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.
Last edited by Clem; 09/01/17 07:00 AM.
