What does it cost in your state just to turkey hunt? In Tennessee all of our license fees had a big increase this year. Just to turkey hunt this year hunting and fishing is 34.00 dollars and we have to have a big game gun that's 34.00 dollars total of 68.00 just to turkey hunt. Now we have what we call a yearly sportsman license that's 166.00 which includes all licenses needed to deer hunting during our muzzleloader, archery, and includes doe permits for our county special season. A lifetime license at my age is 1153.00 . Tenn has one of the highest hunting fees ...What's it cost you for Licenses in your state ? DON'T GET ME WRONG I'M NOT COMPLAINING IT ALL GOES TO A GOOD CAUSE.....
1153.00....I'd move! I live in IL and this state is broke and a joke. 15.00 for ea. turkey permit and combo hunt /fish license 30.00 I guess
In Louisiana, it costs about $50 for me to turkey hunt. That's $15 for basic (small game basically), $14 for big game (required for turkey hunting), $15 for WMA (state lands), and $5.50 for Turkey. Lifetime hunt and fish here is $500, and covers everything except duck stamp. Just have to get tags printed for turkey and deer.
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Couldn't tell you. I've had lifetime license since before I needed one. It's not as much as Tennessee though.
Yeah Tennessee is ridiculous, it's gonna cost me a little over 200 for a 10 day license as a nonresident this year.
As a Florida resident I pay 100 for a sportsman gold license. That covers everything I need to hunt and fish for a year exept the duck stamp. I don't think thats to bad.
I live in Tn and want the lifetime bad but at my age its $1976.00. Buying the annual this year for $166.00. Between deer, turkey and fishing I'll spend over that if bought seperate.
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As a resident in md I pay around $35 I think. Wv cost me $165 to just hunt turkeys as a nonresident. I really should got a lifetime license before I moved.
I should've bought the lifetime sportsman license last year here in TN before the price increase. It was around $1600 then... Oh well, $166 a year...
When I have kids I'm buying them the liftime. If they are under 2 I thinks it's only a couple hundred. Tennessee does have a jacked up fee system.
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No kidding you guys in Tenn are paying lot. here in NC 50 bucks for hunting fishing including deer turkey small game trout and public land permit. Do pay few more bucks for saltwater and bear I don't buy usually so not sure on those 2
Lifetime NC Sportsman is flat $675 age 12 or older now. Bought mine back in the 80's when they were $300 and annual Sportsman license was $40. Paid for itself in 7 1/2 years. I was grandfathered into the saltwater and bear fee hike since I had already purchased my lifetime license. Not a bad state for resident hunting and fishing. Non resident licenses aren't really bad here either. Some states are causing many people to stop or never get started in hunting and fishing due to the high fees. We are ALL losing Sportsmen and women due to these high fees.
VA will nickel and dime you some to, never understood why one would need to buy separate permits for black powder and archery seems like it should all be included
TN is insane, even for residents.
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I'm in Ga., and I just bought mine today. Resident sportsmans license is $57.50.
This covers all small and big game hunting/fishing, and WMA use. Three Tom limit.
Quote from: turkeyfoot on February 20, 2016, 07:21:58 PM
VA will nickel and dime you some to, never understood why one would need to buy separate permits for black powder and archery seems like it should all be included
Plus you have to buy the bear tag separate now. Tenn is going to cost me $325 and Alabama $204 I think for a 10 day. Who would have think killing a 20lb bird is getting more expensive than killing a 1000lb elk
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My WV sportsmans package, which is hunting and fishing. I also got a trout stamp extra archery tag and anterless deer tag. With tax and fees cost me $78.00
Can any TWRA (Tn wildlife resource agency for you other states) advise why Tn fees are so much higher? I didn't realize before this thread we are extremely high. If I could spend just over 600 for a lifetime I most definitely would. I'm starting to think the fees are so high they maybe hurting themselves. Lower prices but sell more and you make more money. Also high fees encourage people to hunt and fish illegally. I'm against that but not everyone can afford these prices. This thread has defiantly provoked my thoughts on this!
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50-60 dollars for our Sportsman License per year for us here in MS.
That allows me to do anything I want hunting wise. It gets expensive when you get into the duck hunting aspect of it.
