Hello Tweets:

On 1/3/98 Greg Toffic wrote:

<<Today I called the Mill Creek office of Washington Dept. of Fish and
Wildlife to get clarification on when it is necessary to have a C.L. I was
told that you require a license only if you do not have a hunting, fishing
or trapping license and are over 16 years old. If you possess one of these
other licenses, you do not have to get a Conservation License.>>

This is consistent with what Kelly Bettinger wrote on 12/30/97:

<<- in the published hunting/fishing regulations pamphlet it states "People
who
do not have a hunting, fishing, or trapping license and are 16 years or
older, must have a conservation license to use identified WDFW lands
and access facilities.">>

However, I know from personal experience that this is not how it has been
enforced in past years - at one time the CL was required in addition to other
permits/tags, or so the local interpretations were enforced. Also, as
recently as last year, the posted regulation at the Palmer Fish Hatchery
public access site indicated that a CL was required, period. It didn't
indicate the option of other permits. As a fisherman, I will opt for the
fishing license and supporting tags, cards, ball point pen, briefcase, etc.,
and carry with me a copy of the hunting/fishing regulations pamphlet cited by
Kelly. I am sure this clarifies the situation for other fishers, hunters, and
trappers in Tweeters as well.

This still leaves open the question of the cost of the CL for non-Washington
residents. Fishing and Hunting licenses are more expensive for non-residents,
I wonder about the CL?

Thanks Greg and Kelly for your help.

Jim Brewster
Kent Washington