AGFC raises prices on permits for trout

A trout is shown in this file photo.
A trout is shown in this file photo.

Trout fishing in Arkansas will be a little more expensive on Aug. 1 after the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission voted to raise the prices of its resident and non-resident trout fishing permits Thursday during its monthly meeting in Little Rock.

As authorized by Senate Bill 486, a resident trout permit, resident military retiree lifetime trout permit, resident 65-plus lifetime trout permit and resident disabled military veteran lifetime trout permit will increase from $5 to $10.

The non-resident trout permit will increase from $12 to $20.

Darrell Bowman, assistant chief of the Game and Fish Commission's fisheries division, said the state's trout fishery generates about $180 million annually, but current funding cannot keep pace with the cost of maintaining the fishery, including renovating the Jim Hinkle Spring River Fish Trout Hatchery at Mammoth Spring, which is operating at only 50 percent production capacity.

Resident trout permits have not increased since 1987. Non-resident trout permits have not increased since 2003.

Raising the price of the trout permits is expected to generate $925,000, which will be dedicated to the trout program, said AGFC fisheries chief Ben Batten.

In related business, the commission heard the first reading of a proposal to create a disabled veteran lifetime combination hunting and fishing license.

Pursuant to Act 729, the new license will be available to any disabled veteran that has a service-connected disability rating of at least 70 percent, or to any Purple Heart recipient that has a service connected disability rating of at least 50 percent. The license, which will also include a lifetime trout stamp and lifetime state duck stamp, will cost $52.50.

The commission will vote on the proposal at its next meeting June 20.

Also, the commission heard the first reading of a proposal to streamline its non-resident wildlife management area waterfowl hunting permits.

Currently, non-resident waterfowl hunters must buy a separate five-day permit to hunt to hunt each of the state's 27 wildlife management areas. The new proposal creates a general five-day permit that entitles a non-resident to hunt on any WMA during the permit's duration.

In other business, the commission voted to name a new nature center in Springdale. The facility will be called the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center.

Sports on 05/17/2019

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