Not bad for us. But if you want to really get ahead here you buy a lifetime license for your kids and that will save a lot of money.
Plus, our taxes on sporting goods go towards WMA's. That I don't mind as its investing back into wildlife management.
Couldn't say, I've had a lifetime license in SC for about twenty years now. However, I also hunt GA a lot and pay over $300 per year in non-resident fees...
Quote from: southern_leo on February 20, 2016, 10:37:35 PM
Can any TWRA (Tn wildlife resource agency for you other states) advise why Tn fees are so much higher? I didn't realize before this thread we are extremely high. If I could spend just over 600 for a lifetime I most definitely would. I'm starting to think the fees are so high they maybe hurting themselves. Lower prices but sell more and you make more money. Also high fees encourage people to hunt and fish illegally. I'm against that but not everyone can afford these prices. This thread has defiantly provoked my thoughts on this!
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They told me 100% of their funding comes from license fees.
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In Illinois out hunting license(basically a small game license) is $12.50 and to hunt anything but waterfowl you need a habitat stamp that is $5.50. A turkey permit is $15.00. I wish we would have a system like other states where I could buy a "all game" license and get my deer and turkey tags at once instead of having to buy them all separate.
In Indiana it cost me 149.50 for a bundle deer that consist of 3 deer tags good for all seasons a spring and fall turkey tags stamp and a hunting and fishing combo.
A little over 100 bucks a year for everything here in Florida,never broke it down to just turkey so not sure.I do hunt Tn every year and although roughy 200 bucks is a lot it's for 4 spring birds (plus more if you have special quota tags)and up to several per county in the fall all season long.
To hunt turkey:
Maryland Res. $24.50 / Non-Res $130 2 bird limit
Pennsylvania Res. $20.70 / Non-Res $101 1 bird. (Bonus +1 gobbler Res. $21.70 / Non-Res. $41.70)
Both Md. / Pa. licenses would allow small game / deer gun. Extra stamps ($) required for archery / muzzleloader.
If you took full advantage of both the Tn turkey seasons you could kill up to 11 turkeys in 1 year.Sounds cheap to me.
Your Dreaming ...Gotcha...crazy
Here in Iowa it is $19 for a small game license. $13 Habitat fee....you have to have the Habitat stamp to be legal to hunt, no matter what you are hunting. If you buy the habitat & small game combo it is $30 instead of $32 if you bought them seperate.
A lifetime license is $52.50, but you have to be 65 yrs or older to buy one. I'm not positive, but I think you still need to pay the habitat fee yearly.
A turkey tag is $24.50 and they are good for only one bird. You can have 2 in the spring & 2 in the fall.
Deer tags are $28.50 for a state wide either sex tag....good for only one deer. You can have 2 of these...one for archery & one for gun.
Antlerless deer tags $28.50 for the first one and $13.00 each additional antlerless tag. These are county specific (you can only take a doe in the county that the tag is for). There are quotas on these.....some counties have over 3,000 antlerless tags and some don't have any.
If you want to trap or hunt fox & racoons, you have to spend another $22.50 for a Fur harvestors license.
To duck hunt you have pay a $10 Migratory Game bird fee.
If you want to fish it is going to cost you another $19. If you want to trout fish you will need to buy $12.50 Trout stamp.
Quote from: Greg Massey on February 21, 2016, 12:24:55 PM
Your Dreaming ...Gotcha...crazy
Didn't say I agreed with the bag limit but that's what it is.Fall turkeys are counted by the county harvested.Some counties have a 6 bird bag limit,that don't count against the spring limit of 4(more if you draw quota tags).Seems crazy but that's how I see it.
Quote from: turkey_slayer on February 21, 2016, 12:43:08 AM
Quote from: southern_leo on February 20, 2016, 10:37:35 PM
Can any TWRA (Tn wildlife resource agency for you other states) advise why Tn fees are so much higher? I didn't realize before this thread we are extremely high. If I could spend just over 600 for a lifetime I most definitely would. I'm starting to think the fees are so high they maybe hurting themselves. Lower prices but sell more and you make more money. Also high fees encourage people to hunt and fish illegally. I'm against that but not everyone can afford these prices. This thread has defiantly provoked my thoughts on this!
