Sports Briefs for March 30

DENNIS THOMAS (left) and Erin Mason, tournament winners.

Kids now need fishing license at age 12

As families venture to the outdoors this spring, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife remind parents that youths between the ages of 12 and 17 need a license if they plan to hunt, fish or shellfish. Although fishing now requires a license two years earlier than in the past – at age 12 instead of age 14 – the cost of the license is significantly less than it was in years past. Now a combination youth hunting/fishing/shellfishing license costs $10. For $5 more, youngsters can also purchase a tag that will allow them to catch salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut. The $15 combined cost of a youth license and tag in 2016 compares to a cost of $41.75 last year, a cost reduction of 64 percent. Under the new fee structure, a single license permits youth license holders to take part in all three activities – hunting, fishing and shellfishing. Previously, a separate license was required for each of these activities. There is no distinction in the fee structure between resident and nonresident youths – they pay the same for hunting/fishing licenses and tags.