Establishing resident and nonresident wildlife viewing stamps
Summary
Senate Bill 746 would create two new wildlife viewing stamps in West Virginia: a Class WV resident stamp and a Class WVV nonresident stamp. These stamps would allow holders of a Class Q hunting permit to view wildlife on state-owned property and roads in all counties, subject to rules set by the Director of the Division of Natural Resources. The bill specifically includes certain roads such as fire roads, select access roads, and normally gated roads when used in a regularly licensed vehicle, but excludes ATVs and UTVs regardless of street-legal status.
The bill also authorizes the Division of Natural Resources to propose the stamp fees through legislative rulemaking, with the revenue deposited into the State Treasury and credited to the Division for wildlife resource program expenses. The stamps would be additional to any hunting or fishing license or Class Q permit, and a base hunting or fishing license would still be required before participating. The bill states that the program would not apply to Coopers Rock State Forest or Kanawha State Forest.
Impact
SB746 would add a new section to West Virginia Code §20-2-43, creating a new licensing/stamp framework within the state’s wildlife laws. It would give the Division of Natural Resources authority to set the stamp cost through legislative rules, establish a dedicated revenue stream for wildlife resource programs, and expand the conditions under which permit holders may access state-owned lands and roads for wildlife viewing. The bill would affect hunters, anglers, wildlife viewers, and nonresident visitors by adding an extra endorsement requirement and fee on top of existing licenses and permits.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the overall sentiment appears neutral to favorable toward expanding wildlife viewing access and generating dedicated funding for wildlife programs. The bill’s purpose statement frames it as a wildlife viewing program rather than a restriction, suggesting a conservation- and recreation-oriented initiative. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no evidence of formal opposition or support beyond the introduced proposal itself.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are the added cost and administrative burden of requiring another stamp on top of existing hunting or fishing licenses and the Class Q permit. Another likely issue is the scope of access, since the bill allows viewing on state-owned property and roads but excludes certain state forests and gives the director authority to limit access by rule. The exclusion of ATVs and UTVs, even if street legal, may also be controversial for some users who rely on those vehicles for access.