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They told me 100% of their funding comes from license fees.
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If TN continues to raise their prices, they will eventually have to cut programs due to participation and then cut everything because no one will be able to afford the fee/fees to hunt and fish. It is a very slippery slope. Hope this doesn't continue.
During the time i was president of our local NWTF charter we were helping TWRA with all kinds of needs including buying four wheeler's, seeder's, Radio equipment for tracking turkey's etc. Most of the trucks these game wardens drive are in bad shape etc. We can't get anything planted much anymore on the WMA and they want to cut timber all the time on these places as well...and our license still keep going up.. I crappie fish in Miss and they have some of the best bathrooms and fishing dressing stations around and we can't even find a bathroom or fish dressing station in or around all our rivers or lakes...My question is were is all our money going ?
Here in NY an annual hunting license for combined small and big game runs $22.00, and a turkey permit is another $10.00.
Bob
Quote from: Greg Massey on February 20, 2016, 12:56:50 PM
What does it cost in your state just to turkey hunt? In Tennessee all of our license fees had a big increase this year. Just to turkey hunt this year hunting and fishing is 34.00 dollars and we have to have a big game gun that's 34.00 dollars total of 68.00 just to turkey hunt. Now we have what we call a yearly sportsman license that's 166.00 which includes all licenses needed to deer hunting during our muzzleloader, archery, and includes doe permits for our county special season. A lifetime license at my age is 1153.00 . Tenn has one of the highest hunting fees ...What's it cost you for Licenses in your state ? DON'T GET ME WRONG I'M NOT COMPLAINING IT ALL GOES TO A GOOD CAUSE.....
Tennessee has expensive licenses for in-state and out of state sportsmen, for sure. I have Georgia based friends there, and it is expensive for us to hunt there on their property.
I am not so sure that the money all goes for the intended purposes, and therefore for a "good cause." It all gets commingled in GA, and the soddy legislature here raided the funds from wildlife tags, etc. during the recent trough years. People in GA quit buying specialty tags as soon as the General Assembly pulled that stunt.
Further, the resources intended for wildlife management are being abused and misappropriated, and the use of game wardens is one good example. The Gen. Assembly and or governors have made the GW's part of about 12 different task forces, from drugs to child abduction/abuse. Those may be worthy task forces on other grounds, but they are no the intended uses of GW's. GW's have relatively broad law enforcement commissions and can arrest one in this state for a violation of virtually any law, as a deputy sheriff can, but GW's are state officers and can be deployed anywhere in the state. The still don't have quite as many express duties for service of papers, writs, and some other things, but they have become a useful play pretty that can be moved around quickly when commissioned gun toters are needed.
I don't like getting checked in the woods or on the lake either, but having them patrolling deters some monkey business and they do make a few arrests of people that really need it.
I love getting checked. Makes me feel as though my tax money went to some kind of work. Problem is, most won't leave the truck or go far enough to matter. Also, I've found that most DNR officers have a decent sense of humor if things are approached properly. This can lead to a good relationship should one ever need to call on them for something.
Back on topic, license fees are expensive. It's very hard to justify the cost for nonresident license if the chance for success is knowingly low. I don't mind not killing. That's not the issue. Just like to at least think there's a reasonably good chance of success before shelling out the dough required for our of state hunting.
Quote from: turkey_slayer on February 21, 2016, 12:43:08 AM
Quote from: southern_leo on February 20, 2016, 10:37:35 PM
Can any TWRA (Tn wildlife resource agency for you other states) advise why Tn fees are so much higher? I didn't realize before this thread we are extremely high. If I could spend just over 600 for a lifetime I most definitely would. I'm starting to think the fees are so high they maybe hurting themselves. Lower prices but sell more and you make more money. Also high fees encourage people to hunt and fish illegally. I'm against that but not everyone can afford these prices. This thread has defiantly provoked my thoughts on this!
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They told me 100% of their funding comes from license fees.
