New 2003 regulations

[Wobbler]

Really? I had a CO tell me it was May 10th!!! I checked the DNR page here is what it says. Check it out.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/fishing/index.html

It says May 10th!!!

[This message has been edited by Wobbler (edited 03-07-2003).]

[Lowe]

Cut and pasted from the MN DNR web site:

New limits for crappie, sunfish, lake trout and catfish will take effect on May 10, the 2003 fishing opener, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced. The limit changes will affect all inland waters and the Minnesota-Canada border waters.

Daily and possession limits will be reduced for three species, with crappie limits going from 15 to 10, sunfish from 30 to 20, and lake trout from three to two. The daily and possession limit for catfish will remain at five, but only one over 24 inches and two flathead catfish will be allowed in the total limit.

[united jigsticker]

May 10th is correct.

Fish On! Fish Off! ::Guzzle::

[Guest]

I am confused.... I was told by a CO several months ago the new limits would take effect when the new licenses took effect. I did not see the DNR HSOforum statement until you guys pointed it out to me. The fishing synopsis seems to indicate that since the season for crappie and sunfish is continuous, the limit changes would have taken effect with the new licenses.
I have sent an e-mail to the supervisor of fisheries and will post his reply when I receive it.
Sorry for my part in the confusion.

Thanks,
Mike

[jparrucci]

This new regulation regarding the senior discount was a good idea. Before all you seniors get mad, let me state a few points here. I know all about veterans serving in wars and the respect that should be given to them. I honor them, this country, and the flag with much passion. I open doors, help out whenever and where ever I can. With that being said, I can think of many things that seniors havent done for me lately. I know almost ever senior that comes into my work is very rude to me. I show them the utmost respect, and never get the slightest bit back. I don't complain about it, I just do my job and keep a smile on my face. Seniors are allowed to drive even though MOST of them have deteriorated skills behind the wheel. I see it on a daily basis. There are tens of thousands of seniors that are driving that shouldn't be. I would know...I keep getting hit by them. Even after all of that, I still respect the people who have helped to make this country as great as it is. Most private businesses offer seniors a discount, as would I if I owned a business.
But the government giving them an advantage is unfair to the rest of the paying public. Its just another form of wealth redistribution. Remember people, not all these seniors have paid as much as some of us have into programs such as social security, welfare, and medicare. Ask any economist, they will tell you how bad all of those programs really are. At the price of these liscences, I don't think its going to break almost anybody's pocketbook. Please remember that I respect and care about seniors....I'm affraid I'm going to be burned at the stake for this post.

[uffdapete]

Okay - after reading ALL the pages on this topic this is not a new idea!! Glad to see others are on the same page.

Here's an alternative to the recent change to the Sr. citizen license.

If you know somebody who doesn't like the change and/or who really does need the $, either offer to or insist on paying for their license. What's the worst that could happen? They'll either be embarrassed or grateful. And all have us have spent that kind of change on much more useless junk.

[This message has been edited by uffdapete (edited 03-08-2003).]

[Guest]

I received a response from the DNR Fisheries Supervisor stating that the new limits do not go into into effect until May 10th - as stated on the HSOforum. Thanks for your help in setting me straight on this!

Thanks,
Mike

[merc]

Do the math, if you buy a lifetime license at 15 years old, with out figuring in any increases in the license fee in 12.6 years you will be fishing for free for the rest of your life. The seniors did not have this chance when they were young and had to pay full price all their life. Now when they were finally getting a break in the fees the state takes it away to cover the losses from the lifetime licenses??? If you figure the $227 for the lifetime license and this 15 year old lives to be the average age of 74 the cost per year is $3.91 per year. So the seniors should pay for this? Give them a break like they give the young people. Thanks!!

[Guest]

One little point I would like to make is this, businesses don't give seniors discounts out of respect. They give discounts to draw them to there store. Just think if your local diner didn't offer a senior discount in the morning rush. Just my .02

[loadmaster]

Just ot ad my 2C. I do not thinks its the money we are talking about its the pricincple of the subject. If you read the regs a person in a state correctional fac. with permission is not required a Lic. Having served for 22 years in the mil and declaring Mn as my home of record and paying taxes which I am sure partly went to the DNR I still have pay for a Lic. Like I said its not the money,its the priciple of the idea>>>later the load

[Raven]

If it wasn't for some of these "seniors" some of the gripers probably would be speaking some other language than English and wouldn't be called an American. I just turned 65 on Feb 28th and feel I got screwed. I put 20 years in the military and pulled 3 combat tours to Vietnam. And since I retired back in 74 have paid one bunch of taxes cause I didn't have any deductions such as babysitting, etc.

