Have you heard?
 

Has anyone else heard that the tags in Illinois were going up to $475?

RE: Have you heard?
 

I am from Canada so I haven't herd nothing ,but I was wondering what tags are you talking about that would cost you $475. It has nothing to do with me I was just hoping you could clarify for me thanks.

RE: Have you heard?
 

For resident or NR tags? If it were NR tags I could understand it, they've got some trophy animals and if you want your crack at one you've got to pay up. "tax" the out of staters to fund the DNR programs (if that's where the money really goes) but if that's for a resident tag I would be up in arms if I were a IL resident. The animals belong to the people of the state and as a tax paying resident I think a tag fee over 100$ is rediculas. I'd start screaming now!!!

RE: Have you heard?
 

Sorry, for not clarifying. Yes I am referring to the cost of NR tags.

RE: Have you heard?
 

If that is the case then they can kiss my A. It's not evn the money it's the principle behind it. They are just getting a little too big for their britches. I know it won't make any difference because many people are willing to pay it and they will still sell out on permits but if that's the case they won't be getting any of my money. Which will suck becasue I will have to start looking for somewhere else to hunt[:'(][:@][:@][:@]

RE: Have you heard?
 

IMO that's supply and demand. I'm not particularly happy about it but if the money is earmarked for DNR projects such as securing more state lands, habitat improvment, stocking programs then I can live with it. If you want a shot a trophy animal then that's what you pay to increase you odds but if the money is meant to fund public school or budget deficets that I am against it 100%.

Unfortunately I truly believe the money will be spent on the later and IMO it's an unfair burden to be carried by NR sportsmen.

RE: Have you heard?
 

well I guess if they raise for you guys which stinks but you have to take it as you pay to play. I wonder where the governments are going to get all that money from after peta bands bowhunting;)

RE: Have you heard?
 

Why? States don't have a lot of opportunity to raise funds at no impact to their taxpayers. If you(the state) have something that people outside your state want, and will pay for, don't you owe it to your constituents to make that money to be used wherever it is most needed? If you don't think it is worth it, don't pay it. But I don't see where the state raising prices on something to make more money is any different than Remington raising the price on a new rifle because it is in high demand. And no, I don't live in Illinois. :)

RE: Have you heard?
 

LOL, you took the question right out of my mouth. ;)

The fees for tag paid by sportsman have IMO been abused for years. I can understand you argument and respect it but IMO I would only support such an increase if it were for the good of the DNR. I'm not saying you view isn't valid(because it is) I just don't agree with it is all.

DNR all over the country are having budgets cut and the money raised by their managment practices and enforcement of the game laws is distrubited throughout the general budgets of the particular states in question. I don't agree with this. If the money is raised by the DNR then I believe it should stay within the DNR. That's my opinion anyways.

RE: Have you heard?
 

Adams, it's not a matter of supply and demand statewide. Yes, of the 15,000 tags sold last year, I would guess 70% were sold to NR hunters hunting in Pike, Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Greene, etc counties in the West Central portion of the state. However, areas like Southern IL gets very little pressure and are over run with deer. I think they should have gone to a zone system, like IA.

They are trying to reduce numbers of NR hunters, but the overwhelming majority are hunting one small portion of the state. This sucks for hunters wanting to hunt the less popular areas.

I agree with Silent, $475 is too high.

RE: Have you heard?
 

DC,

I haven't seen any of the stats or proposals for this new fee. If it's like you say it is I agree that a zone system might be a better choice. If the populations are as high as you suggest then maybe some E-A-B zones need to be implemented but that itself would also cause an out cry.

If someone has a link to the new changes or proposals I'd love to see them. I didn't see anything on the IL DNR site.

RE: Have you heard?
 

EAB would not go over with NR's. We only have a week, we can't be chasing does around trying to arrow one. Zoning would work great. I hunted private land last season in Southern IL and the deer population down there was rediculous. We literally saw hundreds of deer while riding and hunting. The farmers were begging us to shoot deer. They are considered pests.

RE: Have you heard?
 

Wow, that is a lot of money. I think I'd rather spend it on an Elk tag in Colorado.

RE: Have you heard?
 

Just got off the phone with the DNR, they said they are still waiting on the legistlatures to set the new regs. She said there will definitely be some changes, but she is not sure what at this point...........................The suspense............

RE: Have you heard?
 

I've heard a rumor or two ,
and they just priced out this NR .

If the money was just for the F&G dept. to improve things they'd make a lot more by increasing the levy on the resident hunters since there are vastly more of them , the increase would be very small compared to the screwing they give non-res . Greed will kill hunting there someday . I think I'll just stay home and hut . [&o]

RE: Have you heard?
 

yeh, this is a really good idea, lets do even more to make hunting a sport only for the rich. What about a person that has a couple kids, has moved out of state, and takes the famly back to IL hunt with grandpa every year? You may get higher fees from fewer hunters, but fewer hunters coming to spend money and have an economic impact, so I'm not sure that overall there would be financial gain.

