RE: Griping about Earn-a-Buck
Fee schedule in Indiana Resident
General Hunting License $20.00
Firearm License $24.00
Archery License $24.00
Bonus Archery $24.00
State Park Herd Reduction License $24.00
1st Antlerless $24.00
2nd+ Antlerless $15.00
Muzzleloader License $24.00
All Turkey License $25.00
Non Resident
Hunting License $80 (required for deer and turkey)
Firearm tag $150
Antless tag $24.00
Achery tag $150
Muzzleloader tag $150
Turkey Tag $140
This is why non of my out of state family come here to hunt. We always go there since it is some much cheaper
We have 1 CO that covers400 sq mile and is relocated to high density areas in other parts of the state during firearm season, so he aint stopping poachers. In 25 years of hunting my county, no one in my family or extended hunting party has ever been stopped to so much as check on our license. The state has a 400 acre FW area in our county, but has basically cut off all funding to it for general up keep of even basic parking facilities (ie best have a 4WD to get in and out of parking area. All of the DNR money goes to the lakes and sate parks (which are no where near my home). I would just expect a good portion of the money you spend to be spent in the county of purchase and to have the CO active in that county.
I need to reiterate my disclaimer. I am not so much against Earn a Buck as I am agaist paying for doe tags. If the State wants them harvested, give an incentive and not charge a fee.
I will also inform you that because the State spends little to no money in are area and raised license fees by over 100% in recent years, I opted to buy a lifetime license (prior to the end of that program). I will never buy another license in my life to hunt in Indiana. I was 28 when I made that purchase. Best $500 I ever spent. I just want everyone to know that my grip is not the cost to me personally, but the cost to a new hunter, kids in college and families that don't have the greatest paying jobs in the world and having the means to harvest a doe cheaply would serve them more then anything else.