Hunting license cost increase coming?

[Mooseman]

Fees in Maryland going up. Who woulda thunk it?

 

[wilcam47]

People will just quit checking game and buying licenses it wont necessarily stop people from hunting...

 

[Franklin]

resident hunting fees in MD are the cheapest in the country by a large margin. i cant see much reason to complain especially with what you get. no fee for tags per deer. unlimited does in bow season,4 bucks, 10 does for all other seasons no lottery or points system. the money goes rite back into it any way. boat docks,aquired lands and up keep.

 

[BlackBart]

resident hunting fees in MD are the cheapest in the country by a large margin. i cant see much reason to complain especially with what you get. no fee for tags per deer. unlimited does in bow season,4 bucks, 10 does for all other seasons no lottery or points system. the money goes rite back into it any way. boat docks,aquired lands and up keep.

I tend to agree, they're not that cost prohibitive.

 

[GTOGUNNER]

resident hunting fees in MD are the cheapest in the country by a large margin. i cant see much reason to complain especially with what you get. no fee for tags per deer. unlimited does in bow season,4 bucks, 10 does for all other seasons no lottery or points system. the money goes rite back into it any way. boat docks,aquired lands and up keep.

Well, I guess living in MD should have a least one perk. Sadly, this is probably the only thing that is cheaper here than anywhere else.

 

[Pstango]

I can make it very simple for you:

1) Boat Ramps
2) Oyster Repopulation
3) Bay Restoration
4) Seed Planted For Doves
5) Boat Ramps
6) Target Holders
7) Boat Ramps
8) Paying Leases On Property No One Uses
9) Printing Licenses / Permits / Hunter Guides / Websites / COMPASS
10) Did I mention Boat Ramps...

Just to add a few more in a very very long list;
11. Habitat restoration in general. Dealing with invasives, RTE species, and habitat reforestation etc...
12. State land maintenance; trails, buildings...
13. Continuing reseach into BMPs (best management practices) and restoration.
14. Inventory
15. Monitoring
16. Did I say good scientific research?

There is a lot that goes on and unfortunately most of DNR is understaffed and has little budget. Granted I hate increased fees and taxes as much as any good conservative, but all things considered... As stewards and citizens, it's a small price to pay. At least regarding where we live. If you're curious, I'd recommend taking a look at MD DNR's webpage. It's pretty informative. www.dnr.state.md.us

 

[Franklin]

Well, I guess living in MD should have a least one perk. Sadly, this is probably the only thing that is cheaper here than anywhere else.

you could look at it that way. then go to a public boat ramp and not be able to pull your boat back out of the water because of poor ribbing in the ramp or your kid hangs a toe in a splinter or 20 penny nail. try parking in the wma parking lots? gates and fences? other state public land is chittin all over what we have....so in essence you get what you pay for. now does the piggy bank get robbed? most likely...

 

[oupa]

Okay... here's a report from USFW on number of hunters and license revenues by state. Yes it is dated - 1995 data - but indicative. It is also argumentative as it is TOTAL license revenue and does not break down tags, application fees, etc.
It does however provide a comparison of the income derrived by each department from license sales. Following are a few examples;

MD - $28.16/hunter - 150.992 hunters
HI - $11.32...............10,486
DE $2124.................21463
AK $86.59................90,669
MS $28.46...............246,389
WV $31.35................279,891
RI $19.63.................13,352
AL $25.71................274,072
AR $29.73................321,860

As a comparison these mean little other than by using this particular set of data MD. does NOT appear terribly higher or cheaper than many others. I did try to stick to states with roughly the same general total revenue as MD but the number of hunters varies widely within that. I also made the effort to include several with similar and more than the opportunities offered by MD. I just threw HI in for pure fun!
It does show
There was also a study funded by the IWLA around the time of this report I believe, that looked into where each dept. got it's funding. MD. was among the bottom five in receiving money from the state (general fund) even though due to the structure of Wildlife & Heritage, they are responsible for much more than GAME ANIMALS. This IS NOT the case in most agencies I believe.
Back in the mid-70's when the various independent agencies were united under the "DNR" umbrella, the reasoning was to conserve funds by sharing resources. forty years later the opposite appears to be happening. Game animal programs are drastically reduced if they exist at all. Rather than managing "game" for maximum hunter experience, hunters have been reduced to little more than volunteer exterminators for a W&H service that seems to answer more to wildlife damage control than anything else.

While we are constantly told "the wildlife belong to all Marylander's and all have an equal voice in it's management" (that's why there is a HSUS board member on the "Wildlife Advisory Commission!), "all citizens of Maryland" pay virtually nothing for the management of the same "wildlife." Yet to add insult to injury DNR and their hand puppet, the LSF want us to pay even MORE for the same meager services. Why? Because the minuscule funding that does come from the GF is repeatedly raided by O'Malley's budget writers for use in other programs.

Now... personally, I wouldn't mind paying more IF, it all went to GAME MANAGEMENT and protection. LSF will tell us there is a "lock-box" written into the bill authorizing this increase but rest assured, it is not where this specific money goes (if we could trust such an assurance) but rather the fact that hunters are already paying more than our share. Yes, due to non-funding by the GF, DNR and NRP do need more money. We can agree on that. Its where it comes from and where it goes that's in dispute.