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Correct! TWRA is self funded which means the agency gets no government aid or assistance. If you look at all these other states that have the lower license costs (ie. NC since I'm from there) you will see they get government funding. In NC when I was there a sportsmans license was $50 and a lifetime was $500. Now I think it has went up to $60/$600 due to the license created for onshore fishing. With this setup the state government controls their money and makes decisions. They decide on how much the agency gets, where the money goes, and make other decisions. The other states with similar low hunting license prices will be in the same boat.
Here in TN if you hear about the sunset bill this situation is what the bill is concerning. Currently in TN the agency (TWRA) is self funded which is mainly from license sales. TWRA is also headed by people with wildlife backgrounds that make the decisions instead of the government. If the sunset bill ever changes or doesn't pass then the agency will get government funding which will resort in cheaper licenses. I think I would rather go with wildlife knowledge controlling the money and making the decisions.
I have been to 4 different states hunting as a non-resident and from the ones that I have been to it costs around $100 per bird to hunt. With what I have seen in those states here in TN that would cost a non-resident $400 and that of course is not the case. TN also offers a non-resident a sportsmans license which is currently $300. That now will get you 2 bucks, 4 turkey, and depending on which county can equal more birds (Fall) or all the does you want (Unit L - 3/day). Most states do not offer a sportsmans license for a non-resident. Last year that price was $250 and with that was 3 bucks and 4 turkeys. If you ask me either way $300 for all of that is not a bad price as I have paid more for less in other states.
My question is this, if other states wildlife services get government assistance why don't Tennessee? Some of the guys on here are right, they are pricing thereselves out causing people to stop hunting or hunt illegally. And as for where the money is going I would probably check politicians pockets.
Quote from: turkey_slayer on February 21, 2016, 12:43:08 AM
Quote from: southern_leo on February 20, 2016, 10:37:35 PM
Can any TWRA (Tn wildlife resource agency for you other states) advise why Tn fees are so much higher? I didn't realize before this thread we are extremely high. If I could spend just over 600 for a lifetime I most definitely would. I'm starting to think the fees are so high they maybe hurting themselves. Lower prices but sell more and you make more money. Also high fees encourage people to hunt and fish illegally. I'm against that but not everyone can afford these prices. This thread has defiantly provoked my thoughts on this!
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They told me 100% of their funding comes from license fees.
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From my understanding they are not 100% funded by license fees. Their website states they are "largely funded" by fees. They also can get portions of fines they levy and profit from seized items. These add up more than you would think. Here is an a copy of text from their site of using the DJ and PR funds originally so I would assume we still do:
In 1937, Congress recognized the need for long-term dependable funding for state wildlife agencies and passed the Wildlife Restoration Act. Also known as the Pittman-Robertson (PR) Act, the law imposed a 10 percent manufacturer's tax on hunting ammunition and firearms. Tax proceeds are distributed to state fish and wildlife agencies for research, habitat protection, hunting and recreation and species recovery. In 1950 the Sport Fish Restoration Act-also called the Dingell-Johnson (DJ) Act-placed a 10 percent manufacturer's tax on fishing rods, reels, and tackle to be distributed to state fish and wildlife agencies for sport fish restoration. In addition, the Wallop-Breaux Amendment was passed in 1984 expanding the Sportfish Restoration Act to include boating and angling gear. These additional funds support boating access and aquatic education programs. Generating approximately $450 million annually, PR and DJ funds-along with the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and permits-have been the backbone of state game and sportfish management programs. Historically, PR funds have been instrumental in the recovery of whitetail deer and wild turkey, and most recently, the reintroduction of elk to Tennessee. Likewise, DJ funds are utilized for such programs as trout warm and coldwater fish stocking and management of reservoirs and streams. - See more at: https://www.tn.gov/twra/article/early-history-of-conservation-funding#sthash.hfbwAtia.dpuf
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Quote from: turkeywhisperer935 on February 22, 2016, 01:43:00 AM
My question is this, if other states wildlife services get government assistance why don't Tennessee? Some of the guys on here are right, they are pricing thereselves out causing people to stop hunting or hunt illegally. And as for where the money is going I would probably check politicians pockets.
It all boils down to who you want controlling the agency, the government or people with wildlife degrees? I haven't read up on the sunset bill a lot but if you research it you will find out a lot more information than I can give you. The bill comes up about every so often and this topic is what it is about basically.
