License fee increase legislation

[Coldeadhands]

I hope people don't panic.   Some increase are slimmer than needed and some are pretty high.  
All of you will get a chance to give your opinions.   There will be hearings.

When you visit the legislative website, just look for bill information in either the house or senate and then plug in the number of the bill.   SB or HB and the letters are not used in the search.  Just the numbers.   Information will list committee hearings and dates.  

Threats, blame and fist pounding is not going to help.   Its been a long time [14 years ] since most of these have gone up.  

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jan/20/hunting-fishing-license-fee-increase-legislation-i/

[PolarBear]

"fish pounding"?  Is that like beating you meat?  

[6x6in6]

Lies, all lies!!!!!!!!!!

"This legislation is our top priority for this legislative session,'' said Phil Anderson, director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. "Its outcome will greatly determine this department's ability to maintain fishing and hunting opportunities and move forward with conservation efforts around the state.''

It's so you can continue to provide bird watching and mushroom picking opportunity's Phil.   

[bearpaw]

Lies, all lies!!!!!!!!!!

"This legislation is our top priority for this legislative session,'' said Phil Anderson, director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. "Its outcome will greatly determine this department's ability to maintain fishing and hunting opportunities and move forward with conservation efforts around the state.''

It's so you can continue to provide bird watching and mushroom picking opportunity's Phil.   

I totally agree, I don't want to support wolf introductions or any of that BS with my license fees. Hunting and fishing license fees should be dedicated funds. Dave Workman had an excellent idea, split away non-hunting departments and give them to a different agency.

[Bob33]

I don't follow the part about "the first across-the-board increase in Washington hunting and fishing license fees in 14 years."

Hunting licenses cost more today than 10 years ago.   Is this because not every single item has increased?

[bearpaw]

I don't follow the part about "the first across-the-board increase in Washington hunting and fishing license fees in 14 years."

Hunting licenses cost more today than 10 years ago.   Is this because not every single item has increased?

Must be....  

You know, I wouldn't mind paying more if it wasn't just burned up on everything but improving opportunity.

[Coldeadhands]

I don't follow the part about "the first across-the-board increase in Washington hunting and fishing license fees in 14 years."

Hunting licenses cost more today than 10 years ago.   Is this because not every single item has increased?

I might have reached too far with the comment.  Its been a long time since I bought a hunting license. 
Fishing licenses have not had a lot of increases.   

Im going to take another look at it.   Cant believe how much a pheasant license is on the west side.  OMG.    My personal concern is making Dad wonder if the kid is worth taking fishing.   The old farts should not have to give up a fishing license.   They go less and less each year.

[Birdguy]

"fish pounding"?  Is that like beating you meat?   

Floggin the dolphin

As for the increase was it not just two years ago they added the handling fee or some other BS to all licenses purchased after July 31st or something like that....a two year increase to help out while the economy recovered ? The same time they jacked the westside pheasant tag. Did not turkey tags just about triple ( and no free one) a few years back to allow the WDFW to "manage" the turkeys with this great plan, that involved relocating and a few other good things that not only got shot down but no other attempt has been made to fix the plan? I may well be off on a few of these but it seems to me there have been plenty of increase lately that we get lees and less benefit from it. I am not opposed to fees and increases when necessary but this is getting out of hand. As it stands today I may not hunt this state again, I will just buy my kids tags as long as they want them and are youth prices, after that they will have to decide if they want to pay for it. I would consider not buying the kids tags either but they may not have the chance to do it in a few more years.

[Little Dave]

There's only so much money in a guy's budget.  If you raise the price too high, he won't buy it.  Kind of like a kid selling lemonade all day waiting for a sale figuring he should raise the price to make more money.  Lower prices.  It's why people think about saving money when you put out concepts like "Walmart", "Factory Outlet", and "no sales tax in Oregon or Montana"

No foolish state, no.  Reduce the fees.  Undercut the non-resident fees of neighboring states and be noisy about it.

Times are tough.  Frivilous programs like wolves for folks in the city to dream about befriending isn't a priortiy.  Wolves can wait.  After all, wolves aren't endangered, they have been absent.  Sustainable revenue and income is a priority.  Don't need kiosks and new parking lots for people who have watched birds.

Lower prices.  See if he will buy more items than he bought last year.  Maybe gain interest in more offerings and continue to buy those items in the future.

[Special T]

Its much more important to do the right things, than be REALLY efficient at doing all the wrong stuff! 

[Elkaholic daWg]

Lies, all lies!!!!!!!!!!

"This legislation is our top priority for this legislative session,'' said Phil Anderson, director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. "Its outcome will greatly determine this department's ability to maintain fishing and hunting opportunities and move forward with conservation efforts around the state.''

It's so you can continue to provide bird watching and mushroom picking opportunity's Phil.  

I totally agree, I don't want to support wolf introductions or any of that BS with my license fees. Hunting and fishing license fees should be dedicated funds. Dave Workman had an excellent idea, split away non-hunting departments and give them to a different agency.

x3


?? Why so much difference?
An elk license would increase 26 percent from $45.20 to $57, while a deer license would decrease 1 percent from $45.20 to $44.90.   
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Craig Bartlett of the Department of Fish and Wildlife in Olympia said agency is trying to better link license fees to the costs of managing the respective programs.    Elk are 25X more to manage?
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For example, a license for moose, sheep or mountain goats would increase from $122 to $332
 200% increase, maybe the draw odds will get better?

[Little Dave]

Don't they have anyone there with an entry level class in economics helping them figure out how to maximize revenue?  It seems like these decisions are being made by academic types.  They should know better than to "experiment" with their budget at a time like this.

