Hey there members, check out this scenario. Maybe some of you can relate.
I have two minor children from my first marriage. They live with their mother in Minnesota. I live in Wisconsin. The two houses are about 6 miles apart. All of my kids spend a lot of time with me, shoooting and fishing, hiking, exploring...Anyway, the older ones will be needing to be licensed soon. That means that in order to hunt and fish with me they will have to shell out non-resident fees.
I wonder why their place of residence matters. I honestly don't know the answer, and also don't know how the point of sale clerk would establish that anyway.
Why not allow non-resident minor children of a resident to purchase licenses at resident rates?
This would encourage dads to bring their kids on the hunt. They would buy a license instead of opting out of the whole program. (please note: I say dads because we are the majority of non-custodial parents, but moms could fit there too)
Not only would bring additional revenue to the state directly via fees, but also in tax on items purchased to outfit and supply the hunt. That means the mom and pop store would benefit too. This would provide exactly the environment that a young hunter or angler needs, time with a parent who can demonstrate skills and appreciation for the environment, good land and game stewardship. It also would encourage the non-custodial parent to spend the time with the child.
As a non-custodial parent, I pay support for these kids, but as far as the IRS is concerned, I am keeping the money. It is going to another state, to another household, but I receive no exemption or exception for the fact that I do not have that money.
We seem to use the standard established by the IRS to determine who qualifies as a resident, but there is no logical reason to do so, other than it absolves the DNR of the task.
One of my state legislators liked the idea. Does anyone have any objections? I need some feedback on the concept.
If you like the idea, share it with the people who work for you in the legistature.
Tuchel
Good idea,Bro.... as far as I'm concerned, kids should hunt for free(under 15). Just another way the kids are hurt by the big D.... been on BOTH ends of that .......as a kid & as a father. Hope you get to enjoy your time afield with your kids.
Good question. How do they know now? I guess they take our word for it.
I would rather not end up facing a charge of falsifying a document and lose my privileges because I claimed the child was a resident.
These kids will also need to license themselves to fish in Minnesota at some point. They do a little fishing with their mom.
Good question. How do they know now? I guess they take our word for it.
I would rather not end up facing a charge of falsifying a document and lose my privileges because I claimed the child was a resident.
These kids will also need to license themselves to fish in Minnesota at some point. They do a little fishing with their mom.
Now there's ethics on display !
It sounds like you're gonna have to just bite the bullet and pay the non-res fees . Perhaps their Mom could pay halfsies ?
BTW , their status of residency matters a lot to the state you live in since they don't live there too . If they spend 6 months a year with you your state might consider them residents , some will call them residents if they live there as little as 30 days at the time of license purchase . Do they spend the Summer with Dad ? If so , buy the licenses then , they would legally be residents .
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Kevin Haendiges
NAHC Life Member
NRA Member
Wildlife Forever Member
GOA Member
Buckmasters Member
http://hunting-indiana.com
Well here is one suggestion that would make it legally and ethically okay for them to get a residents license, leave everything in the divorce decree exactly the same, except change the custody of the children to "joint custody" if your ex would be all right with that. Even though my first wife and I had "joint custody", due to the language in the divorce decree she paid me child support and only had the kids every other weekend and one week vacation a year, I had them all the rest of the time.
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The Tazman aka Martin Price
Proud father of a Devil Dog
That is what I need to find; their reason for doing what they do. I can't offer a solution or altenative unless I know how they arrived at the current standard.
I am sure that each state has a reason for doing things the way they do, but I will bet dollars to doughnuts that most states simply copy their neighbors rather than creating a system based on original thought.
"Why re-invent the wheel?", they may ask. How about because it doesn't always work?
Well here is one suggestion that would make it legally and ethically okay for them to get a residents license, leave everything in the divorce decree exactly the same, except change the custody of the children to "joint custody" if your ex would be all right with that. Even though my first wife and I had "joint custody", due to the language in the divorce decree she paid me child support and only had the kids every other weekend and one week vacation a year, I had them all the rest of the time.
Sounds like a Solomon answer.
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Jesus Christ--The reason for the season!
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.
If you're certain you know everything, there's little opportunity to learn anything.
How would the state know they reside in a diff state if they do not have a driving license?
Buckmine, aside from foregoing one's own personal ethics, you would also be teaching that bad example to your children. Probably not something you wish to do. We all agree that the situation is a problem that should be addressed by the state in favor of the children but teaching them to falsify documents or break the law isn't the best answer. Personally, I think there should be some sort of "dual residency" for children of divorced parents" that would encourage both parents to take their kids hunting and fishing. Having said that, I realize it would be a lot of paperwork and extra administration costs to administer.
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Jesus Christ--The reason for the season!
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.
If you're certain you know everything, there's little opportunity to learn anything.
non-resident fees and children of divorce
