The No Fee Fish and Game Stamps of California

Summary

Following WWII, California experienced tremendous population growth, increasing 42% during one ten-year period alone. The proportionate increase in sportsmen put unprecedented stress on the state’s fish and wildlife resources.

In addition, much of the state’s freshwater was to be developed in order to meet the needs of the growing population. It was imperative that the Department of Fish and Game take a more active role in preserving the state’s fish and wildlife resources, especially trout. Unfortunately, the Department was short on working capital.

It was decided that the state’s sportsmen should share in the expense to fund the DFG’s efforts. In 1957, Assembly Bill 616 amended the fish and Game Code to require the purchase of inland fishing stamps, raise hunting license fees and require the purchase of pheasant tags.

In order to spare disadvantaged segments of the sporting population from an added financial burden, Assembly Bill 616 also provided that aged, blind, disabled veterans and Indians who met certain qualifications were entitled to a sport fishing license and pair of inland fishing stamps free of charge.

Veterans with a 70% or greater service-connected disability were also entitled to a hunting license and a set of pheasant tags (later a stamp) free of charge. Veteran’s wives who were non-residents or aliens were entitled to purchase a hunting license at the resident fee. At least one veteran’s wife, Alis Means, was also allowed to purchase a sport fishing license at the reduced fee in 1958 and 1959.

Since the number of No Fee and Reduced Fee licenses and stamps issued in any one year was relatively small, separate stamps were not printed. Regular resident stamps were overprinted for these special usages. A total of 27 different stamps issued through 1980-81 have been recorded with No Fee and Reduced Fee overprints. Eight different overprints, excluding typeface varieties, are known to have been applied to the stamps (see Table VII).

It is hoped that this article has shed some light on this interesting segment of fish and game philately. Collectors are encouraged to check their stamps for overprints, as it is likely that additional typesetting and color varieties remain to be discovered. The author would enjoy hearing from anyone with information to share on this subject.