STAFF PART OF BEING READY for opening day is having a valid hunting license. The new license year for hunting and fishing begins Sept. 1.

There is talk about the future of hunting and fishing and its role in modern society.

After all no one in Texas really hunts or fishes to survive. There is a grocery store or restaurant on almost every corner, even in the smaller towns.

Still, based on the sales of licenses hunting and fishing it is doing OK in Texas. Sure the percentage of hunters and fishermen as part of the total population is down, but that is because Texas is such a fast growing state. But total license sales remain high, and a lot more people would like to hunt or fish if they knew how to get started.

Based on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department numbers there were more than a million hunters and even more fishermen last year.

License sales for 2016-17 kickoff Aug. 15. With good seasons across the board expected and water back in the lakes, license demand should remain high once again.

Besides prospects for a good year, it doesn’t hurt that the price of licenses are staying the same. Although only a small part of the cost of being a hunter or fishermen, the price of licenses is something of a mental hurdle to some.

Hunters and fishermen have not faced a license fee increase since 2010, and while one is always possible TPWD says there are not talks of an increase at this time.

Even with the concern over the cost the most popular license among hunters and fishermen is the most expensive, the Super Combo. Last year hunters and fishermen bought more than 450,000 Super Combos and another 174,000-plus of the Super Combo for seniors, the disabled and active military combined.

However, at $68 it really is a bargain for those who do it all because it includes both hunting and fishing licenses and all state endorsements at a discount. It does not include the federal waterfowl stamp.

Interestingly the No. 2 seller is a year-from-purchase fishing license. More than 312,000 fishermen picked that option.

At $47 it is more expensive than a traditional fishing license, but seems to be popular with first-time fishermen who might have not expected to go fishing.

Unlike other licenses that are good from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, the year-from-purchase license is good from the date purchased until the end of the same month a year later. Last year the department sold more than 312,000 of the licenses.

Throughout the years fishermen have asked for a year-from-purchase license. The argument against was always bookkeeping and revenue shift concerns.

The state finally complied in 2006 at the same time it began selling a single-day license. While the license has proved to be a convenience for some, the department has no plans to make all fishing licenses year-from-purchase. The same concerns the department initially had about the impact of the license are still concerns, it is just that now they have the data to support it.

“Although YFP is the most costly fishing-only license at time of purchase, many anglers believe they get the most value for their money, especially the later in the license year they choose to make their purchase,” said Craig Bonds, TPWD Fisheries director. “However, the re-purchase duration or number of days between purchases of subsequent license is longer for YFP buyers compared to other license buyers, which could lead to declines in both volume sales and total revenue.”

He added the license could result in less predictable and less front-loaded sales. That would mean revenue to run the division may not be available until spring, and then depended on conditions like weather or the economy it may not come then.

Department studies of year-from-purchase buyers also found they were significantly less likely to buy another fishing license than those buying during the traditional license year cycle.

Besides the various combo packages and year from purchase license fishermen bought another 563,000 licenses. The most common was the Freshwater Fishing Package ($30)

Hunters purchased 537,000 licenses, other than the combo options. The most common was the $25 Resident Hunting license.

For those buying a combo package other than the Super Combo, the most popular option is the Resident Combo Hunt and Freshwater Fishing package ($50).

Everyone who hunts has to have a hunting license. For those born before Jan. 1, 1931 or youth 16 and under the cost is just $7. After inching up for several years, youth license sales dipped to just 140,000 last year.

Since 1925, Texas hunters have had to have a license. Sales of fishing licenses to fish on lakes and rivers began in 1927, but only for those fishing with artificial lures. Saltwater fishing licenses came about in 1957.

By the 1950s the state was selling 450,000 licenses a year. TPWD, or the Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission as it was known until 1963, sold about 500,000 in the 1960s. Sales made a monumental leap in 1966 to 745,000 and again in 1982 when it crossed the million-hunter mark.

Hunting and fishing license sales generated about $104 million in income for TPWD the last fiscal year. This money is used for a number of things including staff salaries and to underwrite projects and operation of wildlife management areas. The number of licenses sold also determines Federal re-imbursement for fisheries and wildlife restoration programs.

For the nearest license outlet, go online to https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/licenses/online_sales/find_retailer.phtml.

Besides purchasing a license from a store, hunters can also purchase them online at https://www.txfgsales.com. There is a $5 additional charge for buying online.