Where Have All The Hunters (fishermen) Gone?

See 40 dollars a year doesn't seem that much to me. Think of all the other "luxury" items people spend money on that cost almost that or more a month.

At $40 a year, fishing would become one of those "luxury" items for me.

as long as catch and release herping and inverts are still free.

I can't remember the last time I took and ate a fish from my home state. I'll bet I've consumed less than 10 fish from my home state in 33 years of fishing here. I can also assure you that not a single one of the consumed fishes were stocked. I'm also not the type to go to another state and take my limit. In fact I've not eaten a fish in over 12 months from any of the states I'm licensed to.

I don't mind supporting the various departments of conservation/natural resources but let's face it. Much of that money goes into stocking LMB and trout into waters they don't belong. Very little of that money goes to non-game fish and mussels.

Years ago (and probably still) Ontario offered a "conservation" license. I recall it allowed for 1/2 limits and certain fish were off limits. Naturally the license was offered at a reduced price. I thought this was brilliant idea and wish the states would follow suit. I would certainly pick up many licenses if this were the case since I don't really take fish in any case. This would be net gain I believe with the outrageous price tags certain states charge for non-residents. A great many catch and release anglers (and fishheads like us) would buy an annual permit at the reduced price even if just popping in for a weekend (you never know if you'll get a chance to come back to that state within year).

The conservation license is a great idea, I mostly do ceatch & release but I do enjoy a fish dinner once in a wile. I like to eat those non native salmon. I usualy just keep panfish if I'm looking for a fish fry.
I always let the big ones go though. (example: 9" bluegill, redear etc..)

I would definitly get a yearly license in Michigan and Wisconsin each year if it was not so expensive.
I go to each State once or twice a year, and always wonder what type I should get.

As far as people with bad habbits while hunting goes, hopefully this will start to change with manditory Hunter Safety classes.
I am a Indiana Hunter Safety instructor, and a Merit badge counselor for the Boy Scouts.
I stress safty & conservation. But mainly I want to introduce as many kids as posible to both sports.

I am a merit badge counselor for Fishing, Fly-Fishing, Shot gun shooting, Rifle Shooting, Fish & Wildlife manigment, reptila & amphibian study, & insect study among others. If anyone has a Boy Scout in the Chicago land area.

Mike

PS: I don't hunt public land either.

As far as people with bad habbits while hunting goes, hopefully this will start to change with manditory Hunter Safety classes.

This is an interesting topic for Kansas. To herp in Kansas, a hunting license is required, which requires a hunter safety course. Although I havent taken the hunter safety course, I may do it just to confirm that it is unnecessary for someone who "hunts" reptiles by catch and release, but many herpers in Kansas, including vegans, pacifists, and the anti gun lot, object to the state requiring a gun safety course to be able to legally catch snakes and lizards by hand. Beyond that, the way the state defines "take", I believe you would also need said safety course to photograph such animals up close.

There has been some discussion of switching herping requirements from a hunting license to a fishing license, which I support, but as far as I know it is only an idea at this time.

I am a Indiana Hunter Safety instructor...

Im just curious, as a hunter safety instructor, have you had anyone in your class who intends to hunt without a weapon and from your point of view, do you consider your hunter safety course relevant to someone who is only interested in observing live wildlife?

This is an interesting topic for Kansas. To herp in Kansas, a hunting license is required, which requires a hunter safety course. Although I havent taken the hunter safety course, I may do it just to confirm that it is unnecessary for someone who "hunts" reptiles by catch and release, but many herpers in Kansas, including vegans, pacifists, and the anti gun lot, object to the state requiring a gun safety course to be able to legally catch snakes and lizards by hand. Beyond that, the way the state defines "take", I believe you would also need said safety course to photograph such animals up close.

There has been some discussion of switching herping requirements from a hunting license to a fishing license, which I support, but as far as I know it is only an idea at this time.
Im just curious, as a hunter safety instructor, have you had anyone in your class who intends to hunt without a weapon and from your point of view, do you consider your hunter safety course relevant to someone who is only interested in observing live wildlife?

The class is mainly about safety, & conservation.

I did gun safety classes when I was a Cubmaster (1st - 5th grade boys) and I had a few parents express concern about their kids learning about guns. I told them just because you don't have a gun in your house it doesn't mean their kids can't come across one in another house.
They agreed it was a good idea for the kids to learn about what to do if the kid did find a gun.

I have had people that were not sure if they wanted to hunt or not, and just wanted the firearm safety part of the class. But were happy when they also found out the class also teaches them about wildlife.

I had a request to run another coarse and one girl is a member of a animal activist group.
She is a vegetarian, but does not agree with everything her groupe believes in.
She wants more information. She is in my Venture Scout crew, and I've known her for years.
She is very nice, just misinformed.

Mike

Then perhaps I will be pleasantly surprised when I take the hunter safety course. Also it will be interesting to see peoples reactions when I tell them I will be hunting by hand.

Non resident License fees are not a "Tax" they are a payment to a state to use state resources..While some may seem high I do see justification for them as a Non resident does not pay proportionate local and state taxes to offset the licensing cost and agency expenses.

Most funding to these agencies is based on revenue gathered from license and permits... it is their lifes blood.

These two statements seem contradictory to me.

First you say a nonresident does not pay state taxes to offset the licensing cost and agency expenses. Then you say these costs are not funded by state taxes, but by revenue gathered by license and permit fees. So why should an out-of-stater pay more license fees to make up for his missing share of the tax portion of the agencies' operating costs, when there is no tax portion of the agencies' operating costs?

If the agency got much of it's operating costs from the general fund (taxes), then it might be a fair statement that out-of-staters should be charged more license fees to make their contributions equal. (This, as I understand it, is also why out-of-staters are charged more to attend state universities.) But since most of their revenue comes from license fees and not taxes, then in-staters and out-of-staters would already be paying equal contributions when they pay equal license fees. By charging higher license fees for out-of-staters, these people are being made to pay a disproportionately high share of the agencies' operating costs. The out-of-stater also cannot complain about it in the voting booth. Hmmm.

Just the same, I have paid my out-of-state licensing fees for my travels. I've still been looking forward to meeting you on one of these travels.

As you just said.. most of their funding comes from licenses. I can't speak for other states, but VA does get money from the state. It just isn't enough. Where do the states get this money? Taxes of course. To help offset this cost, VA charges a lot more for out-of-state fishermen and hunters.

Wildlife conversation license plates in the state of VA also support the VDGIF as well as other similar programs. You can even donate when you file your state taxes.

Interesting link : http://www.dgif.stat...ails.asp?id=127

You see enough anti hunting and animal rights bs on the news. I wished someone would anti up and put some programs on TV that spell out the danger if hunters would stop hunting all together. Starvation, disease, etc etc. Not to mention traffic problems and deaths due to overpopulation. If the animal rights activists would have half a brain they would read a little bit and sober up and know the facts.

If the animal rights activists would have half a brain they would read a little bit and sober up and know the facts.

That would be asking too much, I fear.

Or even better, reintroduce wolves to their original range to limit deer populations. Just don't leave your small children, dogs or cats out after dark. But only morons do that now anyway.

(I can say this because I'm not running for political office, so don't look for my name on the ballot.)

Yup I know but I like to type LOL

That would be asking too much, I fear.