Good News for Arizona!!

[danr55]

The President has signed the Bill!!!!

(Pulled from the AZOD chat)

Dubya signed Reid's bill last night and the states can all go back to determining how to manage game animals. The bill specifically defines the commerce clause from the USO suit as NOT applying to wildlife and the congress has total authority in defining the commerce clause. Great day for the hunting community and bad day in Black Rock for Taulman and his ilk.

 

[AZ402]

It'll be at least next year before AZ has a non-res cap again. None the less it was nice to see this bill get passed...........

 

[FLIPPER]

Will/does this mean that AZ will do the right thing next year?


You know.....stop raping the nonresident pocket books!

 

[ringer]

If you are a horn hunter who wants to harvest trophy elk or deer it is going to hurt next year. I am hearing the NR trophy elk tags will be around 3 grand sooner than later. If you want to hunt the other 90% of the units that have good animals and a chance for a trophy it will still be reasonable. Good luck in the draw.

 

[ELKCHSR]

Thanks Dan, it is good when this type of legislation gets thru...

I don't see any thing though about how "EVIL" Dubia is and all the ills that will come from this piece of legislation...

Of course there will be no cudo's when there are good things, only the bad...

 

[AZ402]

Flipper take a look around at the other western states non-res prices. AZ is lower or right at the others, quit whinning.......

 

[FLIPPER]

I never said they were higher than other states...will they give nonresidents a before Taulman price or will it remain at the after Taulman price.

No whining here...it is a shame I can buy a canned hunt cheaper than a do-it-yourself hunt I never thought that would be possible

 

[AZ402]

The prices were going to be going up anyway. They set a price ceiling that has to be passed by AZ legislatures (I believe most states went up this year). This past price cap is at the end of it's term this season. You can hunt elk is AZ as a non-resident for 518.50. That's not to shabby considering we can grow them as big as the farm boys do................

 

[FLIPPER]

I agree that price isn't that bad, especially for elk in AZ.

But, when you add a now mandatory purchase of a AZ hunting license just to draw, the cost of travel, food, etc....it is alot more that the year before Taulman.

Just 2 years ago I fronted the money for the draw for MEATHEAD, Moosie and myself cheaper than it would cost me alone now if I were lucky enough to draw.

 

[AZ402]

Here ya go Flipper


The Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking the Arizona Legislature to approve new price caps for fishing and hunting licenses, stamps and hunt permit-tag fees.

Department revenues must increase because in recent years, income has declined while expenses have risen. Like a business, the department cannot maintain its current level of service while running a deficit.

The department receives no General Fund revenues. Licenses, stamps and tag fees are a significant source of our revenue and are the foundation of a formula used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine Arizona’s share of federal sport fish and wildlife funds for wildlife management.

The cost of a hunting or fishing license will not automatically increase if fee caps are raised. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will still be required to hold public meetings and follow the rulemaking process in order to increase fees.

Update: May 20, 2005
Governor Janet Napolitano signed Senate Bill 1365.

Update: May 17, 2005
An overlooked consequence of the license fee increase bill will require new lifetime hunting and fishing license fees to go into effect immediately upon the signature of the Governor, or when the bill is filed into law.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is prepared to implement these new fees upon the Governor’s signature. It is likely that the Governor will sign the bill before Wednesday, May 25. If the bill is not signed or vetoed by the Governor by May 25, the bill will be filed into law and the fees will become effective on that date.

Because the fee increase bill will cause a net increase in state revenues it is mandated by the state constitution to become effective immediately on the signature of the Governor. The lifetime license fees are defined in statute (ARS 17-335.01) and are not set through rulemaking.

The statute requires the Commission to offer lifetime licenses at fees calculated based on a formula using the maximum fee prescribed for the respective annual license. Thus, lifetime license fees will increase based on the new fee caps.

License Age 0-13 Age 14-29 Age 30-44 Age 45-61 Age 62 +
Resident lifetime class A, general fishing New $425 $450 $400 $375 $200
Old $272 $288 $256 $240 $128
Resident lifetime class G, general hunting New $595 $630 $560 $525 $280
Old $399.50 $423 $376 $352.50 $188
Resident lifetime class F, combination general hunting and fishing New $1,020 $1,080 $960 $900 $480
Old $714 $756 $672 $630 $336
Resident lifetime trout stamp New $255 $270 $240 $225 $120
Old $178.50 $189 $168 $157.50 $84
Lifetime wildlife benefactor n/a $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000



Update: May 13, 2005
The Arizona Senate yesterday approved the final version of Senate Bill 1365 by a vote of 20-8. The hunting and fishing fee cap bill has been forwarded to Gov. Janet Napolitano for her consideration.


Update: May 12, 2005
The Arizona House of Representatives voted yesterday to approve Senate Bill 1365 by a vote of 42-12. The hunting and fishing fee cap bill will now be sent to the Arizona Senate for a final vote that will approve minor language differences between the House and Senate versions. If the Senate approves the bill, it will be forwarded to Gov. Janet Napolitano for her consideration.


Update: March 30, 2005
The Arizona House Committee on Counties, Municipalities and Military Affairs voted 10-0-1 yesterday to approve Senate Bill 1365. The hunting and fishing fee cap bill will next be considered by the Committee of the Whole of the Arizona House of Representatives.


Update: March 10, 2005
The Arizona Senate voted 20-9 today to approve Senate Bill 1365. The hunting and fishing fee cap bill will now be considered by the House of Representatives.

