2009 Permit Changes FAQ

Sport Permit Restructuring And Pricing

Due to publishing schedules of rules, permit changes passed by the Conservation Commission on September 26 take effect July 1, 2009, instead of March 1, as previously announced.

Give us your comments

Missouri Department of Conservation welcomes comments from the public on these permit changes. MDC will not respond to individual comments.

After a yearlong review of sport permit regulations, the Conservation Commission passed the following changes, at the Sept. 26, 2008, meeting. At the October 31, 2008 meeting the Commission approved a revised effective date of July 1, 2009, for all changes:

Established a 50-percent discounted price for resident and nonresident youth on deer, turkey and trout permits
Eliminated the youth deer and turkey hunting permit and the youth antlerless permit
Approved allowing resident youth under the age of 16 to trap without a permit
Set a minimum age of 6 for obtaining deer and turkey permits
Approved allowing nonresident youth to hunt during the 2-day youth spring turkey season beginning in 2010
Established a light goose conservation order permit
Modified most sport permit prices
Approved allowing nonresident college and technical school students to purchase resident permits
Made the hunter-education and age requirements for mentors consistent
Created cost-savings “Forever” permits for seniors who hunt small game and fish each year
Created a landowner registry for those who qualify for no-cost deer and turkey permits
No longer allow lessees, who live on the property, to qualify for landowner privileges
Changed the landowner acreage requirement for no-cost deer and turkey permit privileges to 80 or more contiguous acres
Eliminated nonresident landowner reduced-price deer and turkey hunting permits.

These changes will become effective July 1, 2009. We’ve developed 30 questions and answers to explain why these changes were implemented and how they may affect your hunting and fishing experiences.

PERMIT PRICING CHANGES

1. Q. Why did the Conservation Department decide to review its permits?

A. Missouri is a great place to hunt and fish, and the Conservation Department intends for that tradition to continue. However, as with everything today, costs associated with fish and wildlife management are going up.

The Conservation Department’s budget represents less than 1 percent of the entire state budget, and no state general revenue is received. Instead the Conservation Department gets most of its funding from: the Conservation Sales Tax (60 percent), permit sales (18 percent), and federal-aid reimbursements (11 percent).

In the past, funding grew each year, but today it is not keeping up with the price of doing business. For example, as the economy tightens, sales-tax revenues are expected to drop or remain flat. In addition, the majority of hunters and anglers are baby boomers. As those people age, fewer people will be hunting and fishing, so permit sales will decrease. Since federal aid is distributed to states based on permit sales, Missouri may receive less of this money.

2. Q. What is the Department doing to find funding to support quality wildlife management?

A. The Department is committed to providing quality hunting and fishing, so staff continues to look into ways to increase funds without creating a hardship on Missourians.

One way is to increase the number of outdoor participants, which could decrease as the baby boomers age. The Conservation Department is a leader in hunter and angler recruitment. We continue to look for ways to recruit youth, adult and nontraditional hunters and anglers, such as women and minorities. With more hunters and anglers, the cost of wildlife and fish management will be shared by more people.

Staff also looked at many ways to increase the number of people who purchase permits so we could increase the amount of federal aid that is returned to Missouri. No one likes to pay more for services, but avid hunters and anglers are usually willing the share additional costs if it means quality hunting and fishing opportunities are being maintained. Conservation Department staff looked at ways to give permit buyers price breaks where possible, while still increasing Missouri’s share of federal aid.

3. Q. What can Missouri do to maximize the amount of federal aid we receive?

A. Every time anyone purchases (anywhere in the U.S.) a firearm, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing gear, or motorboat fuel that person pays a federal excise tax on that purchase.

An elaborate formula—based in part on hunting and fishing permit sales—is used to determine how much each state gets back. When hunters or anglers are exempt from purchasing permits, they are not counted in the formula.

These funds accumulate in two programs: the Wildlife Restoration Program (Pittman-Robertson Act) and the Sport Fish Restoration Program (Dingell-Johnson / Wallop-Breau Act).

Every person who purchases a Missouri hunting or fishing permit is counted as a paid permit holder, and we report the total number to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The FWS then calculates how much of the federal tax can be returned to Missouri, which is then used for habitat restoration, wildlife management, boat ramp construction, and other good works. In 2007, for each person who purchased a fishing permit, Missouri received $11 in federal aid. For each person who purchased a hunting permit, $17 in federal aid was returned to Missouri.

Consequently, the more paid license holders Missouri can report, the greater our potential return of federal funds. Landowners, lessees, people over age 65 and others who receive no-cost permits or are exempt cannot be counted.

