Testimony was generally favorable Tuesday in Helena as a bill to raise prices for fishing and hunting licenses in Montana received its first hearing before the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee.

Under House Bill 140, introduced by Rep. Jeffrey Welborn, R-Dillon, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks would cover a budget shortfall expected to reach $5.7 million by 2017.

Under law, the agency cannot run at a deficit and would have to cut current funding levels in the absence of new revenues.

The bill would create a new base hunting license, $10 for residents and $15 for nonresidents, and bump annual resident fishing licenses from $18 to $21.

It would also remove a number of discounts currently in place for different user groups and increase a number of nonresident special licenses.

“If House Bill 140 does not pass … existing fish and wildlife management programs and services as we know them will have to be cut,” Welborn said in opening the hearing. “My belief is it would put the legislation in closer contact with the department and make sure their spending authority … is more to our liking and on a more accountable basis.”

Department Director Jeff Hagener warned the committee that failure to pass the bill could lead to widespread cuts to popular wildlife programs, including restoration, hatcheries, enforcement and upkeep to facilities such as fishing access sites.

In response to a question from Rep. Tom Jacobson, D-Great Falls, he said the agency could see a drop in federal grant money if it is unable to provide matching funds.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks gets roughly 56 percent of its total budget from license sales.

Representatives of statewide sportsman’s and environmental groups, including the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana, Montana Trout Unlimited and the Montana Audubon Society expressed support for the bill.

“It’s not about [Fish, Wildlife and Parks]; they simply manage wildlife for us,” said Bob Gilbert, the executive director of Walleyes Unlimited of Montana. “It’s about the people in the state of Montana who are outdoorsmen.”

Mark Aagenes, conservation director of Montana Trout Unlimited, supported the measure as well, noting that the costs of fishing in Montana are significantly lower than other Western states such as Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Colorado and Washington.

“No one really wants to admit this, but the fact is we’re an incredibly cheap date,” he said. “When you compare it to the other Western states, we’re cheaper than just about everybody else.”

He called Montana’s hunting and fishing resources a “golden goose,” saying they generate an estimated $900 million in statewide expenditures each year.

Fewer than a third of the speakers opposed the bill.

Two representatives from state universities stood by the majority of proposed changes but said the bill would prohibitively raise costs for nonresident students who would see discounted licenses cut.

Warren Illi of Kalispell similarly endorsed the bill’s intent while objecting to fee increases that would be imposed on groups such as senior citizens who currently enjoy discounts.

“There are a lot of folks in Montana living near the poverty line and they can’t afford those types of fee increases,” he said.

During the committee’s discussion at the end of the meeting, Vice Chairwoman Rep. Jean Price, D-Great Falls, joined a majority of the other members who offered comments supportive of the bill. She asked Hagener what would happen if the bill didn’t pass.

Hagener said in addition to broad program cuts, he expected the agency would no longer be able to support all 10 hatcheries it currently operates.

He added that popular programs that received earmarked funding also could be affected, citing the block management hunter access program and acquisition of land and fishing access sites.

The committee took no action on the legislation.

Reporter Samuel Wilson may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.