How fishinglicenseguide.org/ Uses Cookies & Similar Technologies
This page sets out the cookies and similar technologies we use, what each one does, how long it lasts, and the choices you have under U.S. state privacy laws. Read it alongside our Privacy Policy.
What’s on this page
1. What Cookies Are
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. Similar technologies include local storage, pixels, and SDKs. They allow a website to remember your preferences, keep your visit working smoothly, measure usage, and — when you consent — support advertising.
This page covers all of these technologies under the general term "cookies." We use the term to mean any browser-storage or tracking technology that is set by or on behalf of fishinglicenseguide.org/.
2. Why We Use Cookies
- To make the site work — load pages, remember your cookie preferences, protect against form-submission abuse
- To remember your preferences — your state preference, font-size choice, accessibility preferences
- To understand what’s useful — aggregate analytics on which state guides are read most and which questions readers come to us with
- To support display advertising — frequency capping and basic measurement, with personalised advertising only where you have consented
3. The Four Categories of Cookie
1. Strictly necessary
Essential for the site to function — page load, security, form-submission protection, your cookie-consent choice itself. Always on; cannot be switched off.
2. Functional
Remember preferences (state preference, font size, accessibility settings) so you don’t have to re-set them. On unless you opt out.
3. Analytics
Aggregated usage measurement (which guides read, time on page, click paths). Off by default; switched on only with your consent.
4. Advertising
Frequency capping, measurement, and personalised advertising from our ad network where you’ve consented. Off by default; switched on only with your consent.
4. First-Party Cookies (Set by fishinglicenseguide.org/)
| Name | Purpose | Category | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| flg_consent | Records your cookie-consent choice | Strictly necessary | 12 months |
| flg_session | Maintains the page-load state during your visit | Strictly necessary | Session |
| flg_csrf | Cross-site request forgery protection on contact form | Strictly necessary | Session |
| flg_pref | Stores accessibility/UI preferences (font size, state preference) | Functional | 6 months |
| flg_gpc | Records that we received your Global Privacy Control signal | Strictly necessary | 12 months |
5. Third-Party Cookies
Where you have given consent, the site may set cookies from these third parties. Each has its own privacy and cookie policy.
| Provider | Purpose | Category | Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics 4 (GA4) | Aggregated site analytics | Analytics | policies.google.com/privacy |
| Google AdSense | Display advertising; frequency capping; measurement | Advertising | policies.google.com/technologies/ads |
| Cloudflare | Site security, bot mitigation, performance (CDN) | Strictly necessary | cloudflare.com/privacypolicy |
6. Consent & Global Privacy Control (GPC)
The first time you visit, our cookie banner asks for your consent to analytics and advertising cookies. Strictly necessary cookies do not require consent because the site cannot function without them.
The site honours the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal as a valid opt-out of “sale” and “sharing” of personal information under California (CCPA/CPRA), Colorado (CPA), Connecticut (CTDPA), Texas (TDPSA), Florida (FDBR), Oregon (OCPA), and similar state laws that recognise universal opt-out mechanisms. If your browser sends a GPC signal, we treat it as an opt-out from advertising cookies and from any state-law “sale” or “sharing” of your personal information.
7. How to Manage Cookies
- Cookie banner — accept, reject, or customise on first visit
- “Cookie settings” link in the footer — change your choice at any time
- Browser controls — block or delete cookies in your browser settings (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave); block third-party cookies entirely if you prefer
- Private/Incognito browsing — cookies are deleted when the window closes
- GPC-enabled browser — Brave, Firefox (with extension), DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser send a GPC signal automatically
8. Industry Opt-Out Tools
- Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) — optout.networkadvertising.org
- Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) WebChoices — optout.aboutads.info
- Google Ads opt-out — adssettings.google.com
9. Do Not Track
The browser-level Do Not Track (DNT) signal is no longer supported by major browsers and the original DNT specification was never finalised. We honour the more current Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal in its place — see Section 6 above.
10. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We update this policy when our practices change or when applicable laws change. The “Last reviewed” date at the top reflects the current version. Substantive changes will be re-prompted through the cookie banner when applicable.
11. Contact
For any cookie or privacy question, email info@fishinglicenseguide.org with subject line “Cookie inquiry” — see our Privacy Policy for the full data-rights framework.
Manage Your Cookie Preferences Anytime
Use the “Cookie settings” link in the site footer to change your choice. Your decision is remembered for 12 months from when you set it.
📧 info@fishinglicenseguide.org