4. Q. What returns do Missourians receive when they purchase permits?

A. Maximizing the number of permit purchasers is important for two reasons. First, permit revenues are the second largest source of funding for the Conservation Department, which uses the money to restore habitat, stock fish, manage wildlife, and for other programs that provide the quality hunting and fishing Missourians enjoy. Secondly, as noted previously, the number of paid permit holders determines the amount of federal aid that is apportioned to Missouri, which helps us to do even more to enhance hunting and fishing opportunities.

5. Q. Who has been receiving no-cost resident permits or exemptions in the past?

Small game hunters and anglers 65 years of age and older
Small game hunters and anglers under the age of 16
Disabled small game hunters and anglers
Deer and turkey hunters who own 5 acres or more (hunting on their own land)
Deer and turkey hunters who lease and live on 5 acres or more (hunting on their own land)
Small game hunters and anglers who own 5 acres or more while hunting or fishing on their own land
Small game hunters and anglers who lease and live on 5 acres or more while hunting or fishing on their own land.

6. Q. Effective July 1, 2009, who will be required to purchase resident permits who didn’t in the past?

Small game, deer and turkey hunters and anglers who lease and live on 5 acres or more while hunting or fishing on their leased land
Small game hunters and anglers 65 years of age and older born on or after July 1, 1944 (however, senior hunters and anglers can purchase a fish and/or hunt “Forever” permit at age 60 and older, which will save them money and allow them to counted for federal
aid over a number of years.)
Deer and turkey hunters who own less than 80 acres while hunting on their own land.

7. Q. Effective July 1, 2009, who will receive no-cost resident permits or be exempt?

Small game hunters, trappers and anglers under the age of 16
Disabled small game hunters and anglers
Small game hunters and anglers who are currently 65 and who will turn 65 before July 1, 2009
Small game hunters and anglers who own 5 acres or more while hunting or fishing on their own land
Deer and turkey hunters who own 80 or more contiguous acres while hunting on their own land.

PERMIT PRICING CHANGES

8. Q. Why are permit prices going to increase July 1, 2009?

A. Prices for a number of permits haven’t been adjusted in several years. Our goal is to keep resident prices as reasonable as possible. When compared with other states, our prices tend to be in the middle-to-lower end of the scale.

Multi-state permit price comparison

New programs and enhanced services come with increased costs. Some of these programs include expanding the Department’s commitment to youth education; hunting and fishing opportunities; dove field management; winter fish stocking; and the assistance offered to private landowners, who increasingly are interested in conservation practices.

In the future the Commission will annually use the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to evaluate and perhaps adjust permit prices, thus avoiding less frequent but larger increases. Regardless, Missouri hunting and fishing permits are relatively inexpensive, for example:

A Resident Spring Turkey Hunting Permit ($20 in 2010) is the same price as one bleacher seat at a Cardinals or Royals baseball game.
A Resident Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit ($10 in 2009) is less than a ticket and refreshments at a first-run movie theater.

9. Q. Which permits will increase in price on July 1, 2009, and by how much?

A. Hunters and anglers who buy 2009 permits before July 1, 2009, will be able to save money by paying 2008 prices.

Resident Hunting and Fishing, from $19 to $22
Resident Fishing, from $12 to $14
Daily Fishing, from $7 to $7.50
Nonresident Fishing, from $40 to $42
Trout, from $7 to $10
Resident Small Game Hunting, from $10 to $12
Resident Fur Handler, from $10 to $11
Resident Trapping, from $10 to $14
Cable Restraint, from $10 to $10.50
Nonresident Furbearer Hunting/Trapping, from $120 to $130
Nonresident Small Game Hunting, from $75 to $80
Daily Small Game Hunting, from $11 to $20
Migratory Bird, from $6 to $8
Replacement Permit, from $2 to $3
Resident Spring Turkey, from $17 to $20
Resident Fall Turkey, from $13 to $15
Nonresident Spring Turkey, from $175 to $190
Nonresident Fall Turkey, from $105 to $110
Resident Archer’s Hunting, from $19 to $23
Resident Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting, from $7 to $10
Resident Firearms Any-Deer Hunting, from $17 to $20
Resident Managed Deer Hunt, from $17 to $20
Nonresident Firearms Any-Deer Hunting, from $175 to $225
Nonresident Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting, from $7 to $25
Nonresident Archer’s Hunting, from $150 to $225
Nonresident Managed Deer Hunting, from $175 to $225
Resident Archery Antlerless Deer Hunting, from $7 to $10
Nonresident Archery Antlerless Deer Hunting, from $7 to $25

