Gone fishin . Western states catch lots more angling and hunting license sales during pandemic
Fishing and hunting license sales jumped in 2020 across the Pacific Northwest as more people flocked to outdoor activities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Total license purchases rose even though part of last spring was crimped by stay-home orders and in some states by the suspension of non-resident permits.
Sport fishing license issuances increased by double digit percentages in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California since the onset of the pandemic. Hunting wasn t far behind. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said not since 2008 had it issued as many sport fishing licenses as it did last year.
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BOISE â In the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Idaho saw a 65% increase in fishing license sales over the previous year, Fish & Game officials told lawmakers Monday, as Idahoans did âsocial distancing Idaho style.â
Paul Kline, deputy director of policies and programs for Idaho Fish & Game, âIdahoans have found much-needed respite in Idahoâs outdoors, including hunting and fishing.â
For 2020 as a whole, he said, âOver 450,000 Idahoans purchased an annual fishing license or hunting license, an increase of 11% over 2019. And Iâm sure tens of thousands of younger kids that donât need a license were going fishing on those family outings as well.â