[raekmike]

agencies will merge and your "license fees" will in no way go to "managing" that particular species..The whole thing is such an effin joke i just wanna 

[rooselk]

Somebody needs to clue these people in on the fact that we're in a recession. Raise the license fees and some families will no longer be able to afford to hunt. How do we recruit young hunters if they cannot afford the license and tags?

[Special T]

Here is the hard part, what they say about MIGHT make sense and be good for game... The main problem is their lack of credibility...I think raising the cost of OIL tags makes sense and is right... Provides necessary funds to help fund management.. Problem is their management sucks so more money doesn't equal better management...The right price is the line where price and Demand intersect... you only find out where that is by moving one or the other... I doubt they have though some of this though, however I have a couple of ?? to ask ...Is a 25% increase in elk hunting tags gona stop you from elk hunting next year? is a 200% increase in OIL tag fees gona stop you? I would bet my paycheck NO, on the oil and say people are not very likely to give it up on the elk...  The only reason i don't like the increase is because they are gona piss the money away on something I deem worthless...

[Bob33]

Is a 25% increase in elk hunting tags gona stop you from elk hunting next year? is a 200% increase in OIL tag feels gona stop you?

The increase is only on the tag, not on the application so I don't think there will be any change for OIL tags.  You just drew a moose or sheep permit but now you have to spend $300 to buy the tag instead of $100.  Who in his right mind would not buy it? Elk it may be different because some people just won't apply, knowing that if they draw the tag will be more expensive.  I don't think it will make much difference in the number of applicants or hunters.

[Elkaholic daWg]

"...In 1980, according to data from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, this state fielded 360,684 paid license-holding hunters. By 1990, that number had slipped to 268,653 license holders and in 2000, USFWS data shows 214,969 paid license holders. The number in 2010 was 209,050 (up from the 194,308 licenses reported for 2005, according to the USFWS website).

   What has happened?

   Regulations have changed, seasons have been shifted to reduce opportunity and harvest, and a lot of hunters are convinced they’ve gotten more than one raw deal from the agency they once trusted."



 Paste from Dave W's thread....
 Out of the 209,950 (If we can trust usfws)  I am sure that somewhere in there, along with the fuel cost increases and all of it's other related increases, not to mention a sick economy, there would be those on fixed incomes,or living paycheck to paycheck that these when it is all added up that will Choose to give it up,if not have to!
 Increases will gain DFW$-how many stop(the unknown$).


 Is there a line out there that when crossed will cause you to rebel and stop paying WDFW for less and go to other states, or just plain quit?

 Or better,is there a line where we would all band together and send DFW a message. Tough one there. hunters seem to be one of the easiest to splinter groups there is.

[bobcat]

I think a big part of the decrease in hunter numbers has little to do with the increase in license fees, and a lot more to do with the aging population. Every year there are less hunters because they get old and quit due to physical limitations (or they die.) Young people who grow up in cities are less exposed to the outdoors than previous generations, and they are more into indoor activities. Also, with the increase in human populations comes a decrease in huntable land that is close to civilization. Many of the areas that were hunted 30 years ago are now nothing but subdivisions and shopping malls. This makes it more difficult and more expensive for people to get to places where they can hunt. This must be another big limiting factor on younger hunters in getting involved with hunting. Another big factor is the price of fuel. When I was just old enough to begin hunting on my own, gas was right at $1.00 a gallon.

I just think hunting license fees are at the bottom of the list for factors that have caused a decrease in the number of hunters. More people would hunt if they had a place to hunt, that was close to home, and if fuel prices were at $1.00 a gallon that would be even better.

[bigtex]

Young people who grow up in cities are less exposed to the outdoors than previous generations, and they are more into indoor activities.

I think that has the biggest thing to do with it. I personally don't see the amount of young people out hunting and fishing like I used to. It's mainly people over 35/40 that I see out hunting/fishing. And I think a lot of it has to do with computers, TV and video games. There was once a time where every Saturday and Sunday kids would be out from sun up till sundown playing in the streets, running through the woods and so on. Now days kids are all inside playing video games or watching TV. It use to just be the inner-city kids would not be the "outdoorsy" type, but now it seems like just about everywhere you go kids would rather play video games then go outside.

[BlackRidge]

Is a 25% increase in elk hunting tags gona stop you from elk hunting next year? is a 200% increase in OIL tag feels gona stop you?

The increase is only on the tag, not on the application so I don't think there will be any change for OIL tags.  You just drew a moose or sheep permit but now you have to spend $300 to buy the tag instead of $100.  Who in his right mind would not buy it? Elk it may be different because some people just won't apply, knowing that if they draw the tag will be more expensive.  I don't think it will make much difference in the number of applicants or hunters.

Sure, who wouldnt.... but should we have to? (and I know, we arent forced to, but if we're drawn for such a thing, would you consider that increase fair)

[Special T]

Yes and NO! 
    Yes because if people are willing to pay it for services then they should and its fair! Why do people hire guides for $$$ or pay big $$$ of out of state tags? Because the people have made a choice that it is worth it or not. "Fair" has nothing to do with it.. 
    NO because they piss our many away on Non game stuff all the damn time! I have decided to keep my hard earned money in my pocket for a few lic that i used to purchase "just because"... I no longer see the reasoning that i should fork over $$$ for the incidental catches of bear and cougar while I'm out hunting... Maybe my mind will change and i will start buying ONLY bear and Cougar tags and not purchase the Deer/Elk Combo..  If i didn't deer and elk hunt with friends and family i already would have.