YOUTH PERMITS AND PRIVILEGES

10. Q. Why eliminate the special youth deer and turkey hunting permits beginning July 1, 2009?

A. Youth permits and associated regulations have generated much confusion for the public and Conservation Department staff. A logical solution is to allow resident and nonresident youth hunters to purchase regular resident permits, but at a discounted price. Doing so allows youth hunters to purchase only those privileges they want, rather than having to purchase bundled privileges, and also helps keep hunting affordable for these young hunters. Note: Youth Deer and Turkey Hunting Permits will continue to be available for the spring 2009 turkey season. This permit will no longer be available after July 1, 2009. We will allow youth who purchase this permit in the spring to turn in unused portions of the Youth Deer and Turkey permit for regular fall deer and turkey hunting permits. More details will be provided in July.

11. Q. What permits can youth purchase to hunt deer and turkey?

A. Resident and nonresident youth age 6 to 15 will purchase regular resident deer and turkey hunting permits (firearms and archery) but only pay 50 percent of the regular price. At the time of sale, the electronic point-of-sale system will automatically determine the youth’s age and issue the appropriately priced permit. This new procedure will reduce the Conservation Department’s administrative costs, while providing more opportunity for youth because they can take game in accordance with regular season bag limits. Youth who are not hunter-education certified will continue to be required to hunt in the immediate presence of an adult mentor.

12. Q. Why establish youth pricing for annual trout permits?

A. Our hope is that a discounted annual trout permit will increase youth participation and also address complaints we have received regarding the trout permit requirement for upper-Lake Taneycomo, but without significantly affecting permit revenues that support the trout program. Beginning July 1, 2009, price for the youth trout permit is $5, which is a 50 percent discount from the price of $10 for the adult trout permit. The 50 percent discount is consistent with the new cost for youth daily trout fishing permits at the trout parks.

13. Q. Why allow resident youth to trap without a permit?

A. Approximately 5,000 trapping permits were sold in 2007, and youth participation is low. There is ample evidence that youth exposure is important in developing a lifelong engagement in hunting, fishing and trapping. Extending free trapping privileges to residents under the age of 16 may provide an additional incentive for them to try trapping themselves or to go with a friend or an adult mentor.

14. Q. Why allow nonresident youth to hunt during the 2-day Youth Spring Turkey Season starting in 2010?

A. This change is consistent with Conservation Department’s goal of enhancing youth participation. Allowing nonresident youth to participate during this popular 2-day season will provide Missouri residents more opportunity to mentor young friends and family members who live out of the state. We have always allowed nonresident youth to participate in the youth deer season thus this regulation change achieves consistency across the youth seasons.

PERMIT PRICES for NONRESIDENTS

15. Q. Why offer nonresident college and technical school students permits at resident prices starting July 1, 2009?

A. Typically, students live in Missouri nine or more months each year, and many cannot afford the cost of nonresident hunting and fishing permits. We believe they should be able to hunt and fish with friends and classmates while attending school in Missouri. In addition, it may also encourage resident students to hunt and fish because they can bring along their out-of-state friends. Although the number of students who take advantage of this opportunity will likely be small, we want to encourage their participation at this important time in their lives. To ensure students are eligible, these permits will be available only at Department offices.

16. Q. Will nonresident deer permit prices increase?

A. The Conservation Department held 16 public meetings on deer management across the state in the winter of 2008. We also received over 5,000 online comments from the public. A consistent issue was the low price Missouri charges nonresidents to deer hunt compared to that in surrounding states. Criticisms were often directed specifically towards the cost, $7, of nonresident antlerless deer permits. In setting the price of nonresident deer permits, the Department tries to balance the desires of those wishing to return to Missouri to hunt with family and friends with a fair cost for the premier deer hunting opportunities Missouri provides. The cost of the nonresident any-deer permit will increase to $225 in 2009 and the cost of the nonresident antlerless permit will increase to $25.

RESIDENT SENIOR and LIFETIME PERMITS

17. Q. Why will residents born on or after July 1, 1944, no longer able to hunt and fish without a permit after they turn 65?

A. Resident anglers and hunters age 65 and older were not being counted towards federal aid because they did not need to purchase a permit. This did not help Missouri recoup the federal monies to which we are entitled.

While examining older-aged permit buyers and associated trends, we saw an opportunity to create reduced-priced permits—the “Forever” permits— that save seniors money and allow them to be counted for federal aid. The sooner these permits are purchased after reaching age 60, the greater the savings.

Missouri residents born before July 1, 1944, are exempt and can continue to hunt small game and fish without a permit, just as they do now.