Of course, the poor DNR need the money to pay for their toys. On Feb. 26 I was entering WalMart in Bemidji and met a brand new Ford Explorer SUV that didn't even have its plates yet - but there was a new DNR INSIGNIA on the door. Now tell me about budget problems.

Had to get my 2 cents worth in.

[JAR JAR]

(No personal attacks!!!!)
How would you feel if someone or even your self disrespected your grand parents or even your parents. You would be really pi$$ed off, now would'nt you? You just did that with your post.
I believe the seniors are being short changed on this new law and with the lifetime license the younger generation is the ones getting "freebies" now. So quit wining over a few bucks that you will save and let them get what they deserve.

Sorry , got alittle carried away

Jar Jar

[This message has been edited by Jim W (edited 03-14-2003).]

[slab slayer]

Since we are charging the seniors why don't we go ahead and start charging the lil' ones also? How many Mom's and Dad's take the lil' ones out to get them started on fishing-- yes,-- but also for a few more fish. I say give the seniors a little break. They have lived a long life of paying to fish.

[Kingfisher]

I have been reading these posts with mixed emotions, being over 70 years of age, and a veteran, it is my opinion that any senior citizen over 65, who needs food stamps or assisted living, or is considered "low income" should receive a FREE fishing or hunting license. On the other hand some of our wealthiest citizens are a large number of our seniors. Should seniors that live by a lake in MN in the summer and drive their $100,000 motor homes to Arizona in the winter be exempt because of age?? Take a drive south in January and the freeways are full of MN vehicles with seniors driving south for the winter. By the way senior meals is another area where wealthy seniors gather for fellowship and a cheap meal, while the local small town restaurant is striving to keep their doors open. I think its time that a criteria based on income be the guideline for helping seniors, not a set age.

[Wobbler]

I guess I take offense to people saying that kids should be charged for licenses. Come on we have to introduce young children to fishing and hunting. Our environment, our state depends on that. If children have a positive experience fishing or hunting they will buy licenses and hopefully continue to hunt of fish and therefore promote our state. Maybe I was fortunate and my parents would have been able to buy me a license but for many kids that might not be possible. Some people might not expose their children to fishing or hunting because of the cost and those children will never appreciate what we do by being able to hunt and fish. That is why we have PETA and all those other ANTI's out there because they were never exposed or taught the importance or enjoyment of hunting and fishing. As far as having an income line that will not work. Is it based on Single income, married income, what about child support payments does that count? Now I suppose somebody will come up with the user fee. You will go to the local boat landing and be charged a fee to fish a particular lake for the day. Seniors should have a discount but there is nothing I can do about it.

[united jigsticker]

Things that are licensed or taxed are that way because they are viewed as a privledge and not a right.

Things that are privledged and require a license also require regulation and involve certain responsibilities to laws, safety, morals, and respect. If those issues are disregarded or disrespected then the privledges may be suspended or revoked.

It is a privledge to drive a motor vehicle. A privledge to eat out at a restaurant, a privledge to fish, hunt etc.

A fishing license is not required of a youth until the age of 16, when there after they can legally drive themselves to a destination, that possibly being a lake, and wet a line. I think this age is appropriate, as I also agree that fishing IS a privledge and not a right, and if abused or disrespected, those privledges can be revoked.

In respect to senior citizens, I agree with Kingfisher that fees, etc should be assessed based in relation to income and total fund resources.

Just my thoughts.

--------------------------------------
Fish On! Fish Off! ::Rip some lips::

[Guest]

OK. . .so say I worked all my life, planned for retirement and put away money all my life. When I turn 65 I have a nice lake house and spend the winters in AZ. I end up paying $XX for my fishing license.

My friend who stumbles through life, puts nothing away and becomes dependent on social security in his retirement. He needs to live in discount senior housing because that is all he can afford and he stays in MN all winter. He ends up getting a free license.

To me the idea of basing the price you pay on the ability to pay only goes so far. With my lake home I would be paying upper 4 to close to 5 figures in property taxes every year. I would be spending and contributing via taxes in other ways. My buddy would be a 'tax' on the government because of subsidized housing, food stamps, and social security. Granted, in the grand scheme of things, if I have this nice lake home the amount for a license probably isn't a whole lot to me, but I don't like being forced to pay just because I have the money while others get it for free because they cannot pay.

