Fishing licenses

[efgh]

I bought my new fishing lic. today,noticed that the price was up and that it was shorted 2 months. Exps. feb28 , not april 30 like the old one.

[Old Dewjabber]

I'm glad I got the lifetime in January.

[Ryan_V]

is it a sportsman license? if so look closer. they say Feb 28 but then it says " fishing expires apr 30" in a different location.

[Beegreen111]

I heard from a bait store owner last week that they went back to the end of Feb. not the 30th of April anymore. If true not sure why they can't pick one and stay with it.

From 2013 on.

[Kyhl]

Interesting. It might be a sportsman thing. I didn't get the sportsman this year and the only experiation date is 2/28.

My sportsman from last year goes through 4/30.

Technically, I'm carrying two valid licenses this month. The 2012 is good through 4/30 and the 2013 starts 3/1.

[Brad B]

It is not just a sportsmans license issue. the law was changed and went into effect on March 1st of this year. Technically because this new law is now in effect it makes your 2012 invalid after February 28th. The CO's are not ticketing people for expired licenses but are giving warnings and informing people of the new law. I have head this from other staff members here that have been checked. I think they know they have to honor the 2012 license until April 30th because that was what was stated on the license. I would have to believe if a CO did ticket you for a expired license you could have it overtuned in court by presenting the fact that the 2012 license states good until April 30th. The purchasing of a license is basically a contract between you and the state and neither party can change things on the fly(which basically happened here and why they are not ticketing people). also once you purchase the new license for this year it would invalidate your 2012 license. you would never be allowed to have 2 valid fishing licenses at the same time. if this was the case people would abuse it and keep a limit on each license.

[Kyhl]

you would never be allowed to have 2 valid fishing licenses at the same time. if this was the case people would abuse it and keep a limit on each license.

Thanks for the clarification.

I'm sure some meat hunter would try that line but the rules specifically state limits per person not license. You don't need a license to take a limit, a la minors.

[SkunkedAgain]

They've changed the licenses so that they go one full calendar year from 3/1 to 2/28 the following year.

[jerkbait]

That is the stupidest thing to do. They finally had it where it made since and now they go and f%^%^k it up. To me it made more sense you need to get a new license before opener. Does that now mean too that the shelter licenses will expire on 2/28 again?

[ted4887]

Another complaint that I had was that the 3 year license doesn't allow you to purchase 3 years worth of trout stamps. Doesn't make any sense.

[efgh]

To my way of thinking, going from may 1st to april 30 was one calander year too. I think there reasoning is, raise the price, short them two months and get license money coming in the two months early. Its all about accounting, makes the bottom end look better. Next year those licenses will probley sold jan 1st. joke.

[Alagnak]

If there's a way they can eff it up they'll do it. As if 100 pages of regs isn't confusing enough on certain topics. I'm a big fan of buying a year license and it being good for a year (imagine that!) no matter what date you buy it. Obviously that's not happening so whatever they do at least make it consistent for crying out loud.

[Scott M]

Legislature changed it this last year. The northern reps wanted the licenses good until the end of April so people could fish border waters on the same license, so that's why the old (2012) licenses say good till April 30, 2013. The new (2013) license says Feb. 28, 2014 and there is no extension until April. It was changed legislatively and conservation officers were told to enforce the letter of the law beginning with 2013 licenses.

[efgh]

Any way you look at it, the license buyers are only getting a 1o month license. You do not have to purchase a new licenses this year till may 1st and the new one is from feb to feb.

[lispeej]

according the the co I spoke to, all your 2012 license and validation stamps are good til april 30, 2012 as well.

Anyone looking to get the "combination super sports"?

[Old Dewjabber]

according the the co I spoke to, all your 2012 license and validation stamps are good til april 30, 2012 as well.

But it is 2013 now! Over a year old license.

[ammoman16]

But it is 2013 now! Over a year old license.

I'm pretty sure those licenses weren't valid until May 1, 2012.

[Hookey]

I hate to over simplify things but for the love of God since it is a yearly license why not make the license expire on say, like um, ahh, like January first ? Rather than the Chinese New Year or two weeks and two days after the ground hog sees its shadow or how about the first day of ice out or first inch of rainfall or maybe the first 70 degree day based on the States average temperature ?

[ammoman16]

I hate to over simplify things but for the love of God since it is a yearly license why not make the license expire on say, like um, ahh, like January first ? Rather than the Chinese New Year or two weeks and two days after the ground hog sees its shadow or how about the first day of ice out or first inch of rainfall or maybe the first 70 degree day based on the States average temperature ?

I couldn't disagree more. I should be able to fish an entire season on one license. It's ridiculous to think that your license could expire in the middle of a trip. The calendar shouldn't dictate license validity, seasons should. May 1 - April 30 made complete sense for the short while it was in place.

[DTro]

The calendar shouldn't dictate license validity, seasons should. May 1 - April 30 made complete sense for the short while it was in place.

do you think people don't fish from Feb-April? My license could expire in the middle of a trip no matter what day you made it. That is why Jan 1 makes total sense. A new year, a new license.

[ammoman16]

The number of people fishing late April through fishing opener is significantly smaller than the number of people still ice fishing in march. Much of the water in the state is unfishable throughout a significant portion of April due an unsafe amount of ice. Licenses should absolutely coincide with seasons.

[LMITOUT]

The number of people fishing late April through fishing opener is significantly smaller than the number of people still ice fishing in march. Much of the water in the state is unfishable throughout a significant portion of April due an unsafe amount of ice. Licenses should absolutely coincide with seasons.

+1.

They completely hosed it up after finally fixing the problem.

[fishingstar]

I'm going ask a different question about hunting and fishing licenses. Why do we require a 16 year old get a licenses. If we want to promote kids to stay hunting and fishing they should not have to get a licenses in high school.

Dan

[DTro]

What is this "seasons" thing you speak of?

Must be a walleye thing.

[ammoman16]

Open water and hard warer are pretty distinct seasons and transitioning between the two is a logical time for a license to expire.

[Alagnak]

What is this "seasons" thing you speak of?

Must be a walleye thing.

+1

Several species of fish to fish for in which there is no closed 'season'. F the seasons. Buy a year license good for a YEAR. Every time someone buys a license late in our current system they get hosed!