NY Hunters Voice Frustration With Fee Increase

All across the state of New York it's a common theme among sportsmen and women, the fee hikes set in place by the state are outrageous. The increases for licenses can range anywhere from 25-65% depending on the license being purchased, and for the first time the state is requiring it's residents to purchase their doe tags for $5, they had originally been free.

We set up a quick survey on our mascot's Facebook profile, asking New York hunters how they felt about the price hikes. "I don't know how many hunters I have seen complaining about the increases in prices," said Zachary, a student who currently works for Walmart in the sporting goods section, "I've heard many hunters say that they will hunt illegally instead of buying the licenses. I understand their frustration but as a conservation law student I try to tell them the risks they are taking. It hurts me to see my fellow hunters make such bad choices."

"Unfortunately, Gov. Patterson chooses to make up the state deficit with extra charges on everything, so licensing increases as well," says Constance. The state, which has been facing budget problems has also looked into requiring all motorists to purchase new license plates for their vehicles. Many hunters in the state though refuse to become poachers. "It's a privilege to be able to hunt and fish, one of the first lessons in hunting safety. If someone chooses to hunt with out a license, how many other shortcuts are he/she taking in safety?" Constance added. Instead of becoming poachers, many NY hunters are turning, instead, to life time licenses.

How many is many? 106,915, which is an increase of around 2200% of the normal annual average purchases of 4,600. "I was one of the ones that bought the lifetime license this year before the price went up. Paying the old price, with the new yearly costs, it'll pay for itself in about 7 years." Said Jeff on Facebook. "I'm young enough that that I'll be hunting for "free" for years to come."

The large spike in life time licenses brought in $23 million to the Fish and Wildlife programs, which have been hurting due to fewer hunters and rising energy costs. The problem is that those 106,915 sportsmen and women who purchased lifetime licenses will never again have to pay for their tags. How much money, then is the state loosing? Had the state NOT increased hunting rates, and the 106,915 hunters bought only the small/big game license over the course of 20 years, the state would have made $40 million. Instead the state will now be seeing non of that money.

"To pay $30/year more for the next 40-50 years is a LOT of money." Says Jeff. It appears many of the state's hunters echo that thought.

To voice your opinion of the rate hikes, feel free to visit our <a href="http://www.youroutdoorsonline.com/node/179">forums</a> and tell us what you think!