License Sales

http://masl.gnomehack.com/?C56E32DE9

When I looked at Arizona, it looked like license sales were actually growing for a couple years, and then dropped off the last couple. A small growth would make sense due to the massive population growth of the state, but the drop off the last couple years is a big surprise as the growth of the state has done nothing but continue to increase. I was just checking total licenses, permits, etc, so it is possible that the decline of winter visitors post 9/11 has had a substantial effect.

You better get to the bathroom right away and wash your mind out with soap. ;-)

Just some ramblings.

Chris

Scott

When you toss one of Dave Whitlock's weedless deerhair creations on top of a weed bed and then ever so slightly "twitch" it into the water it doesn't disappear in swirl like it might with trout. No, it explodes in a ferocious vortex, a heart pounding wall of water displaced by that aquatic vacuum cleaner Mr. Largemouth. It's a hoot.

Big smallies don't have as much flair for the dramatic when they hit something on the surface, but they'll fight harder than a largemouth of twice the size. There's lakes in northern Ontario where you can catch 4 lb. smallies on a surface fly 'til you're just too arm weary to catch anymore.

I hardly ever fish with anything other than a fly rod anymore although I have been known to toss a gob of worms into the Upper Mississippi, sit back in a lawn chair with a Budweiser close to hand and wait for a channel cat who's dying to be invited to dinner. ;-)

I just heard on the Radio that the Wisconsin DNR is asking the governor to raise license fees for both fishing and hunting. Like I always said, I would pay $50/annually if I knew a majority of the money I was contributing was going back to the fishery. The reality is only a small percentage goes back into the fishery itself, and the rest dispersed throughout the state to things completely unrelated to the outdoors, but that is life I guess. I can't wait to see what they come up with. Mr. Huber , chime in if you have any more info on it !

Chris

pat

x

I never complained about the cost, because like you... I'm hoping that it's going to benefit our waters and land. I remember paying a mere $8.00 for my first license.

At the same time, a non-resident could come to Wisconsin, plunk down $147.00 and take home TWO whitetail deer.

WW ;-)

WW

First of all, license fees have not increased in seven years, normally, they increase about every 4 years, so we're overdue for a hike.

The discovery of Chronic Wasting Disease in Wisconsin's deer herd has meant that funds had to be diverted from other areas of the DNR's budget for control efforts, research and education. The hysteria created by the media meant a drop in deer hunting license sales, which meant a drop in revenue.

The state legislature did a little "creative accounting" to reduce the state's deficit and shifted game warden salaries, which took money from DNR programs. This means that the DNR does not have the money to staff game warden levels to anything close to where we should be. Wisconsin has one of the lowest number of wardens per area covered in the Lower 48 states.

There's a projected $17 million deficit for both 2004 and 2005 if there is no license fee increase.

If the proposed fee increase does not happen, here's what more than likely will happen.

_ Reduce musky stocking 33 percent, trout stocking 50 percent.

_ Close two hatcheries, one weir and outlying ponds.

_ Cut trout habitat work 20 percent, warmwater habitat work 50 percent, and surveys 33 percent.

_ Cut 10 fish biologists, 15 technicians, 10 hatchery staff.

_ Stop habitat management on most Wildlife Management areas and Fisheries areas.

_ Close state game farm, which produces 57,000 adult pheasant and 60,000 day-old-chicks for public hunting opportunity.

_ Cut time biologists and wardens spend on customer service, responding to clubs/partner organization requests

_ Cut 40 full-time warden jobs.

_ Reduce wildlife population data collection and reporting.

_ Cut 25 full-time customer service and licensing people and reduce hours at eight to 10 DNR service centers.

Also, as much as I dislike having a game warden's boat pull up alongside mine, I have nothing to fear from them as I do my best to follow all fish & game laws. I see the need to have the "Fish Cops" out doing their job, because without them, our resources would be raped by the "less scrupulous".

While many of these cuts won't directly impact me, as I do little (if any) trout fishing and pheasant hunting, I realize that many people do. Wisconsin has always had a good reputation as being on the leading edge of wildlife research and fish/game management. Without the necessary funding, many of these programs will go down the tubes and I for one am willing to pay to continue them.

The $6 - $25 license fee increase is peanuts. When you stop and think about how much money that you drop in a year for fishing and hunting related items, what in the world is $6 - $25????

> Boy, do I feel like a doofus now. I thought there was a rifle scope company

Chris S

Full Season Fishing $24.50 10 Day Fishing $13.00 24 Hour Fishing $5.50 Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp $6.50 Inland Trout Stamp $6.50

Wisconsin DNR License site:

Fishing, Annual 40.00 X X X Fishing, Family Annual (primary) (includes children 16 & 17 years of age) 65.00 X X X Fishing, Family Annual (secondary) 0.00 X X X Fishing, 4 day 18.00 X X X Fishing, 15 day 24.00 X X X Fishing, 15 day Family 40.00 X X X Inland Trout Stamp 7.25 X X X Great Lake Salmon/Trout Stamp 10.00 X X X Great Lake Fishing, 2 day (includes Great Lake Salmon/Trout Stamp) 14.00 X