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Show In Chapter Twelve we recommend that a general land use fee be charged for the recreational use of public lands. It is particularly appropriate that those who use the public lands to hunt and fish should pay an additional nominal fee for this special privilege. Not only do they benefit from the general availability of the public lands for their use and enjoyment, but Federal tax dollars have been spent for numerous projects and improvements on public lands which benefit hunters and fishermen. They benefit from the habitat protection and management programs of the administering agencies, and the Commission has endorsed increased efforts in the future. The charging of fees for using lands and waters for hunting and fishing is a growing practice with private landowners. Charges are levied for day use, as well as for leases to individuals or groups who pay for seasonal use. Some states also charge use fees for hunting and fishing on state lands. Except for a law applicable only to military installations,12 present statutes governing the administration of public lands contain no requirements or guidelines for charging fees for hunting and fishing. Some Department of Defense units charge use fees for hunting and fishing, but the policy is not uniformly in force at all military installations. 12 16 U.S.C. §670a (1964). Public lands provide the key habitat for many species of game, as the Alaskan brown bear, wild turkey, chukar partridge and mountain goat, shown from left to right. The support of such species should be given priority in allocating public land habitat. Some states presently require hunting and fishing license holders to buy a special stamp to hunt or fish on some Federal lands within the state. Fees that are collected are regarded as state funds. We believe this practice should be discontinued. Our proposed fee to hunt and fish on the public lands is not a substitute for the licensing function of the states. It is intended only as a reasonable charge for the privilege of using the public lands to hunt and fish, and as partial support for the public cost of access, development, protection, and habitat work performed for the benefit of these users. Congress should provide clear guidance on such matters as the method of collection, standards for setting and adjusting the amount of the fee, and the disposition of receipts. The Commission favors the fee collection method used now by the Federal Government in selling the Federal migratory waterfowl stamp, which is sold at post offices in each community, or making permits available by retailers authorized by states to sell hunting and fishing licenses. The Federal tag or stamp, affixed to the hunting or fishing license, would be evidence of purchase. Fees could be varied to recognize differences in the quality of hunting and fishing opportunities on public lands, or a uniform nominal fee could be adopted. The Commission favors, on an experimental basis, an initial system of uniform fees with variations for the types of fish and game. This would be similar to the variable pricing of fishing, small game, and big game licenses used by nearly all of the states. Administering agencies should institute positive programs to control hunter and fishermen density and 172 |
