Nov. 19, 2013

Some exciting changes are coming to Arizona hunting and fishing licenses beginning in 2014. A new license and fee structure will be easier for customers and offer more value. Highlights of the changes include:

A Simplified Structure. The former structure of more than 40 license and stamp options is reduced to six license options and a single migratory bird stamp.

Bundled Privileges for Better Value. Most licenses will have bundled privileges offering more value. For example, Fishing licenses and Combination Hunt/Fish licenses will include trout, two-pole and Community Fishing privileges.

Valid for One Year. Licenses (other than the Short-term) will be valid for one year from the date of purchase instead of just for the calendar year.

Youth Combination Hunt and Fish license for only $5. The Youth Combination Hunt and Fish license will cost only $5 (as opposed to the current $26.50) and will be required for youth ages 10-17.

Single State Migratory Bird Stamp. The only state stamp that will be required is the Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp, which is required (along with your hunting license) for the taking of migratory birds (such as doves, band-tailed pigeons), including waterfowl (such as ducks, geese). This stamp costs $5 and takes the place of the two current separate state stamps (Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp and Arizona Waterfowl Stamp, which is being discontinued). Keep in mind that individuals age 16 and older who wish to hunt waterfowl will still be required to also purchase the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp (i.e., Federal Duck Stamp).

The new license structure and fees, which will go into effect January 1, 2014, are as follows:

License	Privileges (subject to hunting and fishing regulations)	Resident Fee	Nonresident Fee
General Fishing	Allows take of all fish species statewide, including at Community Fishing waters.	$37	$55
General Hunting	Allows take of small game, fur-bearing animals, predatory animals, certain nongame animals, and upland game birds. A valid tag or stamp is required for the take of big game animals and migratory game birds.	$37	Not available - see Combination Hunt and Fish license below.
Combination Hunt and Fish	Allows take of all fish species statewide (including at Community Fishing waters), small game, fur-bearing animals, predatory animals, certain nongame animals and upland game birds. A valid tag or stamp is required for the take of big game animals and migratory game birds.	$57	$160
Youth Combination Hunt and Fish (ages 10-17)	Allows take of all fish species statewide (including at Community Fishing waters), small game, fur-bearing animals, predatory animals, certain nongame animals, migratory game birds and upland game birds. A valid tag is required for the take of big game animals.	$5	$5
Short-term Combination Hunt and Fish	Allows take of all fish species statewide (including at Community Fishing waters), small game, fur-bearing animals, predatory animals, certain nongame animals and upland game birds. A valid stamp is required for the take of migratory game birds. Not valid for the take of big game animals.	$15/day	$20/day
Community Fishing	Allows take of all fish species at Community Fishing waters.	$24	$24
Migratory Bird Stamp	Allows take of band-tailed pigeons, moorhen, coots, doves, ducks, geese, snipe and swans. Valid July 1 through June 30. This stamp is included with the Youth Combination Hunt and Fish license.	$5	$5

_______________________
Other Information:
The Short-term Combination Hunt and Fish license may be purchased for any day. The purchaser selects date(s) of validity at time of purchase. If purchased for multiple days, the days need not be consecutive.

The Urban Fishing Program will be renamed the Community Fishing Program, and the program will be expanded to include more waters. Community (Urban) fishing privileges will be included in the new Fishing license, but a separate Community Fishing license will also be offered for sale ($24, residents or nonresidents) for those who only want to fish Community Fishing Program waters.

Special licenses (such as Pioneer License, Trapping License, Falconry License, Guide License, Disabled Veteran License, Apprentice Hunting License) won't change for 2014, with the exception of the Honorary Boy Scout/Girl Scout License, where a $5 Combination Hunting/Fishing License will be available up to age 21 for anyone who attains Eagle Scout or Gold Scout status.

Lifetime licenses will be retained. Current Lifetime license holders will have privileges "grandfathered" to reflect the privileges of the new license structure. The formula for determining the cost of new Lifetime licenses will change.

The Benefactor license (which is basically a Lifetime license with the purchaser providing an added donation) will increase in price from $1,000 to $1,500.

The Big Game Tag structure will stay the same, but most tag prices will increase. This is the first increase in tag prices since 2007. None of the tag prices exceed the previously authorized statutory cap that existed prior to enactment of SB 1223. View the new big game tag structure (second page of document).

The application fee for the big game draw and first-come permits will be increased to $13 for residents ($3 of which will be dedicated to habitat, public access and recruitment/retention efforts ) and $15 for nonresidents ($5 of which will be dedicated to habitat, public access and recruitment/retention efforts). The Unit 12A (North Kaibab) Habitat Management Stamp will no longer be required for Unit 12A deer hunters.

The new license structure and fees were approved by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission in the summer of 2013 after an extensive public input process that involved a survey of hunters and anglers, numerous public meetings on license and fee concepts, and public comment periods on concepts and the draft license structure and fees. The new structure and fees will become effective Jan. 1, 2014.