One thing that comes into play in the cost of Tenneesse hunting license is tennessee is not funded by the state of Tennessee,they operate on the sale of hunting license and tax from things like shells and etc.I think most states are funded by their state government!The TWRA has done a remarkable job in the turkey restoration in the state of Tennessee,guess you cant please everyone!
No..wrong the NWTF is the ones who help with the most of the restocking of birds in Tenn..not TWRA , Wrangler. It's the NWTF that has funded most of the money for catch boxes for relocating the wild turkeys in Tenn and grants and stuff for these programs to track birds with radio equipment for years before we were able to hunt these birds etc..The reason these birds are in Tenn is because of what we as chapters and members have done in raising funds for the conservation of the wild turkey..Little History the NWTF was founded in 1973. there was about 1.5 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of dedicated work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys thanks to the TREMENDOUS efforts of our dedicated VOLUNTEERS, PROFESSIONAL STAFF and COMMITTED partners. SO NO AGAIN IT WAS NOT ALL TWRA ...THE REMARKABLE JOB IN THE TURKEY RESTORATION IS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE IN THE NWTF.
Quote from: turkeybow on February 22, 2016, 10:06:22 AM
Quote from: turkeywhisperer935 on February 22, 2016, 01:43:00 AM
My question is this, if other states wildlife services get government assistance why don't Tennessee? Some of the guys on here are right, they are pricing thereselves out causing people to stop hunting or hunt illegally. And as for where the money is going I would probably check politicians pockets.
It all boils down to who you want controlling the agency, the government or people with wildlife degrees? I haven't read up on the sunset bill a lot but if you research it you will find out a lot more information than I can give you. The bill comes up about every so often and this topic is what it is about basically.
wildlife degree folks don't control it anyway! The TWRC controls it, and they are politically appointed, not wildlife professionals.
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In SC it cost $25 to hunt private land and $50 for private and public. Waterfowl, saltwater fishing, and maybe a few other things have some added cost, but for $50 you can hunt deer, hogs, small game, dove, quail, turkeys, coyotes, etc on public or private land.
Quote from: Greg Massey on February 22, 2016, 11:59:11 AM
No..wrong the NWTF is the ones who help with the most of the restocking of birds in Tenn..not TWRA , Wrangler. It's the NWTF that has funded most of the money for catch boxes for relocating the wild turkeys in Tenn and grants and stuff for these programs to track birds with radio equipment for years before we were able to hunt these birds etc..The reason these birds are in Tenn is because of what we as chapters and members have done in raising funds for the conservation of the wild turkey..Little History the NWTF was founded in 1973. there was about 1.5 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of dedicated work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys thanks to the TREMENDOUS efforts of our dedicated VOLUNTEERS, PROFESSIONAL STAFF and COMMITTED partners. SO NO AGAIN IT WAS NOT ALL TWRA ...THE REMARKABLE JOB IN THE TURKEY RESTORATION IS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE IN THE NWTF.
Your wrong Massey,the TWRA are the ones that trapped turkeys at several WMA in Tennessee,AEDC and Catoosa are two of these WMA's.They are the ones responsible for the comeback of the wild turkey in Tennessee.You probably never heard of Jack Murray who is responsible for getting the turkey restoration kick started in Tennessee and btw,TWRA is doing a great job with their efforts!
Quote from: born2hunt on February 20, 2016, 02:57:00 PM
Yeah Tennessee is ridiculous, it's gonna cost me a little over 200 for a 10 day license as a nonresident this year.
As a Florida resident I pay 100 for a sportsman gold license. That covers everything I need to hunt and fish for a year exept the duck stamp. I don't think thats to bad.
I think $200 is about the going rate for hunting as a nonresident nowadays. A little more in some, a little less in some. :z-twocents:
I pay $165 a year for pretty much everything in Wisconsin as a Conservation Patron, there are a few fees not included but not much. My turkey tag is awarded in a drawing as part of my license and a additional tag is $10. I did actually quit hunting some states as their prices for non-residents have skyrocketed as of late... I would like to see reciprocating fees between states, that way we would all have a fair playing field when it comes to hunting (and not just turkey).
