Seen the fee proposals for 2006?

[DesertBull]

I think their new fee structures are going to kill the drawing odds, especially for elk, for the average guy/gal.

 

There will always be the people applying for the premium elk hunts, no matter what the price, but now a lot of the hunters of average means, will be priced into the non-premium units only.

 

http://www.azgfd.gov/temp/documents/AGFDPr...creases_000.pdf

 

$250~ for a premium elk tag. That is the RESIDENT PRICE!

$85~ for a premium deer tag. That is the RESIDENT PRICE! (Will that include the top December Coues deer hunts, or just North of the Colorado Mule Deer hunts?)

 

Hunting license prices go up too. ($32.00) Why does a hunting license cost more than a fishing license?

 

 

One new thing that is kind of interesting is the Class M License.

 

Includes your hunting license and Arch Deer tag, Arch Turkey tag, Lion tag, bear tag, waterfowl stamps, and the hunter pool application. $118.00 Saves you a little $$ if you normally buy all of those.

[kwp]

I have been wondering the same thing about what they consider a "premium" hunt. I, and I think a lot of people on this site, would consider a December coues hunt in S. AZ one of the best hunts in the world but my gut feeling is that they are only considering the carp hunts north of the river.

 

As far as elk, is a Premuim hunt all bull hunts with cow hunts being non-premium or do they only include the rut hunts or only rifle rut hunts.

 

I just saw where they say "No more than five percent of the total elk/deer tags in any calendar year may be Class A tags" so it sounds like they are limiting the number of hunts that they are classifying as premium but I would still like to see some actual hunt dates and units that will be considered premium or Class A

[DesertBull]

They probably will be reluctant to give out that info until after the increase has been approved.

 

Remember, they are politiions, first and foremost.

 

5% of the deer tags is a lot of tags. I am not sure how many, but I would think they gave out around 30,000 tags this year (5% = 1,500)

[JVS]

I'd like to know what they expect to do with all this cashflow. Oh yeah, first and foremost, they are politians! No, really, you know they made a killing on the non-res fees this year. A couple of other things to consider....Why do we as hunters and fishermen have to pay for the wooper snapperdoodle studies? If the game and fish wants to manage non-game species, and spend buku bucks doing so, let them change their name to something like... the Seirra Club . I do see the importance of all species, species diversity, etc. Don't get me wrong. But why are we paying for it with ("GAME") fees? Notice the emphasis on game...Oh, and the list of spending goes on and on. What I'd like to see is a detailed, itemized budget for the next few years. Don't we deserve to see EXACTLY where our tag and license fees go?

[az4life]

I think they do "publish" the budget, but that does not do any good since it has been approved by the comission prior to publishing.

 

Yup, Times they are a changin....

[andrewprentice15]

I would like to say "I told you so" to a few people think that hunting would stay cheap enough so the working man could put in the whole family and pass the hunt torch on to the next generation. I saved my pennies and bought I lifetime license after the whole USO problem because the writing was on the wall that it was only going to be a matter of time till hunt became a rich mans sport, I will be lucky to save enough to but the whole family in next year for the fall hunts, My wife and two of my three boys are old enough to hunt so just think of the money we spend in the fall. My youngest is now 8 and he looks forward the most to hunting season so I will do whatever it takes to pass it on to my boys, if I can they will all have lifetime licenses and I can only hope that the tag fines don't kill me. I will suck up as much overtime as I can to make this happen for my boys. Thanks

[billrquimby]

I'm lucky in that I'll qualify for a Pioneer's license next year. ... if you can call being 70 "lucky," which I do.

 

Bill

[azhuntsmen]

Well i better start lookng for a 2nd job to afford my hunt tags. This is getting to be an expensive Sport maybe i'll switch over to tennis or bird watching.These are just "Proposal" fees people to stand up and be heard when they have thier public hearing.

[megahunter6969]

LIKE I SAID BEFORE!!!!! all the AZGFD and MOST other depts. care about is the big money sign!!! that is all they see and they are completley ruining out hunting in this state and are only going to keep doing it unless we stop them!

[josehunts]

I for one support the fee increases. Yes this has become an expensive sport/ hobby/ passion, but considering that we are a minority in a world of arm chair animal lovers/ wildlife experts, our willingness to pay for all wildlife, game and non-game, will help us in the long run. Our paying for all wildlife allows us to keep the high ground on any discussion regarding the future of wild animals and our uniquely American hunting tradition.

 

Now i'm not saying that it doesn't hurt to have to pay these prices, but again when we consider the costs of modern life and the pleasure that the hunting life affords us, I think most of us will be willing to pay to sustain the hunting tradition for future generations...

 

Jose

[Couesnut]

Very well said Jose.

The privilage of hunting is still cheap in todays world.

I guess you guys could'nt bair to be with out you're 6000.00$ quad, or you're 1000.00$ sound system....

I support AZ. wildlife $ the Fees that it takes to keep the Anti-hunting public from having$$$ power.

DH

[Lance]

My wife, 4 young kids and I all love to hunt. Do they understand how much it will cost for a family to put in for their own state, so they can hunt their own back yard. They need more programs for children that don't cost much. It is an envestment in our future!

 

Everyone should go to the G&F price raise meetings this month and put in a vote for the children!

