My back is worse than ever but even though I fear my fishing will be limited, or perhaps none at all, I still bought my license with trout/salmon stamp. As a youth I was always thankful for having a place to fish and fish to catch. That would never have happened without folks buying their licenses. Considering that those fees go towards our public fishing areas, conservation, stocking, youth programs and so much more I think it is $32 dollars well spent. I think we should look at these fees as an investment into to the future rather than a burden.
Do any of you think of the fishing and hunting license fees as an investment in protecting, conserving our natural wild resources? To me that really helps soften the blow of the fees.
…and who knows perhaps…with a little good fortune…I just might be able to go fishing.
Nighthawk:
I have to agree with you. I’m not wealthy but, I do consider DNR fees to be contributions. I often fish other states and I will buy annual permits instead of the three day or seven day ones. I never know if I’ll get back in the same year. The price diffrence is not so much. And, it is my contribution to the local fish management programs. In a few years (when I retire) I may (probably) change me mind.
I do considerate it an investment especially in Pennsylvania. I’ve read that our state is one of the very few that gets no state aid to help run our Fish and Game commissions. I believe we rely solely on license fees for money.
Nighthawk,Lastchance
Hell id be all for paying more for my fishing and hunting licenses here in Pa,If both commissions would just set the price higher an get it over with they could quit whining how they have no money, its a wonderful privledge an pastime of two interests i extremely enjoy, we in the states are very fortunate to have all the access we do to our woods an waters…only have to look across the ocean to see how what we enjoy for a pittance is over there only avaiable to those with title or money be it in england scotland or europe, for most folks here if they had to pay to fish like they do overseas an with the beat system of things where you can only fish a certain section or hunt a certain area in a ceratian manner,maybe only dryflies never nymphs, or everything you land you have to keep ect ,they would be apalled let alone they would probably not even have the means to try or to access the great outdoors.God Bless the USA,we aint perfect but we are still the best place to live.
Tight Wraps & Tight lines
Rick Wallace
I can’t remember the last time I didn’t have a fishing license. I’ll have another one this year, at least for my state. Idaho is only about 4 miles from my home, and it’s a beautiful place to fish. But, they want $98.25 for a year long license and with my budget that won’t happen. That saddens me because a I love to fish Idaho. If given the chance to fish there, I’ll probably opt for the one day license at $12.75 with a $6.00 each additional day charge. I wish I could pay more, because like you Eric, I consider it an investment in the future. Fishing is the one thing I enjoy doing more than anything else, and like you I choose to remain optimistic. Maybe that’s why I still have my pontoon boat, knowing full well that do to my health, I may never use it again.
If I knew that the State of Illinois would not raid (read “steal”) the funds of IDNR, I would be happy to donate more. I wouldn’t want them to raise license or permit fees, because there are still those out there who must fish and hunt for their dinner. And yes it does happen, I know some of them personally. The problem here is that every time you turn around another crook politician has his hand in someones retirement fund, grant fund, cookie jar… (you get the idea.) Sorry to rant political. Luke
All that said, I do still wish that I had bought a lifetime sportsmans license when I was 14 and had the money in hand from detassling corn. Dad suggested it, but I was to eager to spend it on other things. Luke
I do consider it an investment. I get an annual both here and in WA and do daily ones in other states. Been thinking about how to propose a travelers license but haven’t put anything together yet except in my head. Maybe somebody here would know how to do that. I was thinking about $100 a year, check in with participating states, be entered into their system. Sure would be easier for the traveling fisherman. Just a thought. Sometimes I don’t fish a state because of the cost. Any ideas? Bad idea? Wouldn’t fly?
Eric,
Not only do I consider it an investment in future fishing, I Consider it a major motivator for you to fish & hunt again. You gave yourself the chance to return to the sports you love & that WILL push you. Put that license & stamp where you can see it every day!
God Bless,
Mike
Eric, I agree that it is definitely an investment worth making. I hope you get to use it in the coming year.