Update: March 7, 2005
Hunting and fishing fee cap bill moving through the Senate
Senate Bill 1365 (Cannell), a bill that would allow the department to raise certain license and tag fees over time up to a revised cap, is scheduled to be voted on by the full state Senate on March 10. If passed, the bill would move on to the House. Department revenues must increase because in recent years, income has declined while expenses have risen. Like a business, the department cannot maintain its current level of service while running a deficit. However, the cost of a hunting or fishing license will not automatically increase if fee caps are raised. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will still be required to hold public meetings and follow the rulemaking process in order to increase fees. The bill is supported by more than 20 sportsmen's groups.

Update: Feb. 9, 2005
Senate Bill 1365 received unanimous approval today by the Arizona Senate Natural Resources and Rural Affairs Committee. The bill will next be assigned to the Arizona Senate Rules Committee for technical verification.

Update: Feb. 8, 2005
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission on Feb. 7 decided to recommend a provision be added to Senate Bill 1365 that license fees cannot be increased by more than 50 percent of the proposed fee cap during the first year of implementation.

Update: Feb. 3, 2005
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission on Feb. 3 voted to recommend the following amendments to Senate Bill 1365 relating to hunting and fishing fees.

- No more than five percent of all deer and elk tags may be priced at the premium level and no less than 95 percent of all deer and elk tags may be priced at the regular level.

Proposed Statutory Maximum
Regular Hunt Premium Hunt
Deer Res $50 $150
Nonres $325 $1200
Elk Res $150 $350
Nonres $775 $3200


- The disparity between resident and nonresident guide fees is abolished.
- The taxidermist fee cap is increased from $65 to $250.

 

[cjcj]

Glad to see Bush signed this bill......every state should control its own wildlife.

 

[BuzzH]

Stan, not trying to raise your hackles...but 3200 for a premium elk tag?

I dont give a shit what kind of bulls AZ has, thats ridiculous. There is not a NR state license anywhere that is even 1/3 of that amount. Nevada is what $1000ish (even thats ridiculous)?

I'm all for increasing fees, but I think AZ is flat slamming it to the NR's.

I guess I have no choice but to contact all the local WY sportsmens organizations as well as the WYGF and ask for immediate reciprocal fees for all AZ residents who apply in Wyoming. I think AZ residents should have to pay $3200 for elk tags here. I'd also strongly urge all other residents of ID, NV, MT, CO, etc. to do the same thing...ask for reciprocal fees ONLY FOR AZ RESIDENTS.

I think price gouging should be a two-way street.

 

[noharleyyet]

..........................

 

[ringer]

Buzz-If you are a wealthy horn hunter or a USO client then you will have to pay the three grand. It is very few units and I still think it will be early rifle only so archery will be the lower fee. The $775 will apply to most all of the non-resident tags and is still relatively reasonable especially after the other western states increases go through.

If you choose to take a bow then you should not have much to complain or boycott about. Besides, most of us won't hunt Wyoming since we don't like sleeping on our backs with an apple in our mouths to keep the resident homos away.

 

[Delw]

Buzz I agree with ya 3200 is outragious, however its a cap and thats it.

Its ashame that reids bill couldnt be passed on its own merit and had to be clumped into a bill that was guarenteed to be passed.( maybe it could have been passed on its own merit we will never know)
I dont like the way these polititions do these things.

 

[ringer]

Agreed that $3200 is a cap and it is a joke. I think USO must have asked for that cap so just their wealthiest clients could afford the tags. Really keeps average NR hunters out of the pool. Hell, had a buddy call and ask if I wanted to bowhunt Africa for $6500 for seven species! As far as the bill goes I doubt we could have ever passed it on it's own merits as 90% of the voters could care less about hunting.

 

[Delw]

Ringer
I wouldnt say the USO asked for that cap I will tell you that alot of az residents wanted fees raised extreamly high for non residents. USO doesnt scare me as much as the AZresidents do. I knw you have read azod you have seen some of the ludicrist proposals being made.

Delw

 

[AZ402]

Buzz, your not raising my hackles. Like Delw said I think $3200 is crazy. I think $1200 for deer is crazy as well. Those are just the potential prices at the end of this next ten year proposal. The most elk tags can be next year I believe is $600, not to bad in my book.

As a resident I pay($44 for hunting/fishing license) $83 for elk, $70 for pronghorn $24.50 for deer $200 for bighorn and $755 if I ever get a buffalo tag. I'd imagine that's a little more than WY,MT and ID residents pay for their tags. I have no problem with paying what I pay, I'll pay more if I have to down the road. It does suck however for those people who have a handful of kids they are trying to get involved in the sport. Applying 2,3,4 or more people for everything adds up in a hurry.

The guys on www.azod.com are some giagantic douche-bags for the most part. I'm not sure if they are as scary as Boy George but they are close........

 

[BuzzH]

AZ402,

Dont get me wrong, I think the MT, ID, WY residents get off cheap...too cheap if you ask me. If the WYGF needs additional funding I say raise Resident fees and leave NR fees alone.

Personally, I dont apply for the early rifle tags, but thats really not the point. The 3200 price tag on an early rifle tag will go to just who Taulman wants them to go to...high paying clients and the average guy can get whats left over.

More commercialization of wildlife and another prime example of those with the most money get to enjoy the best hunts, while the rest of the peasants can go pound sand.

What a joke.

 

[Delw]

Buzz.

Its still a price cap.

the price cap before this one was I think 600-800 for a nonres and 350 for a res. I might be way off but those numbers stick in my head,. and the tags wernt that high not even close
Ringer or az402 would know what it was.

The cap was raised to the comments from most azhunters wanting to out price nonresidents. this was kinda silly since the ways our law worked was if you raise non res caps you must raise res caps.
not only that it was really silly cause the dummies who voted it to get raised were to stupid to relize that they were helping the Rich hunters( if you want to call them that) get a tag easier. These were the people they were trying to keep out. Ie USO

but you cant tell people these things do to there ignorance.