so can I, that is why I stay away from them nowadays.

Dave -
Excellent point. When I bought my first fishing lic (freshwater) in 1963 it cost me $5.65. Of course at teh same time I remember also paying $0.19 a gallon for gas - for the same $5 while in hi school I could get a 1/2 a tank of gas, take a date to a movie and have enough left for burgers and shakes.

My fishing and hunting lic. $$ still is my cheapest recreation investiment and today they are a better value than when I started fishing.

Tight lines
Curt

$384 last year for me and the boys.

I could pay three times more than what I pay now, and I'd still be getting a major bargain for what I get out of it...

Fish on...

Todd

Aw come on now, you never had a date.(;-)

Seriously though a new car in 1963 cost about $2,700.The same car today $30,000. Your gas was .20 per gallon, today $3.00. A nice new home was $20,000 today $300,000 plus. I think our licenses are a great buy. Using the ratios I just estimated a license today should cost between $65 to $100.

One should look for higher cost in the future as government moves to user fees on non essential ( education / social safety net being essential ) rather than tax funded. You use something then the cost of providing the service to maintain access will be fee based.

Hunting / fishing / parks / out door recreation period will steadily become fee based. Frankly triple non state resident ( especially clammers ) would not break my heart.

Down side of fee based things is that low income struggle to afford it. No awnser here for that one.

Rivrguy

All good points. I do favor user fees but also think we should have some way for the poor to enjoy our parks, fishing etc. I would hate to see fishing become only a rich man's sport.

I like the fact that we in Washington don't have to shell out for new licenses right after the new year and the costs associated with Christmas, etc. I'm guessing Oregon is like we used to be, January 1st?

Yeah, OR licenses are on the calendar year.

Sg

I'll pay it.

I don't usually bitch about fishing and hunting fees because I know what a bargain I'm getting for the amount I get out and what I harvest as a result.

Besides, these 2 hobbies are central to my life...it's what I do and will continue to do as long as I'm able. As others eluded to, the fees are peanuts in the big picture.

Sidenote: With the state of the economy, I can live with user fees to be paid by those enjoying the activity however.........ALL user groups need to be rung up who use a resource that costs the state money. There are some in this state getting a free ride for things they could/should pay for.

You claim that fees are appropriately priced given inflation, so the same percentage of people who couldn’t afford a license in 1970 can’t afford one now... so there’s no reason to subsidize anyone due to their own financial inadequacies.

AS my HM e mail is smoking and good looking you have a point.

So as to be honest here the question that I got whacked around with was this. OK fee based, she gets it, then why and the h--- don't the commercial fishermen have to pay a per fish cost just as our punch cards do.

Now that is something that someone should ask their legislators. Interesting to see what they say. Anyone ever do that?

Other than the fact your "logic" is faulty and, you ascribe to me positions I have not proposed ,your observations are spot on. I do not have any idea if the percentage of persons who cannot afford a license is greater or lesser now than in 1962, nor do you. Additionally, I can see no reason why the ratio you mention would have any effect on why we should or should not subsidize access for the poor; which is not something I proposed in any event. I simply said I hope fishing does not become a sport for only the rich. Please go find another windmill with which to do battle.

I wish I could still pay $84 for an out of state Oregon fishing license. I paid $128 last year (price increase) for my license and tagged 10 summeruns I got during two trips. Better than having the state cut the program.

The out of state fishing license in Washington is cheaper than the out of state fishing license in Oregon.

I don't mind paying a little more when considering the total cost of the trip - gas, food, beverages, camp fees, etc. I always come back with some nice fat fillets in the cooler and always have a good time. Money well spent in my opinion. I want to move down there.

Thanks for the reminder as I need to turn in my catch record. Can you do this online in Oregon like I did with my Washington winter crab catch record?

You guys still buy licenses ? ? ?

Nothing is required to be turned in down here. Nice if you do, from a management/data collection perspective, but not required. Though, if you do, you are entered into a drawing for a new drift boat (unless you work for the State...then you aren't eligible )

There are some good points being thrown around. no longer pissed and whining . at least not about my fishing license. I get out way more than the average joe during the course of a year.

However, I feel for those on fixed budgets/low income and those that only go a handful of times.

I too have no problem with the fees. i only got out 1/4 of what i normaly do in a year this last 2010, and still feel it to be a good value for the feew times i did get out, and the good times had as well.

I fish, therefore I am.......When I choose to start my teaching career, I picked the area that I still live in...........close to the ocean, Humptulips, Wishkah, East Hoquiam, Wynoochee, Chehalis, Satsop, North, Johns, And Elk rivers all within 25 miles......Salmon, Upper Quinault, Hoh, and Queets, are still doable, in a long day.

License fees never have been a big deal to me.....what I object to more than anything....is the continued shortening or not allowing fishing to go on in my "home area".

I have commented many times, on other posts, about how the "out of State fishermen", gets such a good deal...compared to "out of State hunting fees"......jack those fishing fee's up close to the same percentage as hunting.

Finally....made "senior status".....leave that fee alone.......lol

Finally? Hell, I thought you'd been there for 20 years or so!

LOL!.......Kidding Bill.