2007 tag fees

[DesertBull]

The guys doing the road hunting and drinking are not the ones that will be effected. They are not taking their kids. It will be the young guy with a new family or the 28-35 year old with 3 kids who want to hunt and fish. Those kids will one day be of voting age. How do you ask them to support hunting and fishing at the ballot box when they cannot even afford a license?

 

The Dept isn't raising the fees to weed out the riff-raff. They could do that by writing some tickets and taking away hunting priviledges of the law breakers. They are raising prices to generate more money. Those new 4x4 Dodge trucks don't get good milage and they are not cheap. Either is the brand new G&F office complex they are building.

 

It just seems a little funny when last year the Dept was on a rant about hunter retainment and recruitment, so they had to come up with a way to issue hundreds more tags, yet at the same time they jack up the prices so fewer people can justify a hunting license and tag.

 

Yes, I know prices on everything go up over time. Just don't try and tell me that you are trying to recruit more hunters while you are reaching deeper into their pocket.

 

I just had a great idea! Let's raise gas prices to $8 / gallon. Maybe that will weed out the riff raff drivers and I can get to work on time!

[coueshunter84]

Just sitting here adding figures,

 

 

 

Family license Wife, me, 2 oldest girls. $137.20

 

Deer tags x 4 + 2 archery tags. $ 238.50

 

Antelope tags x 4 $340

 

Elk tags 3 reg and 1 jr. $422

 

Javy tags, 3 reg 1 jr $51.25

 

TUrkey, 1 reg 2 jr. $60

 

Lion tags x2 $29

 

Sheep tags x 2 $544

 

Granted this is everyone drawing everything, But the grand total comes out to $1822.25

 

That of course does not include anything other then the tags and licenses. Add to that fuel, camping supplies, ammo, wear and tear on vehicles, clothing ( kids need new camo and boots about ever year). And everything else required.

 

That makes it very hard for a large family to hunt. Whats next a lottery at home to see who gets to put in. I still have 2 more youngsters waiting in the wings for their #10 b-days.

 

I know for some of you this is chump change, but grief. do we want to pass our hunting heritage on or not. Even with the "jr. " hunts added in . My oldest wants to put a bull on the wall before I do. There are no jr. Bull elk hunts. Try explaining to a 12 year old why she has to apply for cow only. I thought I was doing pretty good until she threatened to run an arrow through me. How is that fair?

 

If those of you who conscider this chump change wish to pitch in. I would be more then happy to to take hand outs. Or have you explain why taxidermy is out of the question for the 360 bull the oldest runs an arrow through come next Sept. .

 

Take a kid hunting,,,, But only if you can afford it!!!

[mattys281]

Now this is exactly my point, coueshunter. My kids are still too little to put in for big game, but this year, my fiance started hunting w/ me, so we're upto $122 for our pig tags so far, + another $400 for elk & antelope, which now that the drawing change has come, will be right after Christmas. Which is good, because everyone has lots of extra money during that time of year. I don't mind the increases, I'm just surprised at the large leaps this year. I know that Game & Fish needs money to operate & I actually applied for a position with them years ago. At that time their officers started at $13.75/hr while DPS started at almost $18.00. You want to raise tag fees to give those guys a raise, I understand that, but be reasonable. They also raised the app. fee considerably. They keep that money whether you draw or not, so you now they'll see a huge increase in revenues there. Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it went from $5 to 7.50 (50%). That's huge in itself when you multiply it not by all the people who draw, but by all the people who apply for anything! When I posted this, I was just curious as to whether or not anyone had heard an explanation/excuse for it. I had no idea until I saw the spring supplement. Apparently it was also in the fall guidlines, but I didn't see it there. Anyhow, what can you do? I guess you pay or stay out of the woods, so given those options I'll have to dig a little deeper this season.

[hunt4horns]

Look at it this way, look at all the hunts you can do for 1800.00 dollar. Now consider a trip to Disneyland for your large family. You get a whole lot more of hunting done across the board then you would for a weekend with Mickey and for half the price go figure............

[azhuntnut]

Who ever said you had to put in for every big game animal available. I currently purchase points for the animals I will not have the time or money for and then down the road when I am ready I put in for them. I have children also, but I save my money to allow them to put in also. If game and fish told me they were going to increase the tags the next, I would not go out to eat 5-6 times next year and that would probably cover any increases. David

[COUESAZ]

I will agree with Lark on this one. If he ever post on the issue.

[105Coues]

Just wait until the g&F implements the new COPPER Sticker program to extort more money from the working man. Everyone with an OHV will have to pruchase one every year just to ride on public lands. Just think about the families with kids who like to ride and what they will have to pay. I am sure the cost will be low at first until they have it established and then they too will go up dramatically.

 

Did I mention that right now they are looking for your input so I encourage you to voice your opinions.

[DesertBull]

Just wait until the g&F implements the new COPPER Sticker program to extort more money from the working man. Everyone with an OHV will have to pruchase one every year just to ride on public lands. Just think about the families with kids who like to ride and what they will have to pay. I am sure the cost will be low at first until they have it established and then they too will go up dramatically.

 

Did I mention that right now they are looking for your input so I encourage you to voice your opinions.

 

They can take that sticker and stick it.

[cmc]

Just wait until the g&F implements the new COPPER Sticker program to extort more money from the working man. Everyone with an OHV will have to pruchase one every year just to ride on public lands. Just think about the families with kids who like to ride and what they will have to pay. I am sure the cost will be low at first until they have it established and then they too will go up dramatically.

 

Did I mention that right now they are looking for your input so I encourage you to voice your opinions.

