Quote:
Originally Posted by Okotokian
So if you and your two kids want to apply for mule deer (antlered and antlerless) and elk. Just fork over $225 to throw your names into the draw. Might not even be drawn. If you are, add license costs. Oh, and want to 999 a bunch for hunts in future years, throw in a few hundred $ more. Somehow paying a grand every year to the Alberta Government general revenue fund will make everything all better for hunters.
Crazy solution to an undefined, possibly non-existant problem. I have bought and hunted every license opportunity I've ever been drawn for. You are doing a pretty poor job of convincing me why I And other reponsible, planful hunters should have to pay several times more to the government than at present.
I've got a great idea to lower traffic fatalities. Let's charge $5000 a year for a license plate. I can afford it, but many can't, so we will have fewer cars on the road and a more safe environment for everyone.  |
And this is part of the reason we are where we are today. As long as our fishing and hunting lisc. Money, and our draw money go into general coffers we are hooped. There has been no taste in the last 3-4 elected provincial governments to maintain a decent budget for ESRD . Little to nothing goes into enforcement or habitat protection anymore. And we as Albertans have let slide the mandate to do so. Progress gets in the way apparently. There was a time when orginizations like Alberta F&G had some political bite , but more and more one by one all our orginizations meant to represent us are stuck with in fighting amongst each other instead of looking for the common good. We see it everyday on this forum.
Wait times will be a contentious issue for years to come , the only true way to fix it or slow down the effects of more people in this province , is to send mandate to the next elected government. Time too come together as outdoorsmen and say we have a voice and if you won't listen we will find some one that will. What does that mean? It's time to restrengthen our numbers in AFGA , ABA, SCI , DU... You get the idea , these orginizations need new blood new ideas and most of all semblance of some common ground.
Can an increase in $ required to enter a draw help make people think and plan there hunts better ? Absolutely but only if the extra money goes back into conservation and enforcement .
Can we do this and avoid elitism, and paid hunting? I truly believe so.
Is a primary concern that can have a immediate effect find people abusing the system by either having multiple cards , not a resident, putting in for people that will never hunt. Yep should be priority # 1 for ESRD but its likley not in the budget.