$54

[bojangles]

I have no problems with the app fee. We have some of the best hunting in the country, $13 per app, per person, is a small price to pay for the opportunity to go hunting (maybe). I apply for 4-6 tags a year and gladly turn over my hard earned cash for the chance, however so small, to go do what I love. $54=$54, but sitting around a campfire with your Son enjoying the great outdoors=PRICELESS.

 

 

You must make a lot more money than i do,

 

Increasingly hunting out of state becomes a less expensive and more viable and successful option. As i have done the math before on a different thread, Az has some of the most expensive and worst hunting in the US. It's not THE most expensive, but it's definitely creeping up there, and i would say that it is becoming the worst rather quickly.

 

Some good things to say, are, we have a wider variety of big game than many states, so i do take that into consideration. And we have a good deal of public land, that's always a plus.

 

Consider many states have an annual deer harvest of more animals than there are deer in AZ. Then consider the price of the license and tag....

 

Pretty soon it will be cheaper to buy a side of beef than it will be to fill my freezer with game meat.

 

I understand there is no price too high for wealthy trophy hunters, but when you're just an average joe like me trying to put some quality meat in the freezer....well....this state has gotten out of hand.

[trphyhntr]

/> An additional 6.5 million in revenue just from the app fee increase.

Good I support this!

[DesertBull]

Uhhggg....$150 for a resident cow tag. Oh , but we get the camp fire and the stars without an additional fee.

 

 

wait, wait, they'll start charging for that, too!

 

 

If your camp is not within their allotted 30 ft of the road or whatever, you get charged up the bung for it.

[Guest wdenike]

I have no problems with the app fee. We have some of the best hunting in the country, $13 per app, per person, is a small price to pay for the opportunity to go hunting (maybe). I apply for 4-6 tags a year and gladly turn over my hard earned cash for the chance, however so small, to go do what I love. $54=$54, but sitting around a campfire with your Son enjoying the great outdoors=PRICELESS.

 

 

You must make a lot more money than i do,

 

Increasingly hunting out of state becomes a less expensive and more viable and successful option. As i have done the math before on a different thread, Az has some of the most expensive and worst hunting in the US. It's not THE most expensive, but it's definitely creeping up there, and i would say that it is becoming the worst rather quickly.

 

Some good things to say, are, we have a wider variety of big game than many states, so i do take that into consideration. And we have a good deal of public land, that's always a plus.

 

Consider many states have an annual deer harvest of more animals than there are deer in AZ. Then consider the price of the license and tag....

 

Pretty soon it will be cheaper to buy a side of beef than it will be to fill my freezer with game meat.

 

I understand there is no price too high for wealthy trophy hunters, but when you're just an average joe like me trying to put some quality meat in the freezer....well....this state has gotten out of hand.

 

 

And they will continue to tell you that they are fine with all the increases!! While the youth slowly get priced out of the game. ( The future of the sport ) The real message from some of these guys is. I will continue to make excuses about how wonderful the ambiance of the state is with it's abundance of game and opportunity. When code for this is boy oh boy I'm sure glad more of these people and kids are out of the draw, my chances are looking better.

 

 

 

Take care, Willie

[Coues79]

People will get used to the new "norm" and it'll last 7-10 years. Then they'll do it again. I guess in their eyes the economy must be kickin and they're customers are loaded with money. Last I checked I haven't gotten a cost of living raise for oh about 5 years.

[PRDATR]

 

 

Uhhggg....$150 for a resident cow tag. Oh , but we get the camp fire and the stars without an additional fee.

 

wait, wait, they'll start charging for that, too!

 

 

 

If your camp is not within their allotted 30 ft of the road or whatever, you get charged up the bung for it.

 

 

 

I thought that was repealed/clarified by USFS a month or so ago?

[bonecollector777]

Just curious what everyone thinks about this. . Game and Fish depends greatly depends on us hunters and fishermen to function. To be exact the receive around 28 million dollars just in license and tag fees (That's before the price raise this year) plus another 17 million from taxes on hunting and fishing supplies. Basically around 50% of their money comes from us just because we love to hunt. They know that and have obviously been abusing their duties.

1.They work for the people (US) yet all they care about are themselves and their new trucks and government retirement plans.

2.Their website for the draw has about as many problems as the healthcare.gov website. Yet they don't improve it and it crashes every year.

3. They have supported introduction of Mexican wolves simply to make money from the federal government. They know Mexican wolves will do absolutely no good for the other wildlife here in the state.

4. They have given out so many tags in some areas that the population of certain animals is so low you can't find a decent buck or bull.

5.They feel they are above the law because they are the law. They do what they want without any fear of any consequences because they know nothing will happen to them. See Shawn Wagner case just for one example.

