FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: January 11, 2024
Time Requested: 10:56 PM |
| Agency: |
Natural Resources, WV Division of |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 1721 |
Introduced |
HB4576 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
Natural Resources |
|---|
|
FUND(S):
3200, 8707
Sources of Revenue:
Special Fund
Legislation creates:
Decreases Existing Revenue
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
The purpose of this bill is to move the opening day of Buck Firearms Season to the Saturday before the week of Thanksgiving each year.
Should this bill become law, the fiscal effect on the DNR will be an estimated loss of $1,345,098 annually.
The anticipated reduction in revenue will result in the need to reduce the number of Natural Resources Police Officers by at least four full time officers.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2024
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2025
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
-1,345,098 |
-1,345,098 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
Number of non-resident hunters (Classes E, AAH, AAHJ) 2022 28,345
WV ELS
Percent of hunters who prefer traditional Monday open date 71.33
2018 WV Deer Hunter Opinion Survey
Number of Class E licensees (2022) 26,617
Times percent who prefer traditional Monday open date (x 0.7133) = 18,986
Times estimated percent who choose not to purchase a license (x 50%) = 9,493
Times cost of non-resident base hunting license/Class E (@ $119 per unit) = $1,129,661
Number of Class AAH licensees (2022) 918
Times percent who prefer traditional Monday open date (x 0.7133) = 655
Times estimated percent who choose not to purchase a license (x 50%) = 327
Times cost of non-resident base hunting license/Class E (@ $119 per unit) = $38,961
Number of Class AAHJ licensees (2022) 810
Times percent who prefer traditional Monday open date (x 0.7133) 578
Times estimated percent who choose not to purchase a license (x 50%) =
x 50%= 289
Times cost of non-resident base hunting license/Class E (@ $16 per unit) = $4,622
Estimated revenue lost from non-residents who would not buy a license $1,173,245
Estimated loss of Federal Wildlife Restoration Funding $171,853
(#lost license *$17)
Total Loss $1,345,098
Memorandum
This bill will limit the Natural Resources Commission’s ability to properly manage and protect the wildlife resources for the State. It will impede the Commission’s mandate in West Virginia Code §20-1-17, “To fix by regulation which it is hereby empowered to promulgate, in accordance with the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, the open seasons and the bag, creel, size, age, weight and sex limits with respect to wildlife in this state.”
Additionally, the following definitive concerns apply to the potential passing of this legislation:
• The bill will jeopardize deer population index used since in 1973.
• The bill may negatively impact the deer population biology by increasing the harvest of bucks closer to the occurrence of the rut.
• Hunters have strong opinions regarding the opening day of Buck Firearms Season: Over 70% of hunters prefer the current opening season date (Monday before Thanksgiving). (Source: 2018 WVDNR Deer Hunter Opinion Survey)
• The Wildlife Resources Section has not documented significant demand to open the season earlier.
• Hunting opening day of Buck Firearms season is very important to deer hunters. Over 68% value hunting on the opening day of Buck Firearms Season as very important. (Source: 2018 Deer Hunter Opinion Survey)
• Changing the opening date would extend the length of Buck Firearms Season, where a majority of hunters (71.33%) feel that the length of Buck Firearms Season is “just right”. (Source: 2018 Deer Hunter Opinion Survey)
• Over half (65%) of hunters are satisfied with DNR's deer management in West Virginia. (Source: 2018 Deer Hunter Opinion Survey)
Finally, it is known that a major constraint to deer hunting (i.e. a known reason hunters do not deer hunt) is a lack of time due to work. Resident and non-resident hunters working on weekends or using weekends for travel would need to schedule additional days off work to participate in the proposed new opening day (Source: Deer hunter surveys 2017-2021). Therefore, altering the Buck Firearms Season opening dates would increase the magnitude of this constraint, thus further preventing hunters from participating, where not altering the opening date would avoid this.
For additional information concerning this fiscal note, please contact:
Zack Brown
304-352-5126
zack.j.brown@wv.gov
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Amanda Morris
Email Address: amanda.l.morris@wv.gov