 

And realy for those kids that are ages 10 - 14. That is such a critical age for young hunters. We have to be able to afford to let them hunt and there has to be better chances for them to hunt. Have you seen the draw odds for youth hunts? They suck! They have a better chance at getting a general hunt. Maybe they should cut the age for the youth hunts down to age 14? Somthing!

 

To put 6 family members in for just resident elk right now costs around $700.00 And if we wan't to put in for deer and antelope it just goes up from there!

 

"Kids who hunt , trap and fish, don't mug little old laidies"!

[azhuntsmen]

You have a few good points, but to some its a way of life. My family history has been hunting long before any gov. has been involed how is that a privilage? people used to and still do hunt for food etc. Not everyone has 6,000 quads 12,000 tailers and 1,000 sound systems. As for helping us agianst the 'arm chair animal lovers" all that does is prove thier points at that we(hunters) will go to no lengths to "kill all the animals". Fees do need to be increased but not as inflated as they " propose" thats insane. I agree it will also limit the number of people that CAN apply for the so called Premuim hunts just looking for the "BIG SCORE" and will help with the animal lovers. To close my point i make a decent income and have a family( kids dogs WIFE) and had a tuff time being able to afford this years hunts. If this is "privilage" then why because of my income should i be excluded? I feel that i have a RIGHT to provide meat for my family for the up coming year that isnt infected with gov chemicals. I am in no way trying to degrade anyones opinion these are just mine, in a topic like this one there are no right or wrong answers just feeelings and i have shared mine.

[Diamondbackaz]

If you have been on here long enough, you know I have been advocating for the premium hunt for December whitetail for over two years now through my letter writing campaigns. I have always said the tag is the cheapest part of my hunt. A tank full of gas for my jeep for one day of scouting is more money than the tag. Heres a copy that last letter so I wrote to understand my logic:

To whom it may concern,

I looked at the ceiling caps on big game tags and found them to be reasonable, especially for the creation of the premium hunts. I stated in my last letter that these hunts are a good idea for the high demand, hard to draw Deer and Bull Elk hunts. The only thing that I believe that was neglected from this list was the December whitetail hunts. The December whitetail hunt should be included in the premium hunt category for the following reasons:

 

? Low draw odds: Draw odds for December hunts range from 3% to 13% while draw odds for the October and November hunts range from 65% to 100%.

? High demand: December hunts are much longer seasons than the October and November making them a high demand hunt.

? Trophy bucks: December hunts are closer to the rut making trophy animals easier to find.

? Success Rates: Look at the AZGFD stats, December hunt success rates are two to four times higher than the October and November hunts.

? Less Hunters: There is a lot less tags offered per unit for December hunts which means there is less chance of conflicts with other hunters in the field.

 

As you can see, these are many of the same issues that exist with the Kaibab deer and early Bull hunts. I don?t know what the non-resident demand for the December whitetail hunts is, but I bet it is much higher than the October and November hunts. Please consider this proposal. I know a lot of the issues with the USO lawsuit dealt with the Kaibab and Bull elk hunts. But please look into creating a Premium Whitetail hunt.

[az4life]

I reviewed the various fee increase proposals and the MANY different license classes the AGFD is proposing. I have to say the whole thing is getting very confusing and yes, expensive. Add a Dove stamp, Trout Stamp, Urban this and colorado river that, to your license and it really adds up fast.

 

True, the tag fee is only a "fraction" of the whole expense of hunting but that portion like the other parts of the hunting costs is getting hit with inflation and the end user hunters are the ones paying the price.

 

Confusion, Higher prices, are all a part to be expected when government agencies are involved The simple reason is politics. I too see the proposed changes as a money grab (in part) which is a part of government involvement and I can guess the state wildlife will be the loser and the in state sportsmen will be footing the bill. Ironic isn't it.

 

Oh yes, There are "super sized" family packages being offered to choose from but how many people can really expect to use and benefit from them? Sure they are offering a small break on the prices if you buy one of the "super sized" licenses, but unlike french fries and a mega sized coke at the fast food places, they do not fit everyone. You probably will not use all the features but you are paying for them and more to "save" a little.

 

Like many people, I compare prices in terms of when I was younger.

Like "How much "pain" did it cause me to buy a license then compared to now. " Well my income has risen and costs have also risen but tags and licenses seems to be dis-proportionately higher. I have not bought a combo fish/hunt license for 15 years. Just not worth it. Tag fees used to be less than the license but now they are way over. The hunting options with a general license are not as broad and many species now require tag$ that used to be included with the general. Even dove need a $tamp.

 

AZ has been been a holdout and refuge for those desiring a western way of life. You know, the days before government control of hunting. If you needed a meal, you could go out and get it by hnting for it. That spirit has been part of AZ over the years even though you needed a paid license and tag. With the changes taking place over the past 3 years or so, it seems obvious to me the sportsman is not in the majority and is not a protected minority.

 

What options do we have? Complain and petition, but politicians will not act to help us since it will take our money out of their control.

 

Ultimatley, we will have to pay the fees or not go hunting in AZ. I must say, it is getting close in price for me to hunt other states. Hmmm, maybe the USO jerks will win in the end since price is no object to them.

 

Okay, I Rambled long enough. Sorry I got fired up on this but at least it was hunting related.