MK M GOBL
Wrangler95 .. I do agree the NWTF and the State Wildlife agencies need to be commended for the job they done re-establishing the wild turkey. The NWTF has work with these agencies coordinating the trap and transfer of these birds. Again the NWTF has provided trapping equipment this includes the nets, transfer boxes and help of transferring of birds between states. All of these efforts were provided to Jack Murray with the help of banquet and chapter funding and lot of VOLUNTEERS.. Not all of this was done by one person or one group of people..It's the job of wildlife agencies to provide law enforcement, education, manage wildlife and habitats. The job of the NWTF is to enhance wildlife populations, help provide habitat for the wild turkey so we we can secure the future of these birds for future generation. So again it's a big effort of wildlife agencies and NWTF to protect our future hunting and habitat. Not just TWRA in Tenn. all states.. And Yes to ans. you question i know Jack Murray and have ate supper with him..Jack has done a great job in helping with the wild turkeys..
Delaware as of now is $25 which includes a turkey tag & 4 antlerless tags. Another $10 and you get a choice deer tag & a quality buck tag. They are going before the general assembly to try to almost double the fees.
Quote from: Treerooster on February 21, 2016, 10:12:25 PM
Quote from: turkeybow on February 21, 2016, 10:04:05 PM
TWRA is self funded which means the agency gets no government aid or assistance. If you look at all these other states that have the lower license costs (ie. NC since I'm from there) you will see they get government funding.
Confused. Does TN not get any Pittman-Robertson or Dingell-Johnson funds? If not do you know why?
X2! P&R funds normally match state funds from what I understand.
Quote from: MK M GOBL on February 23, 2016, 12:34:52 PM
I pay $165 a year for pretty much everything in Wisconsin as a Conservation Patron, there are a few fees not included but not much. My turkey tag is awarded in a drawing as part of my license and a additional tag is $10. I did actually quit hunting some states as their prices for non-residents have skyrocketed as of late... I would like to see reciprocating fees between states, that way we would all have a fair playing field when it comes to hunting (and not just turkey).
MK M GOBL
I completely agree with this. I'm going on my first out of state hunt this year. I'd like to do more, but the cost tends to be prohibitive for me. A reciprocity agreement would be the ticket in my opinion. I know it can't work for all animals since all states don't have the same ones within their borders, but most states here in the midwest at least have deer and turkey. Just something I've been thinking about for quite a while.
here in Mississippi it is 35.00 for a sportsman license, and 15.00 WMA permit if you hunt public land
I live in Tn., and think our fees are ridiculous. The argument of being self funded always comes up. I have hunted quite a few other states that are not self funded and have lower fees for residents. I have yet to see any negatives in those states, or the benefit in Tn. There is plenty of politics involved in this states wildlife decision making. As mentioned above, our combined fall and spring bag limit is way to high. In many counties turkey populations are on serious declines. The county I live in had some of the best turkey hunting as anywhere I can think of as little as 5 to 10 years ago. The counties to the west of me were the same way. Now we don't have half the birds we use to, and the counties to the west are having meetings because they have virtually no birds in some areas. Point is, makes you wonder if self funding so all decisions can be made by wildlife biologist is a good thing. Looks like if that was the case, then they'd have a better handle on the resource.
I think it went up to $72 here in Texas for a combo hunt/fish license to kill or catch about anything by legal means.
Plus the $25 Federal Waterfowl stamp annually.
Just to hunt turkeys would be about $24 + a $5 turkey endorsement.
Just bought my annual sportsman which covers fishing and hunting a nice $166 out the door.
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My Oregon Pioneer hunting and fishing license for 2016 cost $6. Each turkey tag is $20. The Pioneer license is for those over 65 who have resided in the state for the last 50 years.
Quote from: buzzardroost on February 22, 2016, 12:02:15 PM
Quote from: turkeybow on February 22, 2016, 10:06:22 AM
Quote from: turkeywhisperer935 on February 22, 2016, 01:43:00 AM
My question is this, if other states wildlife services get government assistance why don't Tennessee? Some of the guys on here are right, they are pricing thereselves out causing people to stop hunting or hunt illegally. And as for where the money is going I would probably check politicians pockets.