 

I can't wait for this to go into effect!!! It's about time the OHV's start to pay for the destruction they do. Yes a few bad apples are the ones doing all the damage but I'm sorry... OHV's are going to be the demise of our forest if we don't get a hold of things and soon!

 

I say make it a hefty fee right from the start!

 

cmc

[DesertBull]

Amazing how everyone is so eager to give their hard earned money away. It's like there are a bunch friggin liberals here that think taxes, fees and the almighty government are the answer to all their problems. I don't like this group of people, so let's price them out of existence so that I can have everything my way.

[cmc]

Amazing how everyone is so eager to give their hard earned money away. It's like there are a bunch friggin liberals here that think taxes, fees and the almighty government are the answer to all their problems. I don't like this group of people, so let's price them out of existence so that I can have everything my way.

 

Feel free to apply at the next G&F position opening if you feel you can do better. I don't believe they, the Government, are the savior, but they are tasked with a job. A job that has costs and associated bills that someone has to pay. Last I checked wildlife management isn't a free service that the G&F volunteer to do, then again I know some of them feel that way. The price of material and goods that we use has gone up. Don't for once think that they didn't go up for the G&F too. You can't tell the department that they have to go in the hole every year to manage the wildlife in the State. Ya that's going to last long.

 

I'm not pro-government, I'm just support proactive wildlife management with a understanding of associated costs.

 

In the end... To each their own.

 

 

 

cmc

[DesertBull]

I am talking about people wanting to put exorbitant fees on groups of people that they don't like.

[coueshunter84]

Boy now thats a big ole can of worms. Any of you who hunt the northern part of unit 32 and are havin gto pay for access now to the private ground. Well thats mostly the " rotten apples" of the OHV world causing that one. Not neccessarily hunters. But guess who end up paying for it.

 

Back to the tags. I would not mind paying a little more to make sure G&F are hiring and keepign quality wardens and other people. Its just that the fee increase is quite significant over one years time. Was this caused by mismanagement over the past couple of years, or greed this year? Thats the question I would like answered. If it was mismanagement over the past couple of years then I kind of understand the increase. But if they are just greedy, then we need to stake them to a pole. But either way I'm still in the same boat with the fees.

 

And no I dont have to put in for every animal, and neither do my children or my wife. But with the rates of drawing a tag. can you find another way for me to get them out and hunting, and try to pass along the heritage that I grew up with. I havent figured that one out yet. And its kind of hard not pass on eating out a couple of times a year or so when you dont eat out in the first place.

 

I just dont think it make sence to want to increase hunters and passing it along to our youngsters and then raise the rates to where we cant afford the tags.

 

I will figure out how to apply for as many tags as I can. and will probably be able to swing everyone applying for whatever they wish to apply for. But OUCH!!!! And with the first applications ( and the most expensive ) now coming right after Christmas, and right before I get my taxes back. that is not going to be fun in any sence of the word. But I will make it work if I can. So my kids can hopefully get out there and hunt. And right now they wish to hunt more then they wish to go to Disneyland. And maybe just maybe if they can draw a few tags I can keep it that way.

[elmergoo]

Boy now thats a big ole can of worms. Any of you who hunt the northern part of unit 32 and are havin gto pay for access now to the private ground. Well thats mostly the " rotten apples" of the OHV world causing that one. Not neccessarily hunters. But guess who end up paying for it.

 

Back to the tags. I would not mind paying a little more to make sure G&F are hiring and keepign quality wardens and other people. Its just that the fee increase is quite significant over one years time. Was this caused by mismanagement over the past couple of years, or greed this year? Thats the question I would like answered. If it was mismanagement over the past couple of years then I kind of understand the increase. But if they are just greedy, then we need to stake them to a pole. But either way I'm still in the same boat with the fees.

 

And no I dont have to put in for every animal, and neither do my children or my wife. But with the rates of drawing a tag. can you find another way for me to get them out and hunting, and try to pass along the heritage that I grew up with. I havent figured that one out yet. And its kind of hard not pass on eating out a couple of times a year or so when you dont eat out in the first place.

 

I just dont think it make sence to want to increase hunters and passing it along to our youngsters and then raise the rates to where we cant afford the tags.

 

I will figure out how to apply for as many tags as I can. and will probably be able to swing everyone applying for whatever they wish to apply for. But OUCH!!!! And with the first applications ( and the most expensive ) now coming right after Christmas, and right before I get my taxes back. that is not going to be fun in any sence of the word. But I will make it work if I can. So my kids can hopefully get out there and hunt. And right now they wish to hunt more then they wish to go to Disneyland. And maybe just maybe if they can draw a few tags I can keep it that way.

First of all it takes a 7 year degree to get into arizona game and fish so yea I think they are quality people, maybe not brought up like you and me, but pretty sharp. Plus the additional 2 years of law training on the job.As for the increase your governor gave them now or up to 7 years for 100% increase, meaning take it all now , or watch it slowly increase over the next 7 years.As far as taking your whole family out for BIG GAME HUNTING well you got to pay to play. Whatever happened to family smallgame hunting ? Some of my best times growing up. I learned more about shooting and the outdoors smallgame hunting then anywhere else, and alot cheaper. The best hunting I ever did was huntin Lizard with a stick. Man how I miss those days.

[az4life]

I don't think anyone is complaining about a REASONABLE tag fee increase. 78% is not reasonable by any stretch of the department's imagination.

It's all about stewardship of and for the game resources in the state. That is what it used to be....

 

Yeah right, they need new trucks yearly and they use gas, and the college degrees cost money and more people are needed to make bigger plans for more facilities and lobbyist payoffs.

 

I don't think when the unit managers are forced to add the same statements to thier unit recommendations, that the department has more than $$ in mind.