18. Q. Will residents who are currently 65 years old or who will turn 65 before July 1, 2009, be required to purchase a permit to hunt small game and fish in Missouri?

A. No, they will be grandfathered in and will have the same privileges as they have now. They can continue to hunt small game and fish in Missouri without a permit.

19. Q. What is the new “Forever” permit and why is it a bargain?

A. The “Forever” permit is the last permit a senior angler or small game hunter, age 60 or older, needs to buy. It also allows these permittees to be counted for federal-aid purposes for many years, based on actuary tables and other federal formulas.

Previously, permit buyers had to purchase a permit every year until age 65. Buying a “Forever” permit is not only a bargain, but it also eliminates the need to purchase a permit each year.

Beginning July 1, 2009, anyone age 60 or older may purchase a “Forever” permit. Missouri residents born before July 1, 1944, are exempt and can continue to hunt and fish without a permit, just as they do now.

“Forever” permits offer the same privileges as small game hunting permits and/or regular fishing permits. Prices for the new “Forever” permits are:

Resident Senior Fish “Forever” Permit (age 60 – 63) $24
Resident Senior Fish “Forever” Permit (age 64+) $12
Resident Senior Hunt Small Game “Forever” Permit (age 60 – 63) $24
Resident Senior Hunt Small Game “Forever” Permit (age 64+) $12
Resident Senior Hunt Small Game / Fish “Forever” Permit (age 60 – 63) $40
Resident Senior Hunt Small Game / Fish “Forever” Permit (age 64+) $20

At age 64 and older, the price of the “Forever” permits drop to equal or less than the cost of the annual permit price. Those 64 and older who purchase a fishing or small game hunting permit will automatically receive “Forever” permits, so there will not be an increased cost to seniors who hunt and fish. See charts below.

Age when purchase Fish “Forever” Permit	Price of Fish “Forever” Permit	Cost of purchasing annual fishing permits until age 65*	Savings when purchase Fish “Forever” Permit
Age 60	$24	$70	$46
Age 61	$24	$56	$32
Age 62	$24	$42	$18
Age 63	$24	$28	$4
Age 64 and older	$12	$14	$2

* Based on 2009 permit prices.

Age when purchase Small Game Hunting “Forever” Permit	Price of Small Game Hunting “Forever” Permit	Cost of purchasing annual small game hunting permits until age 65*	Savings when purchase Small Game Hunting “Forever” Permit
Age 60	$24	$60	$36
Age 61	$24	$48	$24
Age 62	$24	$36	$12
Age 63	$24	$24	$0
Age 64 and older	$12	$12	$0

* Based on 2009 permit prices.

Age when purchase Small Game Hunting and Fishing “Forever” Permit	Price of Small Game Hunting and Fishing “Forever” Permit	Cost of purchasing annual Small Game Hunting and Fishing Permit until age 65*	Savings when purchase Small Game Hunting and Fishing “Forever” Permit
Age 60	$40	$110	$70
Age 61	$40	$88	$48
Age 62	$40	$66	$26
Age 63	$40	$44	$4
Age 64 and older	$20	$22	$2

* Based on 2009 permit prices.

20. Q. Are “Forever” permits the same as Lifetime permits?

A. No, Lifetime permits offer more privileges, specially taking trout, migratory birds and light geese during the Conservation Order. For residents age 60 or older, “Forever” permits are the same as purchasing a small game permit and/or a regular fishing permit. For some people, the “Forever” permits will be a great deal, for others, the Lifetime permits might offer a better bargain. Both types of permits will allow the hunter or angler to be counted for federal aid for several years.

LANDOWNER PERMITS and PRIVILEGES

21. Q. What is the Landowner Registry system, why is it necessary, and how will it work?

A. In recent years, persons simply went to their local permit vendor, declared themselves as landowners, and received no-cost permits. Unfortunately, that procedure provided opportunities for unethical hunters to cheat the system. Consequently, we are returning to a system where legal landowners must verify ownership to receive no-cost landowner deer and turkey privileges.
Beginning July 1, 2009, hunters wanting to receive landowner deer and turkey permit privileges must first register their property with the Landowner Registry, either by going online or calling the Conservation Department, and providing:

Property location (county and Section–Township–Range)
Number of acres owned at the location
Status of each person (landowner or immediate household member).

We will then program the electronic point-of-sale system to allow landowner deer and turkey permits to be issued.

Requiring persons to declare their specific landownership up-front will make it easier for MDC to verify land ownership.

Those who have received no-cost landowner permits in the last year will receive information from the Conservation Department with plenty of time to register before the 2009 fall deer and turkey seasons.