6. They don't even have enough people to answer a phone call at their offices.

7. They waste millions of dollars every year driving their commissioner and employees to expos and banquets and hunts.

8. They kill Jaguars with snares and are killing bighorn sheep on a daily basis (Catlina Mountains)

9. To sum it up, They are just plain worthless, money hungry, and selfish.

So what I'm trying to get at is if there anything we can do to stop them or make things change? They obviously don't listen to us at public meetings and it's not like we can vote them out. So do they have us by the ba**s and know we can't stop them?

 

If something doesn't change soon were gonna lose our youth hunters. I already know a lot of people not putting in because even if they put in and don't draw it costs their family $250+. And if they get drawn it's way over $500 per average family. All the while azgfd is buying their new toys with the cash and paying their retired employees more than we make at a regular job. Just wondering if there are any ideas to get something done.

An all out boycott of the draw would be practically impossible due to losing bonus points by not putting in. Any other ideas to let azgfd were tired of it?

[trphyhntr]

do the people in charge even hunt or fish?

[Guest wdenike]

Just in case there is any room for imagination as to if sportsman are being bent over in Arizona. I just got off the phone with game and fish. My son in law is a resident of Montana. And will not put a foot on Arizona soil this elk season, but would like to have bought a bonus point. They are not satisfied with the application fee and cost of bonus point. They force them to buy the combo hunt and fishing license. I think that this is just another way we can admire a government that is out of control, and has lost track of reality!!

 

 

 

Take care, Willie

[DesertBull]

/>

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uhhggg....$150 for a resident cow tag. Oh , but we get the camp fire and the stars without an additional fee.

 

wait, wait, they'll start charging for that, too!

 

 

 

If your camp is not within their allotted 30 ft of the road or whatever, you get charged up the bung for it.

 

 

 

I thought that was repealed/clarified by USFS a month or so ago?

I thought G$F said they dont have time to enforce it so its up to the the USF$ to enforse it themselves.

[Non-Typical Solutions]

It really boils down to simple math....my 79 Ford used to be my primary mode of transportation.....what used to cost me 25 bucks a tank now costs me 50.......bad gas mileage, too expensive to drive......I don't drive it anymore.......savings account used to be for trips, emergencies....now it has become my hunt a fund account......putting in is just the small small tip of the financial planning.....heaven forbid I actually get drawn.....

[Guest wdenike]

It really boils down to simple math....my 79 Ford used to be my primary mode of transportation.....what used to cost me 25 bucks a tank now costs me 50.......bad gas mileage, too expensive to drive......I don't drive it anymore.......savings account used to be for trips, emergencies....now it has become my hunt a fund account......putting in is just the small small tip of the financial planning.....heaven forbid I actually get drawn.....

 

 

 

This is not meant to be mean to you, just an example. In case nobody is paying attention. The government is spending money like a DRUNKIN SAILOR. And apparently has become the role model for many people. But Your 79 ford is paid for = No loan, no interest, no collision insurance. Personally, give me a reliable runner that is paid for. And on the occasions I have to spend the extra on gas. I'll take that any day. Rather then large payments twenty four seven for three to six years, and still fighting gas prices.

 

And ya mentioned that the tags were just a small part of the cost. Is this code for we can't just take A moderate rifle or bow to the woods and hunt?? We have to have all the high tech BS or our trip is neither successful or fun?? For me being a woodsmen and hunter has always been where the fun was. But it has become more than obvious that I am out of touch with the new NORM.

 

But I am going to stick with my beliefs. That if ya tend the store at home, live with in your means. And do your best to get an out of control government reigned in, instead of making excuses for them pissing your money away. You will weather the storm better than most.

 

But for the NA SAYERS just continue to operate like the gooberment. And say I OWE I OWE IT'S OFF TO WORK I GO!!!! And in time some of us will be able to ask. HOW'S THAT WORKED OUT FOR YA???

 

 

Take care, Willie

[BeardownAZ]

My gripe or concern is if the fee hike is actually needed or used where it should be. So many people are "ok" with it as long as they can hunt. Did you think of how that sounds? They(government) are dictating to you whats best. No, im not sure if they are doing it right or wrong but I am always suspicious of people whose jobs and money come from things like this. Especially when it means more out of my pocket. If Obama or Feds did it, people would say hes a commie traitor(he is), but when Game and Fish does it, its ok because I get to hunt....maybe. I just want legitimate justification for increasing fees, regardless of how good the hunting is or isnt or how many opportunities there are. I expect the same out of Game and Fish as I do any government, fed, state, local etc.

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

i have a question for the 14 or so guys in this thread, how many of you attended the many meetings held on the tag fees? i know i felt different after verbal and email exchanges with the agency. they broke down the planning of fees and where the money was going. some of the public input was actually used and fees changed accordingly. the one that was my main concern was the app fee but they did not budge on that one. az was behind on fees cmpared to other states so they adjusted and upped the revenue which was needed according to their numbers of a flat bottom line. mainly as with many companies it was higher costs to operate vs revenue. what do you think is the largest portion of the budget?

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

not disagreeing that the fees hurt but still not terrible.