ORIGINAL: RobinAim Low
ORIGINAL: drhntr178
I like the AR's but I'm not so sure it's about money. If the state wanted more money, a increase in our tag prices would the easiest. Non-residents get a bargain compared to surrounding states. Revenue created from bigger bucks will take years toproduce.
On the other hand, if there ultimate goal is to grow bigger bucks, theywould not allow us to shoot 3 bucks.
Exactly on both statements! Another counter to the conspiracy theory debate of "money for the state" is the fact that the "state" doesn't get money brought in from tag sales. The MDC is it's own governing body. Any money raised goes back into their budget, not the state's general fund. They have a whole lot of easy ways to generate higher income from license sales if that was their goal. Higher NR doe tags, higher NR turkey tags,make hunting license a requirementfor archery deer hunting, etc.
BUT, you cannot justify an major increase in tag prices w/out having the big bucks. Do you honestly think people would pay Illinois what they want for a non res tag if they didn't have the big ones?? No way.
It's all a process, and growing the bigger bucks is one of the steps. The one thing I am glad for is that the MDC IS it's own governing body, and the state doesn't get any of that. Or do they? In order for a conservation agent to have the same legal ....hierarchy, for lack of a better term, as the state patrol, they HAVE to be tied to the state somehow, yes? Otherwise, where does their authority come from?
Think of this.....If they would have implemented all the changes they want to, and done it all in one year.......There would have been a revolt. Firearms season gets moved to after the rut, AR's implemented statewide, archery tags good for one buck, or even go to just a deer tag, not archery/firearm tags.....and we can only get 1 buck per year.....And on top of that, raise res and non res tags......do that all in one year and see what happens.
And the 3 buck/year thing is a moot point, IMO. Seriously, just because we CAN shoot 3 a year.....How many actually kill more than 1?? I bet it's a pretty low percentage.