License Fee's Increase Sept 1

[pianoman9701]

Anyone have any idea of how much of an increase this means for the average combo license? Are we talking 10%, 20%, 30%?

I've lost a lot of archery days in the last three years without much of an explanation. Restrictions seem to be tighter with the new 4 pt restriction in the east and several units going from any elk to something more restrictive. At what point is the commission going to say enough is enough and stop making it harder to hunt, and more expensive at the same time? I'd tolerate increases in my fees much better if I saw something for them coming to me.  Am I missing something? BigTex, any words of encouragement for those of us who feel this is less and less of a two-way street?

[Bob33]

Like someone mentioned above hunting and fishing should be all about providing for the family, and we are getting farther and farther from that each year.

I like your signature: "Hunting and fishing is putting meat on the table plus much,much more"

For many of us, hunting is more than just feeding our families.  It's a passion that we developed from many wonderful experiences, and we hope to pass that on to our children and future generations.  I don't like price increases, but they're a fact of life called inflation caused in part by governments spending more money than they have.  I remember getting deer tags as a youth for less than $5.  I also remember $.24 gas, $8000 houses in Seattle, $2000 cars, and lots of other things. Man, I just aged myself...

[bigtex]

Like someone mentioned above hunting and fishing should be all about providing for the family, and we are getting farther and farther from that each year.

I like your signature: "Hunting and fishing is putting meat on the table plus much,much more"

For many of us, hunting is more than just feeding our families.  It's a passion that we developed from many wonderful experiences, and we hope to pass that on to our children and future generations.  I don't like price increases, but they're a fact of life called inflation caused in part by governments spending more money than they have.  I remember getting deer tags as a youth for less than $5.  I also remember $.24 gas, $8000 houses in Seattle, $2000 cars, and lots of other things. Man, I just aged myself...

 

[bigtex]

I've lost a lot of archery days in the last three years without much of an explanation. Restrictions seem to be tighter with the new 4 pt restriction in the east and several units going from any elk to something more restrictive. At what point is the commission going to say enough is enough and stop making it harder to hunt, and more expensive at the same time? I'd tolerate increases in my fees much better if I saw something for them coming to me.  Am I missing something? BigTex, any words of encouragement for those of us who feel this is less and less of a two-way street?

Unfortunately I think it's something that we just have to get use to. We've seen increases in everything from liquor at state stores, to tolls on the narrows soon to be 520, the new Discovery Pass for state lands. I think we just have to get use to paying more for less. Another example, In the past 5 years (maybe even less) about 10 state parks have been transferred out of state ownership to cities, counties, and tribes, but yet the camping fee was increased by $1 a night and now the Discovery Pass will be required, even though there are fewer parks to staff and maintain.

I don't think there is any magic thing or glimpse of hope I or anybody else can say, just get use to it. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Yeah I am an east coaster from P.A Too ... and no we can not compare prices of licencing to them but I sure wish we could compare wildlife restoration knowledge >>>>   

[mulehunter]

What else??  Whole the time... they want more and more money. Raise food price raise gas price raise raise raise and house values under loan balance and raise tax property.  BANNED hounds cougar this year.  We will never get better. Govt worker will get raised by use ur money but.....

When are WE ALL EVER GET a dollar RAISE FROM WORK.....

Mulehunter.       

[uplandhunter870]

i can understand tolls on roads and camping fees at parks but this proposed? increase in tags is complete BS in my opinion, the salmon/steelhead endorsement total crap, this discovery pass thing id get banned for non family approved language.

the state does very little to actually manage their lands and game. they dont have funding to hire new managers on a permanent status. why should we have to be paying more for the same and sometimes less, i for one will not bow into that mind set. if they plan to increase the cost to pursue outdoor recreation they had better be doing something with the increased revenue other than putting into the "bail out christine spend a mint gregoire" fund

i may live in bozeman but i am still a washingtonian and will not pay for higher priced tags and special apps.

[singleshot12]

I've lost a lot of archery days in the last three years without much of an explanation. Restrictions seem to be tighter with the new 4 pt restriction in the east and several units going from any elk to something more restrictive. At what point is the commission going to say enough is enough and stop making it harder to hunt, and more expensive at the same time? I'd tolerate increases in my fees much better if I saw something for them coming to me.  Am I missing something? BigTex, any words of encouragement for those of us who feel this is less and less of a two-way street?

Unfortunately I think it's something that we just have to get use to. We've seen increases in everything from liquor at state stores, to tolls on the narrows soon to be 520, the new Discovery Pass for state lands. I think we just have to get use to paying more for less. Another example, In the past 5 years (maybe even less) about 10 state parks have been transferred out of state ownership to cities, counties, and tribes, but yet the camping fee was increased by $1 a night and now the Discovery Pass will be required, even though there are fewer parks to staff and maintain.

I don't think there is any magic thing or glimpse of hope I or anybody else can say, just get use to it. 

"Getting used to it" is alot easier if one can afford it, but not many these days can afford all the differant increases these days. So it would seem inevitable that most folks will not continue to buy licences which would result in less revenue for wdfw in the long run.

[BOWHUNTER45]

HEY we keep paying so they keep taking.... So as soon as we start laying down our own laws then nothen will change !!!!!

[grundy53]

Ok we'll just bend over and get used to it.

[singleshot12]

Elect our own and stop the waste...only in a perfect world 

[dontgetcrabs]

This will only increase poaching...  Not revenue to the state.    

[phishisgroovin]

Soon to be only the upper middle class, Seniors and Disabled will be able to enjoy.

[lokidog]

Ok we'll just bend over and get used to it.

That's the word from the WDFW representative himself as stated above.  We just have to "just get used to it."

BULLSH*T!!!!!!!

Increased fees are one thing due to inflation.  But guess what?  THERE HAS BEEN AN AVERAGE 2.4% inflation rate over the last TEN years!  What percentage have hunting and fishing licenses gone up in the same time period??

AND, if you are going to raise fees, why do you also have to DECREASE opportunity?  Riddle me that State man!

It is time to clean house, from our POS Federal Senators and Representatives to the Governor, our state ones, and WDFW "managers" that don't seem to know how to manage.

Yeah, I'm venting a little since I just read through the Puget Sound Rockfish Management Plan as well as this crap.

[Bob33]

Increased fees are one thing due to inflation.  But guess what?  THERE HAS BEEN AN AVERAGE 2.4% inflation rate over the last TEN years!  What percentage have hunting and fishing licenses gone up in the same time period??

Here are some fees from 2000 and 2010 with the average annual increase on a compounded basis:

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