RE: Have you heard?
 

Not certain what I think of the proposed raise...if it's $475 cost then that's a little steep. Here in Georgia NR fees are reasonable....hunting license $59 + Big Game license $118 so for $180 or so you're set to go.

If it is $475 then I think its kinda high.

I do think all hunting fishing permit money should go back to the state's DNR.

RE: Have you heard?
 

$475?? Hope that drops the number of OOS tags to near zero. Would serve them right. What is the penalty for hunting without a tag? Might be cheaper to not buy a tag and take your chances on the fine if you get caught. [:-]

RE: Have you heard?
 

I called last week and tried to do some digging but got the same message that you did DC. I even asked if she had heard the rumor that they were going up and she said "no" she hadn't heard it. I knew there were some other changes that were supposed to take place but I hadn't heard anything on price until the last week or so. If it's correct, they just priced this NR out as well. I am sure it won't make any difference because there are plenty of people that are willing to pay it and I am sure they will still sell out. But they won't get anymore of my money. When you are already paying 1200-1500 to go on a hunt, another 150 is pretty insignificant. But it's just the principle of it to me. I am sure it will make the residents happy and I don't blame them but I will find somewhere else to hunt. Hopefully, next year I will have enough preference points to draw out in Iowa. But it's going to leave me scrambling to find a place to hunt for this year. Which again really sucks because I have a spot lined up that I feel really good about and would have really liked to have hunted for the next few years but if Illinois is just going to hike their leg and p!$$ on the NRs then I'll take my money and spend it somewhere else.

RE: Have you heard?
 

I also agree that all funds raised through Illinois Hunting and Trapping and Fishing liscense, Permits, tags, and all funds collected at Illinois State Parks should stay within the IDNR to fund IDNR programs, Conservation, Land Accuisition, Maintence of State Parks, Research, and IDNR staff etc. The IDNR Staff has been cut to a skelital Staff in my local area, and many other area's within Illinois, and the Conservation Policemen and Women are already spread to thin with a understaffed Conservation Police Force and understaffed State Parks.

RE: Have you heard?
 

I don't believe non-resident tags will go up any this year but again they might[&:]......look for some significant changes in other areas as was stated previously. Illinois is facing a federal lawsuit thanks to a group of outfitters that want caps done away with. It seems some of the outfitters would like to manage our deer herds and make the rules.........all in the name of money.

It wouldn't bother me one bit to see all the Pike and Adams county bucks grow tiny anters for a few years...........yeah, that would tickle me to no end!;)

RE: Have you heard?
 

that really sucks for u guys

RE: Have you heard?
 

I have to admit a major flip flop on an issue on my part. In the past when I have seen non-residents or outfitters sue a state I have landed on the side of the state. But in this case, if they do pull that crap, I hope the outfitters or a group of NRs get to gether and sue them. I may even start the initiative myself. It won't make any differnce because if they do it, I won't ever go back. Not even if they started selling tags for $50 a piece. I would just like to see them get a little taste of their own medicine. I admit this issue has me a fired up. I just think it's completely ridiculous to raise fees by that much just because they have the power to manipulate people. Hopefully, this info is incorrect and my post here is a waste of time. If not I hope the outfitters have their way with them in court.;)

RE: Have you heard?
 

Just got one of the Illinois DNR officials to confirm that they had "heard the rumors" that there was going to be a rate increase though they didn't know for sure. Not a particularly good sign:(

RE: Have you heard?
 

I have no problem at all with them raising their NR tags to $475....as long as Wisconsin raises our NR tags to $475. Sure would be alot of Pi$$ed of Illinois residents who hunt in Wisconsin every year.[:o]

RE: Have you heard?
 

MN now charges NR the same price as their home state or provinces NR tag those SD res. not going to be happy their days of a $40 fishing license is probly done

RE: Have you heard?
 

We just went through an election were sportsmen played an important part. This is just the way government says thank you for your support.

RE: Have you heard?
 

RE: Have you heard?
 

Exactly Bowfinatic,I think that this idea sucks.I don't hunt much out of state but do fish Wisconsin,and I would be really pissed if this happened.Sportsmen allways pay the price of mismanaged government.I think that these outfitters here in Illinois are rip off artist anyhow.People need to stop putting so much emphesis on trophies and maybe this bullsh&t would stop.Can;t eat them antlers. Some of us just got to have that wood on the wall it's a show of testotsterone and bravado.

RE: Have you heard?
 

I think all other states should then, charge Illinois residents $475.00 to hunt their state as well. If I'm not mistaken, That's what they do here in Ohio. I have considered hunting in Illinois, but I won't now.