In recent years The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has been coming up with some creative ways to increase revenues and attract more people to the joys of outdoor sporting activities. One of these new approaches is the lifetime “Legacy” hunting and freshwater fishing license that can be purchased for children under the age of 2 and entitles the child to hunt and fish for the rest of their life without ever having to purchase another hunting or freshwater fishing license. Stipulations apply. The child must complete a hunter safety course at the age of 12 in order to upgrade to a resident lifetime license and other applicable permits such as big game and trout stamps still must be purchased on a yearly basis. If the child has the funds and desires to do so a lifetime trout permit and saltwater license can be added at the age of 12. The name Legacy strongly suggests that this license is intended as gift idea from grandparents or parents of a newborn baby much like U.S. Savings Bonds—perhaps with the intention of beginning a family tradition that will be continued by future generations. Another new option being offered to those in the market for a license is a discount for purchasing your license for up to four years in advance.
The latest addition to the array of products (also known as permits) VDGIF has come up with is an Access Permit for using department owned Wildlife Management Areas and public fishing lakes. The cost of a one day permit is $4; a one-year permit sells for $23 so if you plan to visit a Wildlife Management Area or public fishing lake more than six times per year the one year permit is the way to go. If you possess a valid hunting, fishing, or trapping license, or a current Virginia boat registration the Access Permit is not required.

You are probably thinking that since you are a taxpaying resident you should not be required to pay to have a picnic or go bird watching on public land. Truth be told, this just isn’t true. Wildlife Management Areas and public fishing lakes are funded by hunting, fishing and trapping license fees, not the general fund. They are specifically designated as enhanced habitats for wildlife to be used by hunters, trappers and fishermen. A few of the sites have shooting ranges that are open throughout the hunting seasons—September through March including Amelia WMA and Chickahominy in Central Virginia. When hunting season is closed, primitive camping, hiking and wildlife watching are permitted on many of the properties, but not all. A list of areas and permitted activities can be found on the VDGIF website at: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/wmarecreation.pdf.

Hunters, fishermen and trappers are privileged to have access to public fishing lakes and Wildlife Management Areas, especially sportsmen who live in urban areas and have no access to large tracts of private land to hunt on. Activities, such as wildlife watching and hiking, are just as satisfying in state parks which are really more appropriate and better equipped. Plus, admission to most state parks is only $2 so perhaps this is the better option for non-hunting activities.