ARCHIVED NEWS RELEASE
This document is provided for archival purposes only. Archived documents
do not reflect current WDFW regulations or policy and may contain factual
inaccuracies.
News release March 18, 1999
Fishers, hunters, and other recreationists who use Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) lands and water access sites need new licenses and access decals by April 1.
The April 1 licensing requirement is a change from calendar year licensing to better coincide with fishing and hunting seasons. The single largest fishing season opener in Washington is lake fishing on April 24. Although most hunting seasons open this fall, spring turkey and bear hunting opens April 15. Many fishing and hunting seasons carry over into the new year, making the April 1, 1999 - March 31, 2000 licenses more convenient.
Fishing and hunting licenses are also newly packaged this year so that one price covers all needed licenses, tags, and other special fees. The license package options also may be cheaper for those fishers and hunters who participate in more than one season.
The "Access Stewardship Decal" is a new requirement designed for persons using WDFW lands and water access sites to help pay for their maintenance (currently operating at only about 34% of needed levels). The decal is free to anyone who buys a fishing or hunting license, and $10 to non-fishing/non-hunting users such as water skiers and bird watchers. The decal must be displayed on the rear of any vehicle parked in WDFW wildlife areas or water access sites. Of WDFW's 600-some sites across the state, about 200 will be signed and enforced for the new decal requirement this year; as budgets allow, all sites will be included in the requirement.
Further information about fishing and hunting license packages, where to buy a license or decal and which WDFW properties currently require the decal, is available on the Internet website http://wdfw.wa.gov/ or at any of the following WDFW offices:
- Olympia: Natural Resources Bldg., 1111 Washington St. S.E., 360-902-2200
- Montesano: 48 Devonshire Rd., 360-249-4628
- Vancouver: 2108 Grand Blvd., 360-696-6211
- Mill Creek: 16018 Mill Creek Blvd., 425-775-1311
- Yakima: 1701 S. 24th Ave., 509-575-2740
- Ephrata: 1550 Alder St. N.W., 509-754-4624
- Spokane: 8702 Division St., 509-456-4082