If Bill Passes, Alaskans Will Have To Live In State For 12 Months To Obtain Resident Hunt, Fish Licenses

Here’s more from the Alaska Beacon on a potential new bill that would make it more complicated for those living in Alaska to buy a resident fishing or hunting license, which has passed a state House vote and will next head to the Alaska Senate for a vote:

If adopted, HB 93 would require someone to spend 12 consecutive months in the state before being eligible for a resident license. Unlike PFD qualifications, those 12 months could start at any point in the year.

If that person is absent from Alaska for more than a certain number of days — and doesn’t qualify for an exemption — they would have to get a nonresident hunting and fishing license instead.

In Alaska, some hunts and fishing openings are available only to residents. Residents also have larger bag or catch limits in many places.

Explaining the need for the bill, Himschoot said the existing standard creates a loophole because someone can spend just a few months in Alaska each year and still qualify for resident hunting privileges. 

The bill, drafted by Alaska Representative Rebecca Himschoot, was worded this way:

House Bill 93 updates the requirements for resident sport fishing, hunting and trapping licenses with the goal of ensuring resident license holders are full-time residents of the State of Alaska. With the pressure on our finite fish and game resources, this legislation is needed to strengthen our residency requirements for the purpose of obtaining a sport fishing, hunting or trapping license.

Under existing law, you can qualify for a resident license and still be indefinitely absent if you meet the low threshold of intending to remain in Alaska, maintaining a domicile in Alaska, and not establishing residency elsewhere. Currently, individuals who only spend a few months of the year in Alaska, but still meet the low bar of residency for licensing purposes, can enjoy our generous resident bag and possession limits as well as reduced license and tag fees.

House Bill 93 will close this loophole by closely aligning the requirements for an individual to receive a resident hunting, trapping, or sport fishing license with the residency requirements to receive a permanent fund dividend (PFD). With this legislation the allowable absences will be the same as they currently are for an individual to receive a PFD, but there is no requirement that you receive dividend or that you meet all the PFD qualification requirements. While the requirements will not be exactly the same as they are to receive a PFD, this bill strengthens the residency requirements for sport fishing, hunting and trapping licenses and reduces the pressure on our fish and game resources by individuals who only spend a few months of the year in the state.

Importantly, this bill does not change the bag and possession limits for out-of-state hunters or fishermen who come to Alaska to participate in the state’s well-managed hunts and fisheries. Under this legislation, visitors will still be able to obtain non-resident permits without additional restrictions. In addition, the important guided hunting and fishing industries will not be impacted by this bill.

House Bill 93 helps guarantee the individuals who qualify for resident hunting, trapping or sport fishing licenses are in fact year-round residents of Alaska who deserve the privileges of increased bag limits and reduced license costs. This in turn will preserve the privileges of a resident license for year-round residents of Alaska who invest in their communities in all seasons and depend most on our fish and game resources to put food on the table.