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Old 03-12-2009, 11:49 AM   #18
jeffk
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jmen24 View Post
2009 Colorado Elk tag for a resident $46.00
2009 Colorado Elk tag for a non-resident $546.00

2009 NH Hunting license for a resident $22.00
2009 NH Hunting license for a non-resident $103.00

New Hampshire needs to take a lesson on how to value their resources.

Taxes and fees are two different dogs one is manditory and one is elective.
While I agree with your general principle of placing the correct value on resources I would point out a couple of things.

First, does a place like Colorado actually want to make money on their Elk tag or are they trying to keep hunting to a minimum and also just giving preference to state residents? New Hampshire actually tries to make money not necessarily from just registrations, but for the the whole economy (meals, rooms, etc). The activities drive the far more valuable economic business. The fees are just sufficient to regulate, manage, and promote the activity, not to profit from it.

Given that, how much can you raise the fees before the golden goose of other tourism dollars is impacted. I don't know the clear answer to that question and I doubt anyone really does. Could you increase a fee from $40 to $80, probably. From $40 to $400, maybe not.
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