 

[Franklin]

i dont like having to pay more either but one thing is for sure, antwonne isint gettin a new pair of air jordons on my dime this way.

Just to add a few more in a very very long list;
11. Habitat restoration in general. Dealing with invasives, RTE species, and habitat reforestation etc...
12. State land maintenance; trails, buildings...
13. Continuing reseach into BMPs (best management practices) and restoration.
14. Inventory
15. Monitoring
16. Did I say good scientific research?

There is a lot that goes on and unfortunately most of DNR is understaffed and has little budget. Granted I hate increased fees and taxes as much as any good conservative, but all things considered... As stewards and citizens, it's a small price to pay. At least regarding where we live. If you're curious, I'd recommend taking a look at MD DNR's webpage. It's pretty informative. www.dnr.state.md.us

 

[MDMOUNTAINEER]

I can make it very simple for you:

1) Boat Ramps
2) Oyster Repopulation
3) Bay Restoration
4) Seed Planted For Doves
5) Boat Ramps
6) Target Holders
7) Boat Ramps
8) Paying Leases On Property No One Uses
9) Printing Licenses / Permits / Hunter Guides / Websites / COMPASS
10) Did I mention Boat Ramps...

You mean the boat ramps that require a fee? Hmm, okay.

Oh. Now I understand. It is so I can buy a license which allows me to (illegally) bait deer with fresh oysters and then take my boat out (on a ramp that requires a permit) to the middle of the bay and shoot doves and targets while I wait for the deer to swim by which would be illegal to shoot because they are 'taking refuge in water'.

Gotcha.

Funniest post in the thread

People will just quit checking game and buying licenses it wont necessarily stop people from hunting...

I hope people just stop hunting. Then we can all bitch about our vehicle insurance rates going even higher from the deer strikes.

 

[Franklin]

can you list the ramps for me? i would like to research them.

You mean the boat ramps that require a fee? Hmm, okay.



Funniest post in the thread







I hope people just stop hunting. Then we can all bitch about our vehicle insurance rates going even higher from the deer strikes.

 

[Franklin]

tss1004, do you have county ramps confused with state ramps? most county ramps are pay ramps.

 

[oupa]

BTW - can yall drop the talk about boat ramps? They ARE NOT paid for with hunting license monies!

Research "MD. Waterway Improvement Fund." That's where boat ramps come from.

 

[Song Dog]

Okay... here's a report from USFW on number of hunters and license revenues by state. Yes it is dated - 1995 data -

MD - $28.16/hunter - 150.992 hunters

:

Numbers way out dated, more like 105,000-108,000 Licensed hunters in Maryland, deer hunters average 70,000 and waterfowl hunters 30,000 and 5,000 other hunting activities.

Now isn't MLSF managing this for Senator Astle (A.A. Co) the head of MD Legisalative Sportsman Caucas (?) Astle would Sponsor the Bill if the push back is not as vocal as last year so this is not a DNR Sponsored Bill that was shot down by the House last year?

You spoke of the Anti that was on WAC, actually he was OK guy, 14 years on WAC, pleasure to work with not like some of the hunters who fought each other for self center selfish interests rather than hunters collaberating on what's in the best interest of hunting/hunters. Sounds like you have dotted line to this stuff so maybe you know what I'm talking about

What ever the Fee increased will be maybe just $20.00 but if their is no "Lock Out" for MOM robbing the fund then Hunters should not agreee to the new fee. If I or we are going to pay an increase we should demand the funds stay with DNR for our benefit.

 

[MDMOUNTAINEER]

tss1004, do you have county ramps confused with state ramps? most county ramps are pay ramps.

The only state boat ramp I've used was sandy point, which charges a fee just to get in the park. At least they did then. I don't recall if there was an additional boat ramp fee.

Most important of all is the quote below.

BTW - can yall drop the talk about boat ramps? They ARE NOT paid for with hunting license monies!

Research "MD. Waterway Improvement Fund." That's where boat ramps come from.

 

[Franklin]

BTW - can yall drop the talk about boat ramps? They ARE NOT paid for with hunting license monies!

Research "MD. Waterway Improvement Fund." That's where boat ramps come from.

Well sunuhmuhbitch. I'm gettin closer to passin the bar everyday!

 

[shanewolfe]

Boat ramp?

I just drop my canoe off my shoulder and into the water. Who said anything about a boat ramp? You guys have some fancy stuff there...

 

[Vic]

Lock box or no lock box it won't matter. I like the idea but what MOM will do is provide even less money from the general fund so the operating budget won't change.

Putting his money into programs that keep his voting block strong is his objective.

I too wouldn't mind paying a little more if the money stayed in DNR and was used to our benefit. Most likely it will be used to our detriment.

Sorry, for the rant.

Vic

 

[huesmann]

thats how it would be spent if we had a republican in Annapolis. but we dont so it goes to roads and other bullsh!t like that.

And I suppose you walk from home to your hunting grounds? Or maybe you ride your horse.

 

[Ab_Normal]

And I suppose you walk from home to your hunting grounds? Or maybe you ride your horse.

Doubtful. He probably drives a car which uses gas that has road taxes paid on it that gets redistributed to other pet projects by our tax and spend legislators. Neat how that works isn't it?