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After legislature, DWR sets free digital WMA access permit; RAC objects to loss of fee revenue
Summary
Following state legislation, DWR will require either a hunting/fishing license or a free digital access permit to visit wildlife and waterfowl management areas; RAC members objected to removing permit fees that previously funded WMA maintenance.
The RAC voted 11–1 to accept Division of Wildlife Resources rules implementing recent state laws requiring either a hunting/fishing/combination license or a free digital access permit to enter wildlife and waterfowl management areas.
Under the new process the digital permit will be free and require the applicant to watch an educational video and acknowledge use restrictions; applicants will be asked to donate but donations are optional. DWR explained that legislative language limited the board's discretion: the board must offer a free digital access pathway alongside existing hunting licenses.
Several RAC members criticized the outcome as a loss of user‑fee revenue historically used for WMA maintenance. "We went from one extreme to another," one RAC member said, adding that a per‑vehicle parking fee or earmarked access fee would have been preferable. DWR staff said the law constrains the board and identified allowed uses for donated funds (habitat restoration, trail maintenance, volunteer coordination).
DWR said the licensing system will note on a permit whether the digital permit includes a donation large enough to allow fishing privileges (the law requires parity with fishing license value for that right). Staff also committed to improving plan availability and updating habitat management plans where necessary.
RAC vote: accept DWR implementation of HB 309/HB 30 (11–1). DWR will roll out the digital permit July 1 to satisfy statutory requirements.
Next steps: DWR licensing will implement permit flags for donated amounts; RAC members asked for ongoing reporting on donation levels and WMA fund uses.
