ozark trout fisher Posted January 3, 2009 Posted January 3, 2009 For all the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth about how the Conservation Department was going to stick it to us low-brow citizens..... there is a remarkable lack of "appreciation" around here for lack of a better word, that they did not do so. And an even lesser understanding about how these pocket "savings" will come back to haunt us. I for one never felt any of the proposals were too out of line. General increase in permit prices are to be expected, over time, every few years. The landowner restiction going up to 80 acres was pretty "different", but so was the illusion that a 5 acre landowner should have a free pass. What will hurt us all here is that MDC will lose $17 of Federal Monies per landowner permit, for each permit they would have sold. i.e. MDC could have pocketed $17 of Federal money for every landowner permit they sold, even if it was only a $3 landowner permit. (Joe the Plumber buys a $3 landowner tag, Feds kick in $17 ..... what a deal for Missouri). As far as I can tell all the squeakey wheels shot us squarely in the foot. We are gpoing to leave a lot of Federal money on the table. SKMO, I completely agree with you. I was simply making the point that the MDC does pay attention to the people.
gonefishin Posted January 4, 2009 Posted January 4, 2009 It is pretty simple really. The MDC is a BIG CASH COW for the state. Does anyone really believe the MDC needed more money and to cut limits to rebuild the hatchery for MO residents? They stuck it to MO residents so they could increase the hatchery to sell trout to other states. Excess money goes to the general fund. Simple as that. The deal with deer permits is no different. Has nothing to do with conversation. Its just cash. I would rather be fishin'. "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin, 1759
zander Posted January 4, 2009 Posted January 4, 2009 Maybe it is just the fact that I have lived in several states and not a single one of them allowed a person to hunt their own land no matter what the acreage unless they had a hunting permit, but I don't understand why all of the hubbub. The cost of a hunting permit is not out of anyone's budget. It isn't free but it isn't an undue economic hardship. How much do you guys spend a year on hunting stuff? Probably a lot more than the cost of the permit. Do deer cross your property lines? Do you think they forage along a county or state hwy? If I remember right from college the typical home range of a white tail doe in north Louisiana (where I got my degree in wildlife biology) was around 13-15 acres. I still can't believe they LET you hunt without a permit if you own five acres or more. Blows my mind.
gonefishin Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 TO me the hubub is that the state got a tax that other states do not have. The taxpayers of this state pay their license fees in the 1/8th cent sales tax. What tags cost in other states really has nothing to do with anything, but since it was raised, we pay a speical 18th cent sales tax so why should our tags be as high as and in some cases higher than in other states? The MDC has a bigger income than any other state that I know of, the residents of this state are paying, why should MDC arbitrarily raise fees or cut limits? Just so they can make larger donations to the general fund? I like what the MDC has done I just think the cost we pay is getting out of hand. Giving them more money is like giving an heroin addict more heroin, it is not going to be of any use at all. I would rather be fishin'. "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin, 1759
bigredbirdfan Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 I heard somewhere that they have more funding per capita than any other state. Can someone confirm or refute this?
BredMan Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 For those who only assume and have the time (not me I still work 40+ a week) chase down the actual figures and tell us what they really are. You might even do some head-to-head comparisons with other states on fees and fundings. It's too easy to say the MDC is overloaded with cash without backing it up with some accurate figures. Reading some of these posts makes the MDC look like the US Postal Service!
laker67 Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 For those who only assume and have the time (not me I still work 40+ a week) chase down the actual figures and tell us what they really are. You might even do some head-to-head comparisons with other states on fees and fundings. It's too easy to say the MDC is overloaded with cash without backing it up with some accurate figures. Reading some of these posts makes the MDC look like the US Postal Service! Page 39, Jan. 2009, Missouri Conservationist magazine.
BredMan Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Page 39, Jan. 2009, Missouri Conservationist magazine. That was fast.......I haven't seen the January issue yet (probably mixed in with all the holiday literature) but just checked it online. Thanks for that information.
ozark trout fisher Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 The MDC may be the most funded department of it's kind in the nation, but it seems very worth it to me. For example, most states don't have to stock nearly as many fish as Missouri, due to our extensive trout management plan here. Personally, I enjoy catching those trout, (on the rare occasions I actually catch one), and am willing to pay the twelve dollars on my fishing license, seven dollars on a trout stamp, and $17 on a deer license. and the 1/8 of one percent sales tax I pay, or whatever it is. Seems like a small price to pay to support the part of government that makes hunting and fishing so possible. I am willing to pay it, although it does sometimes hurt the pocketbook.
SKMO Posted January 13, 2009 Posted January 13, 2009 Just so they can make larger donations to the general fund? It is pretty simple really. The MDC is a BIG CASH COW for the state. A very vague statement that cannot be backed up. No "donations" are ever made to any state general revenue fund from MDC receipts. As far as being a "Cash Cow for the state", that is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. That's the COOL thing about the internet, anyone can promote anything as "truth" and before long the witless among us have a party going on. No need to cite facts, just make 'em up and you can get some guys to pile on with you. Before The Internet we met in the cafe over coffee and such talk was tossed about as B***S*** and maybe if somebody actually started to believe it we had a story going on for a couple days. Anyway it was a lot more fun when we all knew it was BS and you could buy the guy a cup of coffee. Now it is anonymous and he thinks we actually believe it. Not as much fun. SKMO "A True Fisherman with a Rod in His hand, and a Tug on the Line, would not Trade His Position for the Throne of Any King"
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