Do we extend this to the bait shop too? You have to bring in your tax returns and then look up the price of wax worms and sucker minows based on your taxable income.

If I want to go fishing it should cost me the same for my fishing pole, worms and LICENSE the same as it does for any other person out on the lake (unless they live out side of MN - then screw-em ).

The only exception to this is the under 16 rule. This helps to introduce younsters to fishing - but I do beleive they should be required to get a free license off of somebody elses (I would have to get a license for my kids when I get mine) if they want to keep fish under their limit.

kgm

[Guest]

It all comes down to a money issue. The DNR see's that it can make alittle more money by not offering the senior discount, hey times are hard all over. Now the whole idea behind the lifetime license was that it was suppose to bring in all this money the first year, that the DNR could just bank this money and make more off the interest. But we all know that didn't work out like they planned. So before ALL of you go on debating over discounts for seniors, You should of all bought that lifetime license and this debate would never have happend. To put it lightly all you people that didn't buy one is to blame.
I got mine and you can't have it!

[united jigsticker]

D-Man:

I don't have a lifetime license. I doubt I ever will. I will pay the $18 every year, or more as the years go on, and I don't have a problem with it one bit.

Don't go on blabbing here that it's OUR fault to those that haven't purchased lifetime licenses like we have done something wrong and are to blame for some problem in the system. Please refrain from telling us what we should have done and what we should do.

If I spend $18 for every year I am required to have a license to fish, by the time I am 65 I will have spent $882. That figure will be more of course as license fees increase over the years.

So here's my resolve to you: Get out of our faces with your unsupported rhetoric and finger pointing. It's not appreciated.

--------------------------------
Fish On! Fish Off! ::Rip some lips::

[This message has been edited by united jigsticker (edited 03-14-2003).]

[ds]

I'm old, gimme gimme gimme gime. Then gimme some more.

[Coldfeet]

I think that eliminating the senior discount is wrong. Should they get a free liscense? No, fishing is a privilage, not a right, but they shouldn't have to pay as much as everyone else. After all, the rest of us will be "seniors" someday too, and it would be nice to get a break here and there. If you think seniors should pay full price, then why not everybody. By this I mean absolutely everybody, no ands ifs or buts. Then all of you who keep an extra limit of fish in your freezer because you have a 2 year old kid who can legally have a limit WITHOUT a liscense would have to buy an extra liscense for everyone under 16 in your household. For those of you who have 3 or more kids, that might help change your mind. In my family there were 6 kids. And at one point all 6 were under 16, and all of them fish. 6 x $18 would be $108, plus another $18 for my dad's liscense and he would have to pay $126 in liscense fees just to have a good time with his children. I'm sure that there are some of you out there that would fit in this category. Food for thought.

[Guest]

I think the DNR should offer catch and release license, or a reduced possession limit for seniors at a discount price. So if they want to keep a regular limit of fish they pay the same price as you and me. As for kids the possession limit should be cut in half, I see all to often a guy bringing along all his kids just to have more lines in the water. If you can't feed a family of six with six walleye's, you need to mix in a salad once in a while.
A little education goes along way.

[MNice]

Wow, seems to be a lot of emotion over $18.00. I don't think it's that big of a deal.

[TRZ]

I have read every post on this thread and i can't believe how worked up you guys are getting. it is very simple- any senior who does not have 18$ to spend on a fishing license should be saving thier money for more important things like food and medicine. i have great respect for our seniors and veterans i volunteer at the american legion and enjoy our older citizens and the great wisdom and experience they have to offer. but come on we all know these older people were brought up in a different time, the idea of catch and release is obserd to most of these over 65 people. so consequently these seiors who have alot of time harvest a good amount of our fish. why should they not pay the measly 18$ for the license. and as far as the lifetime license goes i just could not afford that right now so i have to disagree with D-Man on that one. being only 22 and in school that is not financially possible for me, and i'm sure this applies to many others.

[Fishing Addiction]

I keep hearing one common theme in this thread and that is "Fishing/Hunting is a PRIVELEGE." To me that means that to enjoy the "privelege", you pay the price from age 16 on up. The cost of a license is minimal for the amount of enjoyment and relaxation that I get out of fishing and hunting and well worth it. It is really very simple, if you feel the cost of a license is too expensive, then don't hunt or fish.

Fishing Addiction