Lifetime Licenses

[SalmonSlayer]

So I'm seeing a lot of talk about the proposed increase in license fees. It got me wondering if it would lead anyone to buy a lifetime license. I bought mine when I was 15, sucked at the time, but I'm certainly not regretting it. So my question is, do you have one, if not, are you going to get one, why or why not?

[Steve Foss]

I may wait 2 years and do it. Price goes WAY down when you hit 51, and I figure it'll pay for itself then in five or six years.

[nllumberco]

My two year old is getting a sportsmans license in the very near future. What an investment if you can get them early.

[BoxMN]

I got sportsmans for me, and fishing for my wife. Got mine last year - wish I would have three years earlier, but was not able to for $$ reasons then, and figure that license will "cost" me $20 per year until I'm 65 and nothing after that. Not bad. Plus I like that the lifetime license fees go into sort of seperate gig, so even though I pay less per year, they get to use it as they see fit, or something like that.

I may buy them for my grandkids before any price hike, but they are over 4 and under 16 so no hurry right now.

[LightningBG]

I got a lifetime license when I was moving out of state (just barely into WI), now I'm back, but I'm still glad I got it. Now I never have to worry about it.

[Dylan33]

I know in the long run it will be less expensive. But it doesn't make sense in my situation.

I fish with my wife a lot- so we get the combo $25 right now...maybe $30 in the near future.

To have us both get a lifetime this year we would have to put out $766

based on a $30 combo license, it would take 25 years to break even.

I'm 32 now, so I wouldn't see a return on my investment until I am 57. I'd rather pay a small amount every year

Maybe if they had a husband and wife combo lifetime license it would make more sense to me.

[jwmiller33]

I have looked into doing it and the only thing that has led my away from doing it is I don't know if I am going to be living in MN my whole life. I really want to move up to Alaska, and if I do, a MN fishing licnese wouldn't do me much good there.

I wonder what the rules are regarding if you move away from MN after you bought the lifetime license, because you buy it as a resident license, but if you move away, you would then be a non-resident. Can anyone clarify on this?

Salmonslayer, what does the lifetime license look like? I picture it as a big laminated card that you get once. Do they send you a new one each year? How much does it cost to replace if you lose it?

[BoxMN]

Jake it is good even after you move away, a good reason to get one if you plan to come back and fish say once a year...

[LightningBG]

Salmonslayer, what does the lifetime license look like? I picture it as a big laminated card that you get once. Do they send you a new one each year? How much does it cost to replace if you lose it?

When I got mine, they gave me a card and some medallion thing (which means nothing).

You dont need the card at all. you just go to a license station and give them your dnr number, an old license, or your DL, and it just comes up on their system as $0.00.

Some places charge a $1 processing fee, but that's all you pay, unless you want to get stamps of any kind.

They print out a regular license each year, that looks like a regular license.

[LightningBG]

To have us both get a lifetime this year we would have to put out $766

based on a $30 combo license, it would take 25 years to break even.

I'm 32 now, so I wouldn't see a return on my investment until I am 57. I'd rather pay a small amount every year

Maybe if they had a husband and wife combo lifetime license it would make more sense to me.

The question is, how much will prices go up in the next 20years? and how will that affect the break even (but of course you "could" be getting interest on the money you save, if it was actually saved.)

[SalmonSlayer]

LightningBG is correct. My 'License' is a laminated card with a picture of a buck and walleye on it. Has my DNR number, name and Limetime Sports #. Apparently I was the 413th person in the state with one.

I really want to move up to Alaska

That's awesome, I was just getting on the fiance about moving up there a few days ago. I hope you have more luck than I did

[Dylan33]

Lightning- that is the X factor- how much will fees go up...The other things that keep me from doing it, is I don't have the extra $766 bucks this year.

So you still need to go to a shop and get a license every year? That loses some of the appeal for me. If I just had a card, and truely didnt have to worry about getting the license every year, that MIGHT have sold me on it.

[LightningBG]

LightningBG is correct. My 'License' is a laminated card with a picture of a buck and walleye on it. Has my DNR number, name and Limetime Sports #. Apparently I was the 413th person in the state with one.

[SalmonSlayer]

You do know you have to go get one printed out each year, right?

I do know this, and do exactly what you do but with GM. I don't see it as a big deal, it's not like I'm not going to go to a store that sells licenses once a year. Plus I have to get my stamps anyway, so I don't see having to get it as an issue at all, not sure how it loses any appeal.

[ozzie]

Yeah getting the license once a year is easy...I mean how often are you at a gas station that sells licences

[vman11]

I bought a lifetime archery and sportsmans for approx $1100 a few years ago. 3 months later I became a ND resident.

Since all of my family lives in MN and my parents have a lake place south of Walker it made sense, especially being a NR. The best part is I ultimately have resident licenses for nearly all speicies (minus the stamps) in MN and ND each year.

[jwmiller33]

That's awesome, I was just getting on the fiance about moving up there a few days ago. I hope you have more luck than I did

I think the key to moving to Alaska is not having a fiance

On a different note, I was under the impression that you didn't have to actually go and get a license each year with the liftetime license. I don't get why they can't just give you a laminated card that says LIFETIME LICENSE on it and elmininate the need to go get a license.

I know it isn't a big deal going to a bait shop to get it printed, but I always seem to get the 16 year old working the counter that has no idea what he is doing and ends up taking 10 minutes to print off the license. And this usually happens when I am in a rush to get on the water. Yes, I know it's not a big deal, but when I think of lifetime license, I think of a license you go and get once. Not something you have to "renew" every year

[nllumberco]

I know for sure with small game they have the HIP questions they ask, I would guess they want the license printed to reflect the actual number of licensed fisherman or hunters.

[SalmonSlayer]

I think the key to moving to Alaska is not having a fiance

You're probably right, but it can get awfully lonely up there. Plus, for me, part of enjoying the outdoors is sharing it with others. I can't wait to take my (hopefully) boys fishing and hunting.

Back to the licenses, I think the main reason is to get HIP certified every year. How many ducks and geese you shot, etc. I'm not sure why you'd need to if it was just a fishing license, but for the sportsman's license, I think it makes sense.

[LightningBG]

Could be so they have the ability to not issue you one if you have your privileges revoked for some reason.

[BoxMN]

Yep, for HIP and plain old record keeping, to keep track of how many people actual hunt/fish.

[jwmiller33]

So is there any other benefit to the lifetime license other than the financial aspect which won't be realized until 30 years down the road [for most of us]? A lot can change in 30 years...

Making someone who has a lifetime license actually go and get a license each year seems kind of counter intuitive

[fishwater]

I'm a little over the half way mark of breaking even on mine. The first year they were offered, my birthday was on the opening weekend. My girlfriend at the time got it for me as a gift - married 8 years now...

[SalmonSlayer]

Sounds like a keeper to me.

[fish2morrow]

Sounds like it's worth the investment if you know you're going to live to 100, not move anywhere out of state, and have a boat. I on the other hand moved here from California not realizing the big basses where back home. So for me I wouldn't get the lifetime one. But sure do look like a good investment for me. Cause I'll be fishing 4 life.