Fish & Game :(

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by jmen24

I snipped down your quote, but to put this in perspective. Two years ago I went to Colorado for the change to harvest a bull elk, a mule deer and threw in a cow elk tag to increase my chances. That cost $1,350.00 for three tags and that is it. It is not like it is out here where you have a general license that would allow for small game and native birds along with you hunting license, all you get is three tags for three specific animals.

Now I am not comparing an elk or mule deer to trout and bass or even whitetailed deer, but just showing that it could be worse.

Like with all things there are different perspectives,,,

There is the perspective of the person who maybe should have known better, but didn’t and was clearly not an intentional offender but they got harshly penalized for their ignorance. Their perspective is, it stinks,,, (and sorry I NEVER buy the argument that ignorance of the law is no excuse. We are not all lawyers nor are we all as knowledgeable as the person who would stand judgment of us,,,) There used to be such a thing as an honest mistake, and when that mistake resulted in no injury to anyone else we had warnings not big dollar fines!

And then there is the perspective of the person who legitimately cannot afford the license,,, Consider that for a moment,,, Well you really cant! You can try, but unless you are in that position you really cant and that’s where we loose credibility when we stand on the soapbox and preach about how its “worth it” and “its money well spent” and all the other arguments that are meaningless to the person with empty pockets.

I can afford a license and most here can as well, but I also realize that there are many who are not as fortunate and that would struggle to afford a license fee of that magnitude.

Again, we are talking about a license that allows people to fish not a registration fee that covers cutting thousands of miles of trails through the woods and then pays for them to be groomed weekly or more so that we can ride our many thousand dollar snowmobiles on in comfort. Nor is this a fee that covers some inspection or oversight program to ensure public safety like food and beverage licenses. And its sure not a license in the sense of a drivers or pilots license that ensures that you are qualified to operate vehicles, it’s a fishing license!

I wont attempt to debate any of the items that some argue are the positive results of the ability of the state to collect such revenue, I simply ask you to consider that the $53 fee we are talking about it not an insignificant amount of money for many people.

Hummm,,, wasn’t I done after the last post,,,

LOL,,, sorry,,,

[RailroadJoe]

I for one know of people who can't afford to eat 3 meals a day, let alone pay for a fishing license. And they use a drop line, can't afford a rod and reel. If you can afford $1,500 for elk and other licenses, then I guess you can afford the $53.

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

Like with all things there are different perspectives,,,

There is the perspective of the person who maybe should have known better, but didn’t and was clearly not an intentional offender but they got harshly penalized for their ignorance. Their perspective is, it stinks,,, (and sorry I NEVER buy the argument that ignorance of the law is no excuse. We are not all lawyers nor are we all as knowledgeable as the person who would stand judgment of us,,,) There used to be such a thing as an honest mistake, and when that mistake resulted in no injury to anyone else we had warnings not big dollar fines!

And then there is the perspective of the person who legitimately cannot afford the license,,, Consider that for a moment,,, Well you really cant! You can try, but unless you are in that position you really cant and that’s where we loose credibility when we stand on the soapbox and preach about how its “worth it” and “its money well spent” and all the other arguments that are meaningless to the person with empty pockets.

I can afford a license and most here can as well, but I also realize that there are many who are not as fortunate and that would struggle to afford a license fee of that magnitude.

Again, we are talking about a license that allows people to fish not a registration fee that covers cutting thousands of miles of trails through the woods and then pays for them to be groomed weekly or more so that we can ride our many thousand dollar snowmobiles on in comfort. Nor is this a fee that covers some inspection or oversight program to ensure public safety like food and beverage licenses. And its sure not a license in the sense of a drivers or pilots license that ensures that you are qualified to operate vehicles, it’s a fishing license!

I wont attempt to debate any of the items that some argue are the positive results of the ability of the state to collect such revenue, I simply ask you to consider that the $53 fee we are talking about it not an insignificant amount of money for many people.

Hummm,,, wasn’t I done after the last post,,,

LOL,,, sorry,,,

You make a very valid point and you are right. While you are correct that $53 is a lot of money for a fishing license if you are fighting everyday to keep your head above water. I would think that if you are in that position, then you would not need to be purchasing an out of state license for fishing and take the lower resident rate license from the state you reside in. Which in NH is $35.

[Grant]

I grumble just as much when I purchase my resident license in Pennsylvania each spring. But, just like NH, it funds programs that make it possible for more people to fish in more places. It's all good.

And, just for comparison's sake, a single day of diving starts at around $16...just for the AIR. Factor in a boat trip, a charter, or admission to a dive quarry, gas, tolls and that 2-3 dive day can quickly total $50, $60, $70, $80 and more...

