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Resident criticizes 25% increase in Utah one-day fishing license during RAC public comment
Summary
A Cedar City-area resident told the Southern Region RAC Aug. 5 that the Division's new $44 one-day youth fishing license is out of scale with neighboring states and risks discouraging youth participation; the comment was recorded for the meeting record but no rule change was decided at the meeting.
During the public-comment period Aug. 5, Bill Lane of New Harmony criticized the Division of Wildlife Resources' recent increase in the one-day fishing license fee, saying the cost will deter families and youth from fishing.
Lane told the Southern Region Advisory Council that the one-day youth license fee of $44 — up from $31 — is disproportionate to neighboring states and could discourage families from taking children fishing. "You're making criminals out of people by raising the rates this high," Lane said, recounting a recent outing where he paid licenses for four people and said the cost would dissuade many families. He urged the Division and board members to reconsider the fee increase or seek media attention to raise the issue.
Council members acknowledged the concern and said they expect the topic to be relevant at upcoming meetings where fishing fees and regulations will be discussed; staff noted that fishing items are on a future meeting agenda. The public comment was recorded; no action was taken at the Aug. 5 RAC meeting in response to the comment.
Lane provided comparative price references during his remarks, stating one-day fees in nearby states (as he reported them) that he said are lower than Utah’s new rate. The Division did not present a response during the meeting; staff said fishing-license topics will be discussed at a future meeting.
