Unfortunately the cost of enjoying the sport we love is going up in FL. also.Not only hunting and fishing license but auto and trailer tags have doubled this past year.Between my hunting and fishing license which cover general gun,spring gobbler and fresh and salt water fishing license and tagging all are farm trucks and trailors,it's setting me back over $500.00 dollars,something has got to give somewhere cause us poor boys are about tapped out.

I live in upstate NY, but grew up in western Ma. For the past 5 years my father has been getting a nonres small game license and joining me for opening day of grouse season in a spot where we get 20 flushes in a morning... the rate increase is forcing him to bow out, because its not worth it. Its too bad, because he is not alone. policy like this leads only to higher license costs.

In Missouri they were going to raise all the permit prices for this year and decided not to with the way the economy was going. They did raise some out of state permits though, so a trip to the midwest might not be on your list. With turkeys you don't really get the management discount, i.e., doe or cow only tags seem to be cheaper and easier to get in a lot of places where they are trying to control the herds. I had a ton of fun hunting antlerless antelope in SD last year and it was only 80 for 3 tags! There's a perception that guys who travel out of state have the extra money, some just like to hunt.

Good points SD_Whitetail_Hntr. Sure enough, there are steeper prices for turkey tags and licenses out there. No doubt about it. I think it's a matter of having a sweet deal for a long time then seeing it change dramatically. Bound to happen, I s'pose. Thanks for checkin' in. By the way, what are you seeing for turkey flocks out your way? Hunted the Badlands a couple years back, and loved it.-S.

Thanks for the post, Frank66. Good points all. We've got to fork over the dollars to play the game I guess. Or not. I can understand a N.Y. resident getting a break since they pay out in other ways, but the visitor to that state does too. Food and supplies. Lodging. Etc.

I suppose this is just Economics 101 though.

But like Gerry, once I get word about N.Y. turkey flocks from my contacts down there (I write this 3 1/2 hrs. from the border, and hunt spots well beyond that), I'll probably bite the ol' bullet. Part of me is just a little miffed (and maybe disappointed) that the old fees aren't still in place. Sign of the times. It was so good for so long . . .

As Levi mentions, the Midwest is definitely not friendly(costwise) to the traveling turkey hunter. Check out what it takes for a nonres to hunt Iowa sometime. Did it once. Loved it. Likely won't in the near future.

In the end though, as they say, you can't take it with you, so . . .

-S.

Hey SD_Whitetail_Hntr,

We hunted the Badlands. Prairie turkeys. Interior, SD.

-S.

Hey Steve! Been awhile since I've checked in. Good to see some good discussions going on!

As for the price increase, it is definitely a dramatic change and worth complaining about. Doesn't make much sense in this economy. But, I wouldn't let that deter me from some great hunts and memories. This is what we love, and to me it is hard to put a price tag on something we love cso much. I know you're just as passionate, and "my money" says "your money" will will be forked over to New York for some future hunts and memories! At least I hope so, so I can read about them in future posts and articles!

As for a turkey report, I've got three flocks visiting daily on my property. Bad thing is they have found my bird feeders, something I had hoped wouldn't happen. It is kind of enjoyable though! Also saw three toms in a swamp not far from my place when I was setting up one of my game cameras. Ended up with pics of deer, turkey and bear.

Can't wait for Fall to get here!

Good luck all!

James

I have lived in Western and the Adirondack sections of NY my entire life. The price raises this year are not only in response to the state of the economy, this an indirect attempt to making hunting and fishing to expense for the common person and therefore they can make it illegal and then there will be no reason for a citizen to have a gun, so they can make that illegal too! Hopefully I'm wrong but I would not put it past Albany and NYC.

As a group we should flex our $$ muscle and refuse to purchase these new licenses for 1 year and see what the response from our state legislatures would be. If hunters and anglers banded together and did not bicker among ourselves would be respected by government.

Guys,

Here's the South Dakota turkey hunting link:

http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/BigGame/Turkey.htm

-S.

Hey trebor,

Thanks for checking in . . .

Yeah, N.Y. turkey hunting residents still have a pretty good deal at $26 for the small game license now, and $10 for the turkey permit.

As a gobbler and flock chasing fool based in Maine, this inflated price increase for nonresidents makes a guy think a little bit about making the long run down. I say this as a guy who has loved hunting N.Y. turkeys over the years . . .

-S.

Good hunting out there in the B'lands, as much for the turkeys as the moonscape scenery.

-S.

OK Steve,
So where is your line? How much is too much $$$, before you say no. Not all folks have an expense account, or 6 digit salary, like others.
The problem doesn't necessarily lie with the rising fees,per say, as much as it lies with how much of those fees go back to the outdoors. Or more to the point, much much of the fees are NOT going back into the outdoors.
For the people that live in NY and pay tax on everything, except their next breathe, a hike in license fees this drastic, is simply unexceptable.
It's an anti-gun state, full of gungrabbers, and a hike in fees like we got just leaves another bad taste in our mouths.
I wouldn't care so much if it were a pro-gun state, with liberal carry laws, but it's not.
Frank66

NEWSFLASH:

The divorce was annulled and the reconciliation certain as I ponied up $135 this morning for a New York NR small-game and turkey permit. Thanks for all the comments guys . . .

As Strut Zoner James said, "I know you're just as passionate, and 'my money' says 'your money' will be forked over to New York for some future hunts and memories!"

A betting man like J. would also play the lottery today!

-S.

is there very much public land in S.D. for antelope hunting

And for those of us that live, work, and hunt within the same 40 miles in NY, so sad, too bad......