TPWD officials have been wrestling with ways to incorporate the new stamp into the mix of existing fishing and hunting licenses while maintaining a �user pay, user benefit� philosophy of not charging customers for services they don�t utilize.

For information See this link... http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/news/news/040202a.phtml

Ranger R
Thanks for the heads up! I knew this was comming up but I did not know when. What I do not understand is if the freshwater stamp is going to replace the trout stamp and the muzzleloader stamp then why would there be an increase in the price of a license. To me this should reflect an actual decrease. I have not pulled out my regulations booklet to do a comparision but, I can see that the Super Combo will increase by five dollars. So all this refelcts is a back to back price hike in licenses. I sure wish I would have bought my lifetime licenses when they first came out now!

Maybe I'm dreamin' this...but didn't the legislature take the TPWD revenues out of it's former seperate account, and place it in with the general fund? In other words they found em a nice fat cash cow to milk on
so they can fatten up all the other boondoggle they create? Seems like I read they did, which would explain why we can expect an increase in license fees at least every 2 years forever. And along with that expect diminishing return for our buck. I am not blaming TPWD for this (if it is true that they did change as stated above). Any truth to what I'm throwing out here guys?

Ranger R

if the freshwater stamp is going to replace the trout stamp? then does that means that there then would be an increase in the price of a license of $5.00. that makes it $28.00 RIGHT?
JUST TO FISH EVEN THOUGH I DON'T FISH TROUT?
OR IS THE STAMP JUST A NAME CHANGE FROM TROUT TO FRESH WATER ?

I HOPE THEY DON'T TRY THIS ONE BECAUSE THAT COST MORE. CAUSE IF YOU BUY AS THE OLD ONE EXP THEN YOU ONLY PAY 28 FOR 365DAYS .THIS IDEA CHEATS YOU OUT OF $17.00
THAT WOULD BE LIKE BUYING THREE FOR EVERY TWO . THAT HURTS A LOT OF PEOPLE AND WILL STOP A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM BEING INTRESTED IN FISHING .
The agency is also considering for convenience sake a �year-to-date,� all water fishing license valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. Currently, all licenses expire each year on Aug. 31. The proposed cost of this license option would be $45 and available to Texas residents only.

I sent your question to:

Public Information: (800) 792-1112
General Media Contacts: Business Hours (512) 389-4406

Media Contact for This Release: Steve Lightfoot, (512) 389-4701,
E-Mail: steve.lightfoot@tpwd.state.tx.us

It's sad really, their have been numerous case studies that prove that since 1979 the Texas population has exploded, yet fishing license sales have dropped.
Which is why they have all the free programs now to increase the sports population.
What I don't understand is, who thinks making it more expensive will get more people interested?
They must be letting the guy that bottle necked HWY 71 at both ends make the call

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Outdoor Directory

Here is another opinion from a newspaper editor. http://caller.com/ccct/recreation_columnists/article/0,1641,CCCT_868_2631554,00.html

Rick Perry stated last year he would not raise taxes to cover the budget deficit. Call me a [censored] or whatever but the fees raised by the state (2.5 billion or so) feel just like tax increases to me because the money is still disappearing out of my wallet and going to the state. I don't think we should blame the Parks and wildlife folks just the same as blaming the Social Secuity dept. for the SS taxes being spent on the general budget. Taxes by any other name feel the same.

Just like the old chicken nugget commercial "parts is parts", well, taxes is taxes.....O*)))><

I brought this topic up a couple of months ago,and the general consensus was that everyone thought the fishing and hunting was so good in Texas that they were willing to pay twice the price just to be able to hunt, fish and be hasseled by pricks who can't find a real job.so suck it up and pay the price or attend a meeting and complain(which probably won't do any good).They say the stamp is only temporary,hold your breath until the stamp goes away,not happening.We are gonna have to stop it or stop fishing ----OUR CHOICE

I have no problem paying for a license, for fishing entertainment. One can spend that amount at a bar. My wife like me to go fishing versus ??? However it seems that the fishing licenses have been going up more, versus just a few dollars to five and ten dollars more per year...Just my $0.02!

Just don't like someone peeing on my leg and calling it rain.

It was my understanding that the state pulled a lot of its funding from TP&W. That is why they are having to raise license costs. If what is stated is true "By statute, revenue from the stamp can only be used for the purchase of game fish for stocking in public waters such as the state�s winter trout stocking program." then this money would not be able to be taken away from TP&W. I'm all for that. But how many times have we been told that money would be used for one thing and it was used for something else.

The other thing that I don't understand is that if you buy an all water license for $38.00 dollars at the beginning of September, why would the 365 day fishing license cost $45.00 dollars. I know that I buy a new license as soon as my old one expires which would last me 365 days. Why would anyone buy one for seven dollars more?

For someone like me who fishes freshwater, freshwater trout and saltwater the combined all water license makes sense. By the time that you buy the license and all stamps it comes out to be close to the same as the all water stamp. I just hope that the money generated by the new licenses are used for their intended purposes.

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Kbobbjr
Let's Rip some Lips!

As long as only the TPWD recieves the proceeds from the recent rate increase on licenses and from the proposed stamps, I personally could care less. I have no problem with the extra 10 bucks or so a year if it helps them do their job.

However... if all of that extra cash is going into a general fund, and TPWD is not recieving ALL of those funds, then I have a serious problem with it.

Yes Austin, we're paying attention. Do the right thing...