I have always heard that time passes more quickly as a person grows older. I believe that. It seems I purchased a new hunting and fishing license just a few weeks ago, but to my surprise it has been a year already, and it is time to buy one for the 2009-10 license year.

Hunting and fishing licenses went on sale last Saturday. When you purchase yours, you will notice the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has approved increases to license fees. Most fees went up by five percent.

New prices for the most popular items are:

• Resident hunting license, $25.

• Senior and youth hunting, $7.

• Non-resident hunting license, $315.

• Resident freshwater fishing package, $30.

• Senior freshwater, $12.

• Resident saltwater fishing package, $35.

• Senior saltwater, $17.

• Non-resident freshwater package, $58.

• Non-resident saltwater package, $63.

• One-day all-water fishing license, $11 for residents; $16 for non-residents.

• Super Combo all-inclusive hunting and fishing license, $68.

• Senior Super Combo, $32.

• Lifetime hunting or fishing license, $1,000.

• Lifetime combination licenses, $1,800.

Hunting regulations for the new license year include the addition of 50 counties to those with whitetailed buck antler restrictions. Nearby Mills County was one of those added. Antler restrictions already apply in Lampasas, Coryell, Bell and Hamilton counties.

There are no antler restrictions in San Saba and Burnet counties.

For new hunters or those new to the area, in Lampasas and other antler-restriction counties the only legal bucks are those with an inside antler spread of 13 inches or more, or a buck with one unbranched antler.

Another change for antler restriction counties is an increase in the total bag limit from four to five deer. A hunter in Lampasas County now may harvest up to five deer, with no more than two bucks -- one with an antler spread of 13 inches or more, and one buck with an unbranched antler.

Other changes include new crossbow rules. Hunters now will be able to use crossbows during the archery-only season.

Also, laser-sighting devices have been approved for hunters with a disability that makes it impossible to use conventional sighting devices.

If you do not purchase a Super Combo license, you must buy an additional stamp if you hunt during the archery season, an upland game bird stamp if you hunt turkeys or quail, and a migratory game bird stamp if you hunt doves or waterfowl. Each stamp will cost you another $7.

Speaking of doves, the dove season in the Central Zone opens Sept. 1, which is only two weeks away. Hunters are reminded that in addition to a valid hunting license, certification in the Harvest Information Program is required. HIP certification is offered when you buy a license and involves responding to a few simple questions about your migratory game bird harvest during the previous season.

I attended the recent National Wild Turkey Federation banquet. About 60 were in attendance, and several people joined the Lampasas County chapter. After the barbecue meal, bidding was very active on the auction items, and several thousand dollars was raised for the national federation and the local chapter.

The Lampasas group can now offer a $500 scholarship for a Lampasas High School graduating student.

Former Soil Conservation Service employee and longtime writer Mat Taylor offers his outdoors column for Dispatch Record readers. He can be contacted at (254) 518-2262 or via e-mail at mntaylor@agristar.net.