RE: PA Hunting License changes for next year?
 

WOW.... under the proposals it will be an increase of $ 89.00 for me (a non resident who owns 50 arces in PA) for a total of $294.00 for the tags I currently get now. This does not include the second doe tag when the are available. It's getting a little pricey for those 125 lbs deer! Looks like $30.00 a lb to me.

In CT a non resident can get a archery tag for $44.00 and take 4 deer. Doesn't make sense.

RE: PA Hunting License changes for next year?
 

Man, increasing the fee would be stupid. PA would lose a bunch of hunters, and not just the non-residents. The PGC should realize they'd lose a lot of the deer (rifle) hunters who only hunt a few days a year. And for everyone else that likes to bowhunt, use a muzzleloader, bear hunt, shoot birds, might cut back when they start getting smacked with heavier fees for each stamp. Last year I laid out $39 for the license, archery stamp and dove stamp. plus another $18 for doe permits. If anything I'd lower the costs to attract more hunters and more money. If not they may lose more money from people not comming to PA to hunt and residents saying "screw all that money for 2 weeks of rifle"then they'll make raising fees. Personally I hunt alot, about half the year between Deer, turkey, varmint, small game, and predator but there is a limit to how much I'd spend on PA game. On the bright side fewer hunters would mean more game per hunter and PA would regain some of the deer population. Just not how I'd like to see it happen.

RE: PA Hunting License changes for next year?
 

Maybe after they get this money they may not need to change the license. ;)
Release #057-05


GAME COMMISSION PRAISES PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION
AUTHORIZING $20 MILLION IN BOND MONEY FOR AGENCY
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS

HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Vern Ross today praised the General Assembly for passing a bill authorizing $20 million of the recently voter-approved $625 million bond issue to be used for capital improvement projects to the agency's existing lands and facilities.

"One of the greatest challenges the Game Commission continues to face is maintaining its infrastructure," Ross said. "In the past, the agency has paid for capital improvement projects from license revenues - the agency's chief source of income. We currently maintain a large number of buildings, parking lots, shooting ranges, roads, dams and other structures that support the recreational activities of hunters and trappers, as well as those who do not purchase a hunting or furtaking license.

"Pennsylvania's abundant natural resources are being effectively and efficiently managed by the state's two independent resource agencies - the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The expansion of the state's current Growing Greener program will provide much-needed funding for the agencies to maintain their facilities and properties. Sportsmen and sportswomen, applaud this opportunity for the Game Commission to benefit from this bond issue."

The bond-issue money will be made available to the agency over six years. Under the new law, each June 30, the Game Commission executive director will provide to the House and Senate Game and Fisheries Committees Republican and Democratic chairmen an annual report detailing the projects to be funded under the program, the amount of each project and the anticipated environmental benefit of the project. The report also will be posted on the agency's website.

Under the law, these funds may not be used for land acquisition.

"The Game Commission does not currently receive any state taxpayer dollars, yet it manages the Commonwealth's wild birds and mammals for all Pennsylvanians," Ross said. "Our facilities -- such as the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitor Center in Lebanon/Lancaster counties, the Pymatuning Wildlife Learning Center in Crawford County and the elk viewing area in Elk County -- serve all Pennsylvanians and visitors to the state. Now is the time to provide financial assistance to upgrade and maintain these facilities, and we very much appreciate the Legislature ensuring that we remained in the package and encourage Governor Rendell to sign the bill as soon as possible."

RE: PA Hunting License changes for next year?
 

Could be the whole point! The hunter numbers have been decreasing for years, especially younger hunters. They just chip away little by litte. Call me a conspiracy theorist if you want, but I've been seeing all kinds of backdoor proposals and laws intruding more and more on hunters and gun owners all over the country. They disguise them as common sense ideas. Think about it a little more.

RE: PA Hunting License changes for next year?
 

Time to put your aluminum pie plate hats. :D