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by jmen24

You make a very valid point and you are right. While you are correct that $53 is a lot of money for a fishing license if you are fighting everyday to keep your head above water. I would think that if you are in that position, then you would not need to be purchasing an out of state license for fishing and take the lower resident rate license from the state you reside in. Which in NH is $35.

You are assuming that people dont live near the border and the water is on the other side,,,

The reality is that its not a big point in my world, I haven’t been into fishing for many - many years now, I just have way too many hobbies and not nearly enough time for them. If I were interested in fishing the license fee wouldn’t stop me in any way, but then I am fully employed and earn a reasonable living.

I’ll be the first to admit that mine may be a different perspective, but I don’t see how you can reasonable argue that a fishing license fee should be legitimate because a day of skiing costs X or a day on a charter boat costs Y. Again I may well be the odd man out, but I can’t help but feel like anyone who could make such a statement must live in an isolated world. Nothing wrong with that, but if you look around, you have to see that there are plenty of folks not as well off as we are and for some of them fishing is an inexpensive hobby that is fun and relaxing and in some cases it can put food on the table. So I for one don’t see fishing from shore or from a rowboat in the same class as downhill skiing or fishing for tuna from a chartered boat, or any of these other more expensive luxuries.

I hope that none of you who would argue that the $35/$53 fee is reasonable should ever find themselves unemployed or otherwise on the low end of the income spectrum, as it will surly come as shock to find that you can no longer afford the “simple things” in life,,,

OK, now I’m really done (I promise,,, this time LOL )

[jmen24]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

You are assuming that people dont live near the border and the water is on the other side,,,

The reality is that its not a big point in my world, I haven’t been into fishing for many - many years now, I just have way too many hobbies and not nearly enough time for them. If I were interested in fishing the license fee wouldn’t stop me in any way, but then I am fully employed and earn a reasonable living.

I’ll be the first to admit that mine may be a different perspective, but I don’t see how you can reasonable argue that a fishing license fee should be legitimate because a day of skiing costs X or a day on a charter boat costs Y. Again I may well be the odd man out, but I can’t help but feel like anyone who could make such a statement must live in an isolated world. Nothing wrong with that, but if you look around, you have to see that there are plenty of folks not as well off as we are and for some of them fishing is an inexpensive hobby that is fun and relaxing and in some cases it can put food on the table. So I for one don’t see fishing from shore or from a rowboat in the same class as downhill skiing or fishing for tuna from a chartered boat, or any of these other more expensive luxuries.

I hope that none of you who would argue that the $35/$53 fee is reasonable should ever find themselves unemployed or otherwise on the low end of the income spectrum, as it will surly come as shock to find that you can no longer afford the “simple things” in life,,,

OK, now I’m really done (I promise,,, this time LOL )

I thought you were done with this thread. poke; poke.
I hear ya and you make some good points. It is still a choice to pay the fee or not, better than a tax. At least we have input as to whether or not we want to enjoy the recreation or you can just fish from the underside of a bridge and play dumb if someone comes around.

I won't keep drawing you back, I promise.

[upthesaukee]

I believe that when I lived in Lousiana back in the 70's, you could fish with a cane pole and not have a license. For those who don't know, a cane pole is a piece of cane, thicker on one end that the other and looks a lot like bamboo. No reels, just a line tied to the thin end, and you would use bait like worms or crickets. Catch bream (sunfish) and other panfish like white perch, crappies, etc.. It was actually a lot of fun and a good way to take a kid fishing.

I could see this type of fishing in NH, and also tossing out drop lines.

But unfortunately, even with such a law, if you pick up a regular rod and reel, you better have the license or be ready to pay the fine if you get caught.

[trfour]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

I believe that when I lived in Lousiana back in the 70's, you could fish with a cane pole and not have a license. For those who don't know, a cane pole is a piece of cane, thicker on one end that the other and looks a lot like bamboo. No reels, just a line tied to the thin end, and you would use bait like worms or crickets. Catch bream (sunfish) and other panfish like white perch, crappies, etc.. It was actually a lot of fun and a good way to take a kid fishing.

I could see this type of fishing in NH, and also tossing out drop lines.

But unfortunately, even with such a law, if you pick up a regular rod and reel, you better have the license or be ready to pay the fine if you get caught.

UpThesaukee says it so well...
Hi Dave, reminds me when I used to take just some old bread, a string and some hooks down to the waters edge on Cape Breton Island, NS as a lad... As fast as I could ball up some bread to bate the hook, toss her in, I'd have a keeper... They "Want no sardines either!"
GameFeesh heaven!



Some life long friends have done very well fishing for Bluefin tuna off the New England coast as well!



Terry
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