions, close two hatcheries, reduce enforcement, and reduce wildlife damage and habitat programs.

A citizen advisory committee suggested the amendments to raise nonresident fees proportionally with resident fees, increase turkey tags to match neighboring states, and increase the daily angling license.

The adopted budget proposal will now be forwarded to the Governor's Office for evaluation and eventual inclusion in the statewide budget proposal for all state agencies and considered by the Legislature starting in January 2003.

Additional information about the budget proposal can be found on the ODFW website at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/200305_budget.html.