Wow this could cost us

[Bluebulldog]

I agree 100% with Bo D, the attitude that we should pay and then pay more is out of date. Time for better management of the monies we pay is what is needed. Out with the Liberals, shoot, I forgot, I won't be here to vote.

Wholeheartedly agree that we should see better management of the money we do pay.

However, if we lost 250,000 licensed anglers over a period of time, which the numbers indicate we did. At roughly $32.20 per year for sportfishing, and outdoors card. That adds up to $8,050,000.00 less in monies collected, every year. That shortfall is going to be felt regardless.

It is a head in sand approach to think that it may not come to pass that we will not see an increase in license fees.

Bo D. Regardless of your paying into it, the very notion that it's a right over a privilege, is perhaps a bit much. If you've been paying into it for 40 years, I'm going to assume you're almost at the magic (free) age anyhow....and I hope it's still free when I get there.

[MikePal]

As a tax payer and land owner as you are, I don't see where you come up with the idea that it's a privilege to hunt and fish in this province. I have bought a fishing licence, hunting licence, dog licence's, which by the way is a rip off, for well over 40 years. Believe me, I've more than paid my way. It isn't a privilege, it's a right...

I guess you didn't bother to read the article; The wildlife in this province is a resourse.....we need to manage that resource....it cost $100 million to do that. It raises that money thru the sales of licenses ect.....got the picture so far ?

The fact that the government has set up a system that provides wildlife management which allows us to hunt/fish is a privilege....like driving on a hwy...it's not a right to drive a car, it's a privilege.

[Bluebulldog]

I see the argument of both sides......

If you compare hunting/fishing to other hobbies, like going to the movies for example it is a bargain. 10 bucks at the theatre gets you 2 hours of entertainment, a small game tag can provide months of entertainment.

On the other hand, we should have the right to provide food for ourselves....but if everyone thought that way would there be any hunting opportunities left?

Unless there's members on this board who are First nations...there's very few of us who would starve without our outdoor pursuits....Is it cheaper to have moose, or deer in the freezer? Maybe, but by the time I tally up what I spent on hunting last year.....well.....I'd be eating pretty well if I just bought meat with it.

[robster]

It's still a privilege since we only use the land owned by the monarchy! And the queen has a right to our dollars!

[trimmer21]

[QUOTE=Bo D;785312]

They could easily triple the cost of the Outdoor Card and it would still be a great deal for the privilege to hunt and fish in this province. One of the cheapest 'cost' we incur to enjoy life.

As a tax payer and land owner as you are, I don't see where you come up with the idea that it's a privilege to hunt and fish in this province. I have bought a fishing licence, hunting licence, dog licence's, which by the way is a rip off, for well over 40 years. Believe me, I've more than paid my way. It isn't a privilege, it's a right...

I hate to pop your bubble,but,everything we do or everything we think we have a right to is ,in Canada,a privilege controlled by the Crown,from hunting and fishing to driving to private property. These can virtually disappear with the stroke of a vice-regal pen,if,under law,deemed necessary.

I see the argument of both sides......

If you compare hunting/fishing to other hobbies, like going to the movies for example it is a bargain. 10 bucks at the theatre gets you 2 hours of entertainment, a small game tag can provide months of entertainment.

On the other hand, we should have the right to provide food for ourselves....but if everyone thought that way would there be any hunting opportunities left?

Before 1920,there were literally,no game and fish laws. People hunted and fished for subsistence. As the population grew,game animal numbers went into a nose-dive until the idea of sustainability came along in the form of licensing and seasons. With today's population explosion and the abject poverty a huge number of people find themselves in,your assertion that there wouldn't be anything left is absolutely correct.

[Bluebulldog]

[QUOTE=trimmer21;785329]

I hate to pop your bubble,but,everything we do or everything we think we have a right to is ,in Canada,a privilege controlled by the Crown,from hunting and fishing to driving to private property. These can virtually disappear with the stroke of a vice-regal pen,if,under law,deemed necessary.



Before 1920,there were literally,no game and fish laws. People hunted and fished for subsistence. As the population grew,game animal numbers went into a nose-dive until the idea of sustainability came along in the form of licensing and seasons. With today's population explosion and the abject poverty a huge number of people find themselves in,your assertion that there wouldn't be anything left is absolutely correct.

Let's not forget the fact that waterfowl populations were almost decimated due to market hunting.

[Bo D]

I guess you didn't bother to read the article; The wildlife in this province is a resourse.....we need to manage that resource....it cost $100 million to do that. It raises that money thru the sales of licenses ect.....got the picture so far ?

The fact that the government has set up a system that provides wildlife management which allows us to hunt/fish is a privilege....like driving on a hwy...it's not a right to drive a car, it's a privilege.

Privilege my , and yes I read the article. Who is paying for this so called management, we are John Q public, no not John Q public but the sportsmen of Ontario. How much money has been siphoned off of fishing and hunting licenses to go elsewhere by this government that was to go back into the resource. What have they done to improve this so called privilege except raise the cost of licenses every year. I don't see them putting in food plots or helping the deer herds this past winter. Yeah, it's a privilege alright. What about road tax, gas tax, vehicle tax when we purchase a truck or automobile, and every other tax that has to do with driving a car, yeah, it's a privilege alright...It's a right, a right that we are paying for to sustain our wildlife as well as our roads...

[MikePal]

So I'm figuring your one the 5%:

clients and the public were asked about their preferences for trade-offs given this forecast, and 95% of respondents favoured alternatives to increase funding and sustain the program through various new revenue initiatives over program and service delivery reductions. Only 5% of respondents supported the reduction of the fish and wildlife management program.

Love the rant....I was picturing you walking with a camera in your face thru a back alley with graffiti all over the walls..

I'm pretty sure the term is "revoke your privileges", not your rights.

[trappermatt]

Honestly more then once on this forum I've tried to draw attention to the spa account and how our dollars are spent and who you needed to contact to try and get changes made and it seems to fall on deaf ears , honestly most outdoors people only have time for politics once someone is trying to take something from them

[skeeter1]

I look at it this way, it is a priviledge because it can be taken from me if I do something wrong. Secondly the amount of money I spend in licensing is miniscule to the amount I spend on gear, or even going out to eat while hunting. I refuse to get caught up in the government mismanagement because they do that everywhere, why would it be any different for hunting licenses. This country is still a far better place to live than most anywhere else in the world if you are an outdoors person, sooo much land so few people. I will continue enjoying hunting and I am sure my daughter will to. We have to OFAH to continue to support our hunting heritage here in Canada, for me hunting is a stress relief not a source.