New State Land Fees

[AZLance]

Fees rise to visit Arizona's 8 million acres of landBy Howard Fischer

Capitol Media Services

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.07.2008

advertisementPHOENIX — If you’re planning to visit state lands, it’s going to cost you a lot more money, unless you go there to kill something — or at least try.

The Land Department has dramatically increased what it charges people who want to hike, ride horses, picnic, watch birds, take pictures or camp on any of the 8 million acres of state trust lands that are open to the public.

An individual permit, good for one year, which used to cost $15 now will set you back $50. Family permits jumped from $20 to $75.

There is, however, one big exception: If you are “actively hunting or fishing” on the state lands there is no fee. All you need is the proper hunting or fishing license, which cost $32.25 or $23.50 respectively.

Rory Aikens, spokesman for the state Game and Fish Department, said the requirement to actually be hunting or fishing to escape paying the new recreation fees means more than just carrying around a gun or a fishing pole. It means at least shooting the gun off from time to time.

But Aikens said there’s no requirement you actually hit something — or even try to — to be considered a “hunter.”

Jamie Hogue, deputy state land commissioner, said her agency has been studying fee changes, which have been the same since the 1980s, and there were plans to update them to better reflect her agency's costs.

But before that happened, she said, the Legislature, looking for ways to balance the state budget, slashed more than $3.1 million from the Land Department and directed the agency to offset $600,000 of that with higher fees.

Some of the burden was passed along to others, like ranchers who lease state land for grazing. But Hogue said the fees for recreational use needed to go up, too.

The move took effect Aug. 1.

[AZLance]

" the requirement to actually be hunting or fishing to escape paying the new recreation fees means more than just carrying around a gun or a fishing pole. It means at least shooting the gun off from time to time.

But Aikens said there’s no requirement you actually hit something — or even try to — to be considered a “hunter.”

 

I talked to a State Land officer down south a month ago, and he said that they are going to aggressivley start enforcing this. I asked him about shed hunting or scouting, and he reiterated the statement above. You must be in the act of hunting or fishing with a hunt/fish license. Any other activity like shed hunting or scouting would require the recreational land permit.

 

Ofcourse I dont agree with this, and imagine that it is going to be near impossible to enforce, BUT I dont want to be the first one ticketed either...

[peckl1]

I would guess this will cause the death of a lot more jackrabbits.

 

Lee

[DesertBull]

Nappy has run the budget so far into the red they have to resort to this crap to pay it off.

[Arizona Griz]

I was always under the impression that the State Land Department did not have any field officers since most of the patrol is done by G&F and the Sheriffs Office.

[NRS]

State Land does not have any law enforcement power. They have to use the sheriffs department or Game and Fish for their enforcement of the trespass statute. they have a couple of trespass officers to work with local law enforcement to prosecute things like dumpers and squatters, but it would be tough for them to prove that you were not hunting if you had your license and a gun with you, whether or not you ever fired a shot. That is the reason it is called hunting, not gathering.

[GameHauler]

State Land does not have any law enforcement power. They have to use the sheriffs department or Game and Fish for their enforcement of the trespass statute. they have a couple of trespass officers to work with local law enforcement to prosecute things like dumpers and squatters, but it would be tough for them to prove that you were not hunting if you had your license and a gun with you, whether or nit you ever fired a shot. That is the reason it is called hunting, not gathering.

 

Well said

 

That dates back a few months

if you are referring to what I think

 

[az4life]

What a crock of Horse Squeeze. Making the public Pay more to use public lands. Another way of taxing the public without calling it a tax. Say It's a user fee, or some other garbage.

[AZLance]

I had a State Land Officer stop me and ask to see my permit a month ago while up by Freeman Road north of Oracle. He was driving a white Ford F-150 with Government plates. He got out and showed me a badge, and ask to see our state land permit. I showed it to him, and he said thanks. He then gave me a bunch of handouts dealing with recreation on State Land. Also Several years ago I ran into a State Land officer in 36C...

[hunterdude]

Poor coyotes and rabbits! The state land is selling their life short! Just shoot it every now and then ? What the heck is that about!

[jeepers creepers]

I'm hoping with a jump in the fees and some enforcment, it will keep some of litterbugs and idoits ay home!!

 

I'm tried of looking at/picking up other peoples trash.

 

 

[DesertBull]

I'm hoping with a jump in the fees and some enforcment, it will keep some of litterbugs and idoits ay home!!

 

I'm tried of looking at/picking up other peoples trash.

 

 

Why would the outlaws stay home? They don't play by the rules as it is.

They already don't give a rip and it's already illegal to litter.

[BACKCOUNTRY]

Wow that’s quite a jump!!!

 

I guess I won’t be buying another one of those for our family outings!!

 

A few years ago I was scouting for my upcoming pig hunt in the Willow springs/Freeman road area when a Pinal County Sherriff pulled me over, he informed me that I was trespassing on State Trust Land,

Well I informed him that I was pre-hunt scouting, and I had a current hunting license,

His response was “are you game fully pursuing an animal at this time”? No I said, just scouting, to that he say’s, your trespassing as soon as you left the main road please leave the area.

 

So for two years I have bought the STL permit, just so there was no confusion as to whether the family and I were legal or not.

 

WELL NO MORE!!!

 

I will be packin my .22 mag every time I go off the main road, and as Rory Atkins said, I will take a few shots just to prove that I am hunting.

 

But I will not be falling for the AZ Trust Lands little game any more!!

 

[ruffcountry]

Does this mean that you cant accompany a friend or family member who is hunting unless you have a stl ?