Gov. proposes hike in hunting fees
On a Web site for hunters in Connecticut, www.cthuntingnshooting .com, many local hunters expressed their concerns about Governor Jodi Rell’s proposal to increase the hunting license fees.
Rich Kratzke, a deer hunter in Ashford.Photo & story by:
Yerina Ranjit/Reminder News
“She better not do this. It will make me angry,” responded one of the members to the online conversation. The bill proposes the hunting license fee hike from $28 to $56, firearm license from $14 to $28 and archery license from $14 to $28, for both state and private land hunting.
“The governor’s proposal essentially doubles the fees,” said Dennis Schain, spokesperson of the Department of Environmental Protection of the Governor’s Bill 6371. “As you could understand, people are concerned about the increase,” said Schain. This proposal is indeed making Connecticut hunters more than just concerned . Some worry that they’ll not be able to afford hunting in the coming season, and some say that there may be a rise in criminal activities because not everyone will not want to comply with the increase.
“It’s going to hurt a lot of people,” said Andy Swatik of Willington, the creator of the Web site. The 63-year-old hunter, who lives on disability funds, said that he hunts for meat for his family to last him for a year. “It’s going to take a chunk out of my pocket.” Swatik, who buys permits for two rifles, a muzzleloader , and archery, says that he spends about a $100 each season just for licenses and permits.
Another hunter, Rich Kratzke of Ashford, says that he hunts only for food. “That’s how I feed my family in winter,” said Kratzke, “If I’m able to tag even one deer, it gives me stew meat, steak, roasts and tenderloins.” Kratzke, who lives with his wife and two sons, says a deer a year lasts his family throughout the year. Although he says he buys other meat from stores, it saves him a lot of money.
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13 comments:
I can't believe a 50 percent increase in license fees.
Ben, that is what a lot of us our saying among others things which I won't repeat.
I also can't believe the 50% increase. They are taking and giving anything in return ie more tags or at least open up the sunday hunting. This is going to backfire
They tried to do the same thing in our state a couple of years ago, but they received such an outcry from the public that it never went through. Hopefully you folks have the same results.
Rick, you did a great job, Thanks for sticking up for us! Hopefully the outcome will be in our favor. I would hate to become the thing I hate the most, a poacher.
Same talk here in Oregon too. With nothing given in return. We have both Cougar and Wolf problems here. Little is being done to protect our wild game. Infuriating for sure. Typical of government.
P.S. Thank you Rick for Spotlighting WHJ!
Wow! A 50% increase is quite dramatic. Great job with the article, tho! I hope things work out for the best.
Thanks all, I tried to make it sound like they were making a mistake. Hopefully they read it.
These fees are a 100% increase. They want to double them. This is the govenor who is proposing this. She says they need to cover costs but they plan on taking money away from some programs such as the Wildlife Fund and putting it into the general budget. Oh! then the program as a whole is no longer self sufficient so they must double the fees. Her idea. If it ain't broke then we have to fix it. Right now the program is self sufficient.
Allen, you know and I know but I think they are clueless.
I hope everything works out Rick...and your voice heard.
Marian, you and me both on that.
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