It all boils down to who you want controlling the agency, the government or people with wildlife degrees? I haven't read up on the sunset bill a lot but if you research it you will find out a lot more information than I can give you. The bill comes up about every so often and this topic is what it is about basically.
wildlife degree folks don't control it anyway! The TWRC controls it, and they are politically appointed, not wildlife professionals.
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With any wildlife agency there are going to be some politics. So with that you would want something like the TWRC in place. I know what they are and what they do but that's TWRC. TWRA is headed by people with wildlife degrees.
Quote from: turkeybow on February 25, 2016, 09:34:33 AM
Quote from: buzzardroost on February 22, 2016, 12:02:15 PM
Quote from: turkeybow on February 22, 2016, 10:06:22 AM
Quote from: turkeywhisperer935 on February 22, 2016, 01:43:00 AM
My question is this, if other states wildlife services get government assistance why don't Tennessee? Some of the guys on here are right, they are pricing thereselves out causing people to stop hunting or hunt illegally. And as for where the money is going I would probably check politicians pockets.
It all boils down to who you want controlling the agency, the government or people with wildlife degrees? I haven't read up on the sunset bill a lot but if you research it you will find out a lot more information than I can give you. The bill comes up about every so often and this topic is what it is about basically.
wildlife degree folks don't control it anyway! The TWRC controls it, and they are politically appointed, not wildlife professionals.
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With any wildlife agency there are going to be some politics. So with that you would want something like the TWRC in place. I know what they are and what they do but that's TWRC. TWRA is headed by people with wildlife degrees.
But what's the argument that makes our system so much better vs other states with outstanding wildlife resources with much lower fees? I hear you keep saying stuff about the biologist, but I don't see an advantage at all. Things may look great on paper but many areas of the state people are seeing declines in deer herd population and over running with coyotes. I just don't see where the advantage lays. And I know and have worked with many TWRA guys on many occasions, not a fan for the most part.
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Ya'll Tenn boys have it rough! In Arkansas it's $25 for 6 deer tags and 2 turkey tags. $10.50 for a fishing license. Chuck
I bought my Oklahoma lifetime license when I was 10 y/o for $300. Raised a bottle calf. I think those cost around $625 now or combo hunt/fish for $775. Yearly it's around $55 or all 3 turkey tags and anual hunting license.
Quote from: southern_leo on February 25, 2016, 10:05:04 AM
But what's the argument that makes our system so much better vs other states with outstanding wildlife resources with much lower fees? I hear you keep saying stuff about the biologist, but I don't see an advantage at all. Things may look great on paper but many areas of the state people are seeing declines in deer herd population and over running with coyotes. I just don't see where the advantage lays. And I know and have worked with many TWRA guys on many occasions, not a fan for the most part.
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I'm not arguing that our system is better than other states. Just because your not seeing an advantage doesn't mean there isn't one. Seems to me most arguments for government funding are just so it will be $50 or so to hunt a year. As for me when I moved to TN from NC I bought my lifetime. I have a lifetime in NC, that was $500 when I bought it, and one in TN, that was $1692 when I bought it.
If TN goes to the point where the agency gets government funding then there will not be a set amount of money the agency gets. May get $X one year and $Y the next because the government will be distributing our money, not the agency. I think the money the agency makes or gets should stay with the agency. If the government gains control with our money all these food plots and such will be a thing in the past in my opinion.
As far as you seeing decline in deer and over run with coyotes I don't know what county you are in. If people in the state are over run with coyotes they need to be shooting them and coyote hunting. The agency has opened coyote season year round. What more can they do? As for the deer I can't speak for your area. It's not all the same throughout the state. As for you knowing and have worked with TWRA guys and not being a fan that is your opinion. Those guys don't make up the entire agency and you do not know me.
When some compare their state to TN you also must realize it depends on what county you are hunting in the state for what your license gives you. For example, in Unit L you get 2 bucks, 3 does/day, and 4 spring turkeys. Depending on which county that your hunting you may also get some fall birds. If its the right one it can be as many as 6, making it 10 turkeys for the year (4 spring and 6 fall). So that could end up being around 287 deer (2 being bucks) and 10 turkeys if you had the right county and killed all that you could.