Changes = Confusion

[IcePro]

With the possible changes in the opener date and where / how to place your Invasive Species decal and to pull the plug or not only creates confusion.

Here is another confusing scenario by the state.

Have you looked at your 2011 or 2012 fishing license.

Above where you sign your name it shows that the license expires February 28, 2013 (Unless noted elsewhere).

Look on another portion of the license it it shows: "Effective dates 03/01/2012 - 04/30/2013"

My wife and I went fishing this weekend and she thought we did not have a valid fishing license because of the expiration date on our 2011 license showed "Expires February 29, 2012". I know the license is good until the 4/03/2012 date.

This confusion all started when the state changed the effective dates of the license.

[itchmesir]

yeah I noticed that last year.. silly.. don't understand why it would be "February 28th unless noted elsewhere)

confusion is avoided by being educated though and actually reading your fishing regulations book that is given to you with a license purchase...

When people get confused by fishing regs.. I wonder how they walk beyond their front door sometimes... "man.. them red, yellow, and green lights at intersections are confusing"

[IcePro]

I know confusion can be eliminated by reading the regulations but look at the scenario every year on this site for ice houses.

Do I need a fish house license or not

Do I need my Name and/or license number on the house.

All of this is printed clearly in the regulations; seems that all people interpret the regulations differently.

In regards to the expiration date on a fishing license why can't the state just print expires April 30, 2013.

[smallie_hawgin]

yeah I noticed that last year.. silly.. don't understand why it would be "February 28th unless noted elsewhere)

confusion is avoided by being educated though and actually reading your fishing regulations book that is given to you with a license purchase...

When people get confused by fishing regs.. I wonder how they walk beyond their front door sometimes... "man.. them red, yellow, and green lights at intersections are confusing"

Well said Ich!!

We do have a lot of lakes here... But really, it is not that tough to know where you are fishing... or when!

[Slabasaurus]

When people get confused by fishing regs.. I wonder how they walk beyond their front door sometimes... "man.. them red, yellow, and green lights at intersections are confusing"

This is not too far off on how I feel... sure there are some "special regs" but I've honestly it's not that hard to find them.

not sure if any of y'all fish wisconsin, or trout fish wisconsin... but the discussions around those regs make me want to bang my head against a wall.

[IcePro]

Yes I know where I am fishing...or when.

Lake XXXX - April 5, 2012.

The whole point is when government gets involved it creates confusion. How many posts have you seen where different conservation officers did not give the same answer regarding regulations.

[Farley]

Is the issue because you have a sportsmans license and not just the fishing license? If you have the combo I could see the need for 2 different dates..

[itchmesir]

Is the issue because you have a sportsmans license and not just the fishing license? If you have the combo I could see the need for 2 different dates..

no.. it's printed on all licenses.. I never took into account small game license dates.. that could be it

[itchmesir]

This is not too far off on how I feel... sure there are some "special regs" but I've honestly it's not that hard to find them.

not sure if any of y'all fish wisconsin, or trout fish wisconsin... but the discussions around those regs make me want to bang my head against a wall.

omg.. talk about stupidity.. people that tell me "i use to trout fish until all these regs they have now".. really? is it that tough to figure out? printable maps.. map books.. all of it is clearly labeled and pretty easy to understand.. there's even signs! maybe a 5th grade reading equivalency test should be given before handing out a license to these folks

[IcePro]

My license is strictly fishing, have you looked at the dates for small game. If you include all species that you need a small game license for the the dates are across the board with the last day of February listed as when it expires.

[Desperado]

Maybe we should start a new reality show

Can you fish smarter than a fifth grader?

[Desperado]

My father in law is notorious for his unique sayings

In a situation like this he says

Some people couldn't pour pi$$ out of a boot, even if the instructions were written on the bottom of the heel.

[itchmesir]

My father in law is notorious for his unique sayings

In a situation like this he says

Some people couldn't pour pi$$ out of a boot, even if the instructions were written on the bottom of the heel.

+1

i lol'd

[chris63]

Last year I went to purchase a "new" fishing liscense as we were going to fish the mid part of March. You couldn't purchase a 2011 until mid April.I don't know if that is the case this season or not.We don't need a new one for 2012 until the end of April.c63

[Burbslayer]

yeah I noticed that last year.. silly.. don't understand why it would be "February 28th unless noted elsewhere)

confusion is avoided by being educated though and actually reading your fishing regulations book that is given to you with a license purchase...

When people get confused by fishing regs.. I wonder how they walk beyond their front door sometimes... "man.. them red, yellow, and green lights at intersections are confusing"

I guess you're just a little bit smater that the rest of us. Be it the hunting or fishing regs there are alot of gray areas. I had a question a couple years back that even a CO couldnt figure out for me. After standing next to him while he flipped through the book he closed it looked at me and said "i dont know the answer"

[itchmesir]

I guess you're just a little bit smater that the rest of us. Be it the hunting or fishing regs there are alot of gray areas. I had a question a couple years back that even a CO couldnt figure out for me. After standing next to him while he flipped through the book he closed it looked at me and said "i dont know the answer"

ya i gradgittated high skools... any questions i have had.. i've had no issues emailing or calling my local dnr to get definitive answers..

just curious.. what was your question to your CO?

[TyGuy02]

My .02 is just to calm down regarding licenses. Maybe there are COs out there that are ticket snobs, but the COs that I've dealt with are very nice and forgiving. As long as you don't get defensive and argumentative, everything will be ok. What are they going to do, take your birthday away? I strive to be 100% by the rules to not seem stupid if/when checked, but I would like to see statistics regarding how many anglers/hunters/ect in the state of MN are 100% legit.

[Burbslayer]

just curious.. what was your question to your CO?

[jmd1]

why not just make it simple Jan1 to Dec 31. Works everywhere else.

[smallie_hawgin]

why not just make it simple Jan1 to Dec 31. Works everywhere else.

Because in MN we have seasons.... Which BTW is a rarity among states now.... Just sayin..

[TonkaBass]

I'm gonna be honest. I really don't care what the license says as long as I get to fish. Who cares if there are 2 dates listed. Why is this a discussion????

[flyfisher03]

Quite a few states have gone to a system like the state park passes. It expires one year to the date of purchase. Frankly, I would like to have something like that here. Because what if the guy who decides to go fishing panfish all of march and april spends money on an annual license and only gets two months out of it.

[itchmesir]

Quite a few states have gone to a system like the state park passes. It expires one year to the date of purchase. Frankly, I would like to have something like that here. Because what if the guy who decides to go fishing panfish all of march and april spends money on an annual license and only gets two months out of it.

I don't understand your logic... either way they have to buy a license for a year?? And well if that's all they fish for.. that's not the DNRs fault.. there's plenty of folks who buy a license and only chase bass.. or only chase walleye..

I don't drive my car all the time.. why do i have to pay for a full year of registration on my license plate?

[gregg52]

[flyfisher03]

Quite a few states have gone to a system like the state park passes. It expires one year to the date of purchase. Frankly, I would like to have something like that here. Because what if the guy who decides to go fishing panfish all of march and april spends money on an annual license and only gets two months out of it.

I don't understand your logic... either way they have to buy a license for a year?? And well if that's all they fish for.. that's not the DNRs fault.. there's plenty of folks who buy a license and only chase bass.. or only chase walleye..

I don't drive my car all the time.. why do i have to pay for a full year of registration on my license plate?

My logic is that it would be good for a full 12 months and not just 2. This would be similar to your vehicle registration. It comes up due then it is due one year later.