22. Q. Why will the minimum acreage for no-cost resident landowner deer and turkey permits increase from 5 acres to 80 acres as of July 1, 2009?

A. Land ownership patterns continue to change, with ownerships becoming increasingly smaller. The increased number of smaller landowners has resulted in a growing number of no-cost deer and turkey permits being issued. Besides this loss of income, Missouri is also losing federal aid.

The new minimum of 80 contiguous acres better conforms with the original intent of acknowledging landowners who derive significant income from agricultural activities on their property, while also recognizing recreational landowners who contribute to wildlife habitat. Those who qualify (including immediate household members) will continue to receive no-cost deer and turkey hunting permits which may be used on all the landowners property, even tracts less than 80 acres.

23. Q. Are there any provisions for landowners who have close to 80 acres to qualify for no-cost deer and turkey permits (e.g. 79.05 acres due to an easement taken out of their property)?

A. Those with less than 80 acres, no matter how close they may be, do not qualify. The deed or the real estate tax document must indicate that at least 80 acres are owned.

24. Q. If two adjoining parcels totaling 80 acres, or more, are separated by a county road will that land qualify?

A. Yes, if the total owned is at least 80 acres.

25. Q. Why will nonresident landowners be ineligible for reduced-cost deer and turkey hunting permits as of July 1, 2009?

A. In the past, nonresident landowners have received generous discounts on deer and turkey hunting permits. At the 2008 public deer meetings, it was clear that Missouri residents felt that nonresident fees were too low, especially compared to other states. Most states do not give discounts to their nonresident landowners. Nonresident landowners will need to purchase regular nonresident permits beginning in the fall of 2009.

26. Q. Why will lessees not be eligible for no-cost hunting and fishing privileges as of July 1, 2009?

A. To qualify for no-cost privileges, lessees have always been required to live on the property. No-cost privileges have not been provided to farmers, hunters or others who lease ground for various purposes but do not live on it. Who qualified as a lessee was confusing for the public and permit vendors. For those individuals living on the property, verifying that they actually leased the land, and not just the home being rented, was problematic for conservation agents and the lessees themselves.

27. Q. Why will there be a minimum age for landowners to receive no-cost deer and turkey hunting permits as of July 1, 2009?

A. In the past, there was no age requirement for obtaining no-cost landowner permits. However, nonlandowners had to be at least 6 years old to purchase deer and turkey hunting permits. Requiring youth to be at least 6 years old to receive landowner deer and turkey privileges will make the regulations consistent and less confusing for permit vendors.

CONSERVATION ORDER PERMIT

28. Q. Why is there a new Conservation Order Permit as of July 1, 2009?

A. Starting the fall of 2009, all hunters, including landowners on their own property, who want to take light geese during the special Conservation Order, must purchase a Conservation Order Permit. The price will be $5 for residents and $40 for nonresidents. The new permit will be valid from July 1-June 30. A valid Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit also is required during the Conservation Order. These fees will be used to comply with federally mandated surveys, data reporting and enforcement.

HUNTER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

29. Q. Why change the age and hunter-education requirements for mentors as of July 1, 2009?

A. The Conservation Department wants to promote mentoring of new hunters. Clear and simple regulations help mentors understand their options and responsibilities, and make mentoring easier. The current hunter-education requirements for accompanying adult mentors are inconsistent. That is, a hunter-education certified adult is not required for youth waterfowl and upland bird hunting, but is required for youth deer and turkey hunting. Further, the required age for the mentor ranges from 17 (for small game, turkey, and deer), to 18 (for waterfowl), to 21 (for the Apprentice Hunter Authorization). Effective July 1, 2009, all mentors must be at least age 18 and those born on or after Jan. 1, 1967—including landowners on their own land—must be hunter-education certified.

30. Q. On July 1, 2009, when the landowner definition changes from 5 to 80 acres, do landowners who own less than 80 acres need to be hunter-education certified to hunt on their own land?

A. All hunters must be hunter-education certified to purchase firearms hunting permits, unless they are exempt by age or hunting with a mentor on the appropriate permit. People who own at least 5 acres, but less than 80 acres, will not need to be hunter-education certified to hunt small game on their land because they are not required to purchase a small game hunting permit. However, because these landowners must now purchase deer and turkey hunting permits to hunt on their land, they must be hunter-education certified to purchase these permits.

Our records show that this regulation, which will go into effect July 1, 2009, will impact less than 5,000 Missouri hunters. The new online hunter-education course (www.hunter-ed.com/mo/), along with the regular courses available around the state, should help these hunters become certified before the 2009 fall deer and turkey seasons.