Enforcement

[Wayne SW/MO]

I would if I had to pay for a license.

If you're not doing anything wrong then ........never mind. :lol:

[eric1978]

While I agree with Gavin, I wouldn't mind seeing an optional additional fee for those who want to harvest fish. For catch and release only, you pay the regular price. If you want to possess a creel, you need an additional stamp for that, and those funds should go directly to fund enforcement. Of course there would be riots in the streets over that change and it would never happen anyway. But I'd still like to see it.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I wouldn't mind seeing an optional additional fee for those who want to harvest fish.

Funny, but many years ago I ask, in a letter, why they didn't have a similar setup in the trout parks. I suggested that those who kept the hatcheries busy could foot a larger share of the cost or face lower limits. I was told it was a good idea, but it would be too hard to enforce..

[Micheal Kyle]

I wouldn't be willing to spend more for more enforcement....MDC has a $171 Million Dollar Budget...$103 Million of that is from the 1/8th cent sales tax...and permits only account for $31M...Most of their costs are payroll related......Check the numbers yourself..(Their financials are at the back)

http://auditor.mo.gov/press/2009-113.pdf

They have the funds for more enforcement, but they choose to spend it on other things.

I cant agree more

You beat me to the punch

[bigredbirdfan]

I wouldnt be willing to spend more for more enforcement....MDC has a $171 Million Dollar Budget...$103 Million of that is from the 1/8th cent sales tax...and permits only account for $31M...Most of their costs are payroll related......Check the numbers yourself..(Their financials are at the back)

http://auditor.mo.gov/press/2009-113.pdf

They have the funds for more enforcement, but they choose to spend it on other things.

I have been beating this drum for some time. Completely a shame more funds arent spent on enforcement.

[Gavin]

http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/17006.pdf

Looks like the Protection Division only gets $14.1M a year (8.61% of total expenditures).......see page 7.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I'm not convinced that the MDC could afford enough agents to make a big difference. While they might do some good in areas where hunters and fishermen are concentrated, that's a very small area.

[eric1978]

I think the emphasis on enforcement is overblown. Most people will follow the regulations even if they don't like them simply because it's the law. We all know some people are going to break the law, whether it's enforced or not...would more agents roaming around be a deterrent to those people? Of course. But I think the majority of poaching is being done by people that are simply UNAWARE of the regulations, not by those who are intentionally ignoring them and breaking the law.

[ozark trout fisher]

I think the emphasis on enforcement is overblown. Most people will follow the regulations even if they don't like them simply because it's the law. We all know some people are going to break the law, whether it's enforced or not...would more agents roaming around be a deterrent to those people? Of course. But I think the majority of poaching is being done by people that are simply UNAWARE of the regulations, not by those who are intentionally ignoring them and breaking the law.

I agree that the majority, maybe even the vast majority of people follow regs just because they are in place. But I have had encounters with a fair share of folks that are clearly poaching, and looking over their shoulder all the time. It seems clear they know what their doing in those cases. Thats where enforcement comes in. If their using bait, and effective fisherman, they can take a huge toll on the fishery. I do think enforcement is important, and I would support more money spent on it. I do see your point though.

[eric1978]

I agree that the majority, maybe even the vast majority of people follow regs just because they are in place. But I have had encounters with a fair share of folks that are clearly poaching, and looking over their shoulder all the time. It seems clear they know what their doing in those cases. Thats where enforcement comes in. If their using bait, and effective fisherman, they can take a huge toll on the fishery. I do think enforcement is important, and I would support more money spent on it. I do see your point though.

Yes, there are ALWAYS going to be some bad apples...no getting around that. And guess what? I don't care how many agents are hired by MDC, they're never gonna catch every poacher.

You know what the consequences for a DWI are? They're pretty steep, but people drink and drive ALL THE TIME. They roll the dice and hope for the best. And they know they got a pretty good chance of getting away with it as long as they don't run into someone, because there just aren't enough cops to watch every road at all times.

You gotta set the laws based on what is right and wrong, not based on how many tickets will be written.