Conservation department proposes hike in hunting, fishing permit fees

By My Courier-Tribune

Missouri Department of Conservation is proposing increases to some permit fees around the state, citing continual rising costs for goods and services that must be offset.

The department issues nearly 2.6 million hunting, fishing, and trapping permits each year, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

For 2025, MDC is proposing an incremental increase to non-resident permit prices and some resident permit prices. The Missouri Conservation Commission gave initial approval to the MDC proposed permit price adjustments at its May 24 open meeting in Jefferson City.

MDC will seek public comment on proposed permit price adjustments from July 2 to Aug. 1. Get more information and submit comments at mdc.mo.gov. MDC will compile comments received and share them with the commission prior to the Sept. 6 meeting when commissioners will give final consideration to the proposed adjustments.

Permits for migratory bird hunting, trout fishing and daily fishing, if approved, would increase for residents and nonresidents. Costs would also increase on non-resident permits for daily trout fishing, small game hunting, furbearer nut/trapping, migratory bird hunting, spring and fall turkey hunting, firearm season for deer hunting and antlerless deer hunting.

“Costs continue to increase for habitat management and improvements, cost-share funding, fuel, equipment, contract and construction work and other aspects of the work MDC staff does,” said MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley. “We need to keep up with rising costs and can do that by adjusting permit prices. Even with the minor price adjustments we propose, Missouri permit prices remain good bargains when compared to surrounding states.”

If approved, the changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2025.