Illinois fishing license sales up

The number of annual resident fishing licenses sold in Illinois rose slightly this year. A total of 478,217 resident fishing licenses were sold, compared with 476,126 in 2008.

A total of 470,851 were sold in 2006 and 494,663 in 2007.

This year 26,652 nonresident annual fishing licenses were sold, compared with 25,691 in 2008, 26,729 in 2007 and 24,414 in 2006.

As of this month, the state had sold 56,668 senior fishing licenses, which is slightly more than the past two years.

Eighteen lifetime fishing licenses have been sold this year, four more than in 2008, eight more than in 2007 and the same in 2006.