I would be willing to pay more for my license, but I’m not so sure I would increase the price too much. It can quickly reach a level where the cost deters enough casual fishermen (and the majority are casual) that the increase in price results in a net loss of revenue. I don’t claim to know where the point is, but in a down economy it’s probably closer than we think.
I agree. Pennsylvania doesn’t use tax dollars for either the Fish and Boat Commission or the Game commission. It’s also one of the few states which have separate fish and game commissions. I don’t know exactly when the Fish Commission became the Fish and BOAT commission, and I’m not sure how it all works out in the money game. Look at kayaks and canoes, I haven’t lived in another state which requires a “launch permit” to put an unpowered watercraft to be in any waterway which has a publicly accessible launch. Whatever, it’s $18 for two years, it’s another tax on top of everything else. I even buy the Erie stamp, even though I didn’t fish up there even once in the last two years. Pennsylvania has a lot to offer for fishing, even with the crowds.
From the application for Illinois watercraft permit: [FONT=Helvetica][FONT=Helvetica][COLOR=#0a3852][LEFT][SIZE=2][FONT=Helvetica][COLOR=#0a3852][FONT=Helvetica][COLOR=#0a3852][FONT=Helvetica][COLOR=#0a3852][LEFT][FONT=arial][SIZE=2]
[COLOR=#0a3852][FONT=Helvetica][SIZE=1][COLOR=#0a3852][FONT=Helvetica][SIZE=1][COLOR=#0a3852][LEFT][FONT=arial][SIZE=2]ALL watercraft (other than sailboards) must be registered and titled except awatercraft that is non-powered, owned and operated on water completelyimpounded on land belonging to the owner of the watercraft. This does not[/LEFT]
apply to water controlled by a club or association.
[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]~[/LEFT]
[/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][LEFT]This includes kiddie paddle boats! Absolutely ridiculous! Luke[/LEFT]
[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/LEFT]
[/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]
Unless they changed this very recently, you only need the launch permit to use Fish Commission launches, Commission lakes, and state parks. Ironically, I have a canoe that I used to register at an annual cost of $5. For a launch permit, it is $10 per year (or $18 for two years). The registration has to cost the state more than the launch permits, but costs me less. Huh?
However I believe that you will find out that the Fish Commission was responsible for collection of boat license fees all along as well as law enforcement.
Thnakd all for the replies. It is refreshing to see that at least some of us here regard paying those fees as the good stewardship of our resouces for future generations. I have griped about our fiees inthe past but everytime I think of them I remember the free state parks, the programs made available by both commision for youth involvement in the outdoor sports, the preservation of habitat for future generations to enjoy. As someone on here once put it to me the $20-$30+ dollars spent on a locense that will last a year is a better bargain than the $40 dollars spent on dinner and a movie for one night.
Dave- from the PaFBC website:
Unpowered boats used at Commission lakes or access areas, PA state parks or PA state forests must be:
[ul]
[li]properly registered, or[/li][li]display an official and valid Commission use permit, or[/li][li]display an official and valid watercraft launch or mooring permit issued by DCNR.[/li][/ul]Last year, a nice person on the phone from FBC HQ explained to me that this is interpreted further to include ANY WATERWAY which has a Commission Access area… so that’s pretty much everything other than tiny streams and puddles. I’m not complaining TOO much, it’s basically $10 a year including their SERVICE FEE(!) and I intend to fish several state parks and other places, so less than $1 a month BUT it’s still another tax! Luke I’ve never lived or fished in Illinois, but seeing as how screwed up Illinois appears to be with every other thing, it is no surprize. Other places I’ve been (Fl, Al, Nv, NM, Me, Va, others) to my knowledge didn’t have a registration fee for human-powered boats, or at least not when I lived there. Florida might have actually had a $2 daily fee to fish in state parks… I don’t remember clearly.
Don’t even start on the law saying we MUST wear our licenses clearly visible on an outer garment! Guilty until proven innocent! We don’t have to display our driver’s license on the outside of the car! Go fishing and get caught with your license under your jacket though, and get a hefty fine (if the “WCO” wants to do it…)
