The news from the Department of Environmental Conservation that all sporting license fees will be increased for the 2009-2010 season had a predictable result with many complaining that DEC has done little in recent years to warrant charging higher fees. Of course in fairness to DEC, the last increase was back in 2002, and obviously costs have risen sharply since then.
The announced fee increases had another effect – a rush by older resident sportsmen and women to purchase lifetime sportsman licenses prior to September 30, before the new fee rates go into effect on October 1, 2009.
There’s currently a good opportunity for seniors to take advantage of a lifetime sportsman license before the Sept. 30 cutoff date. The Sportsman license, which combines fishing, small game and big game hunting, is currently the best bargain for those aged 65-69. Bought now, that resident Senior (age 65 and older) lifetime license is $50. After Oct. 1, that age group will be changed to pay $765, the same as all those in the12-69 year-old grouping.
The new fee structure raises the minimum age for senior licenses from 65 to 70. At age 70 or older the license fee drops to $65. For those 65 and older, the Senior Lifetime Sportsman License will only remain $50 until Sept. 30, after which the age requirement for the same license becomes 70 and the cost will go up to $65. The oddity is the new lifetime license fee of $765 is the same for anyone age12-69 years old. That’s a big jump and a wide age spread.
Because the minimum age for Senior license types will be raised from 65 to 70, but not until October 1, hunters currently 65-69 years or older may still purchase a Senior Lifetime Sportsman License through September 30, 2009 for $50. Needless to say, those falling within that age group would be wise to purchase one before the fee increases take effect.
Because lifetime licenses are a true contractual agreement between the DEC (State) and the holder, the rates can’t be raised at a later date. The DEC has said the old fees being replaced have created a burden on the Conservation Fund since the long-term revenue created from lifetime licenses remains stagnant with no increases available to keep the Fund out of the red. But with the much higher fees, along with the increased qualification age, it will be interesting to see how this impacts middle-age sportsmen and women’s desire to purchase lifetime licenses after October 1.
A new Trapper Super Sportsman license ($88) provides all the privileges of a fishing license, big game and small game hunting license, trapping license, muzzleloading stamp, and turkey permit. And Deer Management Permit (DMP) Applications will now be free only to Junior Hunting and Junior Bowhunting licenses holders and to holders of Lifetime Sportsman Licenses purchased prior to October 1, 2009.
My advice to those age 65-69 is, don’t wait – get your lifetime license(s), and especially the sportsmen license, before September 30.

DEC Confirms Bats Declining
Despite the old wives tales about bats flying into women’s hair, these fascinating winged mammals play a major role in insect control, especially mosquitoes. And many people have remarked about not seeing as many bats in recent years are they did in prior years. Now a new study by the DEC confirms our state’s bat population is being devastated by disease
A new survey protocol to track changes in bat populations statewide was launched in June by the DEC. Its purpose is to generate an index to abundance for the majority of NY’s bat species, especially those that are not addressed well by winter hibernation surveys. The methodology consists of attaching a device that records bats’ echolocation (much like sonar) calls to the roof of a vehicle and driving a pre-established route at a speed of 20 mph, continuously recording bats along the way. Surveyors are guided by GPS, which also continuously records their location. Despite unfavorable weather for much of the month-long survey period, 80 staff, most of whom are citizen scientist volunteers, drove a total of 1900 miles on over 50 routes all across the state.
Originally conceived as a way to track the abundance of migratory bats, about which little is known, the project has taken on new significance since the appearance of Whitenose Syndrome and the devastating effects this affliction has had on some bat species. The effort is funded for at least three years by the State Wildlife Grants program, but it is hoped that it can be continued indefinitely, providing a view on bat populations that is unavailable through other means.

Lake Ontario Fishing Boat Survey Suggests Major Bass Die-off
Preliminary results from DEC for the month of June indicated both fishing effort and quality declined from levels observed during May; however, catch rates were sufficient enough to maintain a good quality fishery. The one trouble spot was the decline in smallmouth bass, possibly due to VHS disease.
There were an estimated 1,608 boat trips targeting smallmouth bass, 324 of these trips were during the pre-season catch and release period and 1,284 trips were during the traditional open season which began June 20. Effort during the traditional open season was the second lowest recorded and was a 57.4 percent decrease compared to the previous five-year average. Smallmouth bass catch rate during the June traditional open season period peaked in 1999 (13.1 bass per boat trip) and has declined since, with the June 2009 (2.8 bass per boat trip) rate the third lowest observed.