Free: Contests & Raffles.
My hunting tags not including waterfowl and small game are $222.80. For that amount, I can apply for elk in AZ and have a pretty nice hunt every 5-9 years as well as leftover money to buy an elk point in WY. Or, I could pay $222.80 to collect points I will likely take to my grave for the most part.
Anyone ever notice how top heavy WDFW is? They have to raise fees to pay those salaries. And ever since they made game wardens full authority law enforcement officers, cost have skyrocketed. Thats what we need out there, game wardens with radar writing traffic tickets and arresting dui's.
Quote from: stlusn30-06 on January 29, 2019, 04:33:58 PMAm I missing something here? First - I fully agree the state could better manage the wildlife. That said. The license increase is capped at $15 for hunters and they are going to create a few new license bundles so that those of us that buy a lot of licenses don't get priced out. This state has seen a dramatic decrease in the number of hunters over the past decade. It has always been on hunters (though I'd like to see that change) to fund wildlife conservation. With the decrease in the number of hunters, the cost of inflation (as this is like the 2nd increase in 20 years) how do you all propose we keep hunting alive in this state? Not saying I disagree with everything here, but I'm also willing to cough up another few $ to keep hunting alive.You keep hunting alive by creating opportunities and doing what their charter says instead of caving to special interests, running backroom closed-door deals and generally shafting the hunting public. If there is poor opportunity it doesn't matter what the cost. WDFW is competing with neighboring states for our hunting dollars and they seem to be doing a poor job at that.Why would any kid buy points for any OIL tag or even quality deer or elk? Their chances of drawing OIL is statistically near zero and their only hope of the good quality tags is to have a ton of us old guys die off and hope the younger generation didn't put in for points.Look at the recent cougar hound thing, they couldn't even come out and support hunters by saying it was good idea and increased harvests of cougars are sorely needed in some area. They covered their ability to hunt with them and shafted hunters. They choose this time and time again. Look at other states like WY, ID and MT. Their game agencies are fighting to get stuff delisted and hunts opened up as well as fighting to maintain hunting rights in a very vocal way. WDFW simply sits back and lets Olympia and the animal rights groups run new legislation and referendums without saying a word. Shame on them.
Am I missing something here? First - I fully agree the state could better manage the wildlife. That said. The license increase is capped at $15 for hunters and they are going to create a few new license bundles so that those of us that buy a lot of licenses don't get priced out. This state has seen a dramatic decrease in the number of hunters over the past decade. It has always been on hunters (though I'd like to see that change) to fund wildlife conservation. With the decrease in the number of hunters, the cost of inflation (as this is like the 2nd increase in 20 years) how do you all propose we keep hunting alive in this state? Not saying I disagree with everything here, but I'm also willing to cough up another few $ to keep hunting alive.
Does anyone know when the 15% increase will go into effect? Sorry if I missed that somewhere.
Of course, they are afraid of lawsuits as well as the pen of the governor. Other states are afraid of lawsuits, but they don't behave the same way. That is a choice WDFW is making.
