At the request of several sportfishing organizations, the Department of Natural Resources has announced changes that will make it easier to purchase a youth fishing license. Youth fishing licenses, for anglers under the age of 17, are voluntary and cost $2.

The DNR will now waive the parental signature requirement for a youth fishing license. This will make acquiring licenses easier for special event, group fishing organizers or youth fishing tournament sponsors. Now organizations can purchase the youth fishing licenses for any child participating in an event or tournament.

The DNR Sportcard, which is available for $1, is still required. The Sportcard, which takes the place of a Michigan Driver License, gives each youth an individual identification number in the DNR's retail sales system.

"Many organizations sponsor youth fishing programs throughout the summer months, and this change simplifies the process of purchasing licenses for all youth anglers involved in those programs," said DNR Fisheries Division Chief Kelley Smith. "Our goal is to make the purchase of a voluntary youth fishing license easier and more convenient, while at the same time encourage stewardship among our young anglers. Anglers should also keep in mind that the DNR receives a significant return of federal dollars for every license we sell, and those funds help manage the fisheries in our state."

Anyone interested in purchasing a youth fishing license must obtain the following information from each child: first name, last name, street address, city, state, zip code, height, weight, gender and birth date. Vendors will ask for this information prior to issuing a license.

Youth fishing licenses can be obtained at any retailer that sells DNR hunting and fishing licenses. A complete list of retailers is available online at the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr, and then clicking on the orange Hunting and Fishing Licenses menu. Licenses also are available at all DNR Operations Service Centers and some field offices.