Pennsylvania keeps slowly killing me here.

[Davemuzz]

It was bad enough when my oldest child (son) had to move to Michigan to get a job when he graduated from Penn State because the Harrisburg "let's give ourselves a raise and then let's take voucher-less expense accounts on top of that" bunch can't do anything to structure a decent tax system that will allow business to even consider looking at coming to Pennsylvania.

Then, my second child (daughter) graduated college (Ohio University) and moved to Ohio to get a decent paying job.

So, my son want's to come back and do some spring '07 turkey hunting with Dad. Now, I glanced at the license cost a few months ago and figured the 7 day non-resident would work ($31). But I just read the details of this and I find out that turkeys are not considered "small game". So, for him to come home and hunt with me for maybe 3 days, he has to buy the non-resident license at a cost of $101.

I can certanily understand that license fees need to be a certain amount to prevent non-residents from paying $25 to come into Pa and pop a bird. But I just think $101 is a bit high just to hunt a bird.

Oh well, as long as the Harrisburgh bunch keeps getting paid....and the Game Commission keeps raising license fees.....young people will keep leaving the state. So, we won't have to be concerned about bringing in young people as future hunters. They won't be around anyway.

Dave

[BIG JAKE]

If you think its high check out what other states charge and if its cheaper in Ohio go there. Besides time spent with family is priceless.

[Davemuzz]

Big Jake,

I hear ya there. I'm going to spring the $101 for his license for sure, and just for the reasons you stated.

But it just felt good to blow off a little steam on this forum. Every election period I hear from the politicians about what they have done for us, but I know it's just a crock, and an empty crock at that.

It just toast my cookies that my kids had to move out of state to get good paying jobs with good benifits.

Ok, I feel better now!

Dave.

[K.K]

I know what you guys mean.  I am coming to Pa (from New York) for my annual hunt at my in-laws. Despite no doe tag and antler restriction, I am still going. The prices keep climbing, and I only have a few days to hunt, but I bit the bullet and laid out the cash.  I cherish the time hunting with my in-laws and some day my young son will join us.  I guess that you cannot put a price on that. 

[knight0334]

Its been awhile since PA raised the non-resident license costs.  I was 60 some-odd dollars or so.

I used to gripe at it too, but after buying a non-resident license in a couple other states I soon learn it wasn't so bad.  I made PA my legal residence in 2000 after having worked on the road for 8 years.  Probably 75% of that 8 years was in PA.

I for the $60 +/- years ago, I used to justify it this way.    (1) deer generally equal to 40-80lb of meat, then I compared that to the cost of beef in the supermarket 1lb = $2.39+ for cheap fatty ground beef.      In most places in PA, you're almost guaranteed a deer.   Plus all the meat you can get from other game too.  Even with the fee being $101, you're ahead if you get a bigger deer.  Close to $2 a pound on an average 50lb meat.

$101 isn't so bad really if you look at it that way.  Plus the time you get to spend with family and friends is well worth it.

[atitagain]

There  are certainly alot of good points being brought up here.
Prices will keep going up.
Time with family will always be priceless.
I lived in Mi. for many years, and for me to go back and hunt with my son and friends, it's over $125.oo.
I go to Mo. to hunt with family, it's over $100.oo.
I have found that it's fun to call deer and turkey in for them. If we see alot of game, I can always go get a tag and start hunting.
Just a thought>

[Big Kahuna]

Davemuzz...   I feel your pain....   I've have gone out of state to hunt and have been hammered by the prices, but I've always figured it was a trip that I wanted.  BUT I have also considered the idea that since your son had been born in this state and his birth certificate is from PA, then he should be able to get a discount.  Maybe half of what we charge to those who do not live here currently.   I've always figured that you should be able to come home to the place where you were born and be recognized and appreciated.
Heck if your son hit Powerball, and decided to come home, Ed Rendell would probably go through his pockets... I mean welcome him with open arms.....

[SLAVAGE]

yeah i see how spending 101 for a lic is up ther in cost ...just to turkey hunt..but you have to look at it the other way..its not ther fault he just wants to turkey hunt.. if the amount is too much well spend more time hunting small game an deer..to get your 101 dollars out of the lic..

[Davemuzz]

Slavage,

Yeah, I hear ya...but that's eaiser said than done. Time is a precious comodity and he only has so much to spread around.

[The Gamemaster]

That's what you get for going out of state to get a good paying job.

Now he is making the big bucks and don't want to spend it.

One alternative is to own a vehicle in Pennsylvania and keep his PA drivers license.

Put some of your household bills in his name and even the house if you want to.

Most license agents only require proof or residence if they suspect that you do not live there anymore.

Wal Mart will sell a license to anyone with the $20!

A previous years license is proof enough to buy a residence hunting license.

If they ask for a drivers license - tell them that you lost it for speeding tickets.

There is no law in Pennsylvania that you HAVE to have a drivers license.

[Davemuzz]

That's what you get for going out of state to get a good paying job.

Now he is making the big bucks and don't want to spend it.

On your first comment......it was either move out of state to "get" a good paying job, or stay here in Pa. and not "get" a good paying job. Why? Because their isn't a sufficient amount of business entities in Pa. to get hired at. Why? Because the tax structure for business in Pa. sucks. So, he either moves to a market where he can be compensated for his education, or work at Mcdonalds. Hmmmm....options, options, options.

On your second comment.....when you invest $80,000 plus in an education, do you not expect to make an income higher than someone who has not? And because you make a bigger dollar, do you somehow think that $100 means less.....like it's worth is viewed as $.25?

Dave

[The Gamemaster]

You are preaching to the choir here Dave.

I live in Pennsylvania and I do not make a decent living because of what you just said and i have 2 years  at the Indiana University of PA and also 1 year of Vocational - Technicial school.

If I move, I can make more money.  Then when you make more money - your house costs more and your car costs more and your food costs more and your taxes dont get any cheaper and you have to pay $101 a year for a hunting license to come back here to hunt for a couple of days.

In the end on paper it looks like you made more money when in fact all you did was spend more money to make more money.

[Davemuzz]

Well, that may be your case, but my kids are managing to fund their 401K's, plus add to their after tax savings, pay for their new cars and have a decent standard of living. They work hard and don't jet off to Cancun twice a month, but they couldn't find jobs that compensate like that here in Pa.  So, it's not a lets move over there and be in the same financial position "net-net" that we would be here. That would just be foolish.

However, as I stated in my initial "complaint" Pennsylvania is slowly killing me. Politicans keep getting fatter from taxpayer dollars (aka PHEEA "conferences" spending by board members). Rendell is apparently going to propose a smaller state legislature since Pennsylvania has the largest per-capita of any State in the Union. Yeah.....good luck with that one Eddie.  Fat greedy pigs will live in their own snot before they do what is right.

Dave.

[Redhawk1]

Non- resident hunting license cast a lot every where, I hunt in Delaware where I am a resident, I also buy a non resident West Virginia licenses for my land in West Virginia and I hunt in Maryland and Maine and pay non resident fee's. That just the price we as hunters have to pay to play. It is not the cost of licensees the is turning away youngsters from hunting, it is a lack of interest. My youngsters are looking for something quick and fun, and to a lot of them sitting in the woods is not fun and exciting.

Also, the cost of land and hunting education is not cheap and they don't make any more land so what we have is what we have. The money for licensees is a small price to pay for land for hunting and a place where animals can live.