License Increase

I noticed today when I stopped in at Academy to get my hunting/fishing license that it increased again. Last year was $39.30. Online it shows $39.90 for this year yet in store it was $42.10. Guess its time to just buy a lifetime since it seems to keep rising over the years.

If I buy the lifetime at $780.95 that's roughly 19 years worth of buying. I've still got 30 years plus till 65.

Yes I know these are not major increases. Was just sharing.

Wow

This is why I got lifetime at 18, that was 20 years ago and $450 at that time

Yeah I wish I did when I was 18. I didn't hunt back then. I didn't start till mid 20's

Who uses a hunting license?

When the legislature voted on the last price increase, the bill had a provision in it that allowed for for future price increases. I believe it's tied to the Consumer Price Index. This means that they do not have to get legislative approval anymore. As the CPI goes up, they can adjust prices accordingly. You are almost certainly guaranteed small increases over time. I'm fairly certain this happened in 2007 because after reading about it, I immediately bought my lifetime license while the old prices were still in effect.

$42.10 still cheap. Paid close to $70 in Texas and you only get four deer tags. Three if you live in a one buck county. If you hunt in a county that is is antler restricted, it must measure 13" or better. Everyone then complains about the number of spikes.

CPI index varies every year like 1.5%. That is the most it can go up. Hardly anything to get upset over in my opinion. $0.60 a year.
https://www.bls.gov/regions/southeast/news-release/consumerpriceindex_south.htm

The reason it keeps going up is because about 10ish years ago the Conservation Department got the Legislature to allow it to minimally increase the license cost when necessary to keep up with inflation.

Minimally being key. Thirty cents a year isn't much. A dollar or two over the course of 3-4 years isn't much. Anyone can squall about "they should be doing this!" or "they shouldn't be driving new fancy vehicles!" or whatever, but the department ain't flush with money. This isn't specifically targeting the OP or Alabama, either; these issues are common throughout the country.

The reason for the increase 10ish years ago was because the license costs had not been increased in more than 20 years - like many states. Ohio is going through this right now. Wildlife agencies need increases and legislators don't want to do it because they catch chit from the voters. So there's a stalemate, services get whittled, equipment gets old, research and/or programs/projects die, state parks close or turn into "this used to be a nice place" places, and then a lot of times the voters -- hunters, anglers, outdoorsmen - add another layer of bitching about how chitty the agency is.

The minimal increases every couple of years, perhaps each year, isn't great if you buy annually and see an increase. But IMO it's better than going 20-25 years and then a license jumping from $20 to $50 or so (like some states have done) or the addition of weapons- and/or seasons-specific payments for hunting or fishing like a turkey stamp, muzzleloader permit, trout stamps, etc.

I'm not going to worry about it after this year, Lifetime licenses for me and the girls. We live next to a 'lake' and we "fish" weekly, the question I have is, is it worth it to buy a life time freshwater license?

$42 is a drop in the bucket compared to what most of us will spend on hunting equipment, clothing, gas, food, meat processing, taxidermy every year.

This^^^ if you calculate the cost per pound of deer meat based on every dollar many hunters spend on hunting it would make Wagyu beef seem cheap by comparison.

I bought my annual back becore they went up.

Fishing from shore? If so, no way. In fact those privileges may come with a lifetime hunting license.

Cheapest part of hunting in AL!!!

I think my lifetime license was $300 when I got it about 30 years ago.

When my Dad gave me a combo hunting/fishing license for Christmas back in 1984, it was a total of $500.

I'm gonna buy lifetime fishing in 2 years when I turn fifty.

I am actually glad I read this. I forgot. I was getting my boy for his bday. He turns 2. Freshwater and hunting is 475 I think.

I paid $300 for mine in 1989. It covered hunting and fishing. When they started the saltwater license, I was grandfathered on that. To hunt and fish for everything in Oregon, it costs a resident $180 per year or more, depending on tags and other add-ons. And you get one buck tag per year.

$180 per year, one buck tag, and other schitt to have to do.

Damn. I'd quit hunting if residents had to do that here.


The question is, what's the tipping point? At what monetary amount do hunters say "Done, nope, screw that" and quit hunting? Fifty a year, which we're nearing? Sixty, 70? More?

I'll all honesty I only think that will stop the honest people. I think you would see an increase of people hunting without a license.

Be glad you're a resident and not paying $314 with fees.

People routinely pay $600 or more to go hunt elk in another state. I'd say we're not even close to the tipping point. Actually, the tipping point is different for every individual but we've established that the market will bear license costs of hundreds of dollars. Look at the number of out of state licenses that are purchased in Alabama every year.

Things like CWD stand to effect the demand for hunting license sales. I don't know that the CDC has taken a definite position on eating venison affected by CWD, but the WHO states it shouldn't enter the human food chain. As CWD becomes more prevalent, I think you'll see a decline in license sales because hunters aren't willing to take that chance.

I know of several folks who quit hunting and eating doves because of the bird flu

If I calculated it correctly a GA non resident is gonna cost me $375 this year, that's up from around $325

The tipping point is getting close for me. Since I live on 100 acres if I feel the need to hunt in Alabama I can without a license. Every year that the hunting quality goes down in this county is one year closer to me not buying a license, but evidently the State doesn't care because they have not done one thing to make the hunting better around here ........ stepping down off my soap box now lol.

Look at it form this point of view. As Clem stated the DNCR doesn't have enough money to do everything they want to do-- much less enough money to do what WE want them to do. We complain about not enough officers, not enough public land, not enough this not enough that. If you like to hunt and fish in Alabama, why would you not buy a license, even if you didn't have too? It literally is the cheapest thing you do all season. It's less than a tank of gas. And the federal money is directly related to the number of license sales the state has. Just my opinion.

I dunno, the same reason I don't pay even $1 more in taxes than I have to.

Yes you do, Do You smoke, drink, drive goto the movies, eat out? All these are taxed and you don't "have" to do any of them. So you are paying more than you have too. But I see your point.

When my dad gave me mine back in 1983 or 1984 it was $300 for lifetime hunting and fishing. Hands down the best gift anyone has ever given me.

If the game and fish need more money to operate with they should allow baiting with a $20 or so dollar sticker per site per year with all the money earmarked to the game and fish for raises, additional wardens, etc. It wouldn't be a mandatory fee, you can opt to not use one.

That's a legislature decision not DNCR.

I wish I would've!

I don't like that nickel and dime stuff. I've got a lifetime license, they promised me no more paying for hunting, for life. Would I have to buy a sticker? Maybe they start a separate bow license or primitive sticker system. They can split it all up. Sounds like a good way to turn folks away from hunting and lose revenue. Who knows.

Lot of states have this. Fees for specific things - muzzleloader, bow, crossbow, turkey stamps, etc. - on top of the regular license. Mississippi and Tennessee have it.

Only a matter of time.