News from KDWPT

I'm no expert on federal aid, but I believe that you're right. We have a non-profit method to take donations and I don't think that there is any limit. The federal PR matrix that figures a state's drawdown is increased by additional license sales. That is why exemptions hurt us so much. We not only lose the license money, but also the federal match it would have generated. My proposal to eliminate exemptions and require licenses of folks using our public areas that are not already paying could make a significant increase in both our license fund and our federal drawdown. It's a matter of enough squeaky wheels leveraging legislators to make it happen.
 
I like the donation idea. I have always thought that Counties, towns (and their businesses) should work to have as much WIHA as possible. Pheasant Forever chapters should also be a source for organizing a campaign.
 
I'm all for donations. But I often thought that if all organization such as Pheasants Forever, Quail Unlimited, Ruffed Grouse Society and Ducks Unlimited should pull all resources together. As I see it, if these organizations United for a common cause/goal we can make a stand, but divided we will fall.

Bottomline, The USDA needs to cut wasteful spending on programs and grants that will produce little if any results. I’m not against useful research and development, but we have billions of taxpayer dollars going out of the UDSA each year that could be used for habit programs.
 
Troy, you keep saying cut out the exemptions. How fair is it to charge my dad for a hunting license at the age of 76? Just an example. He has brought 15 people into hunting, maybe 3 would of hunted without his mentoring which by my math means 12 less licenses sold per year from age of 16 to 65. That is 49 years of licenses per person times 12 people. 588 times $20 average per year, lost sales is $11,760. That is one real sportsmans impact, lets reward them for mentoring the kids of yestarday and tommorrow. By the way he even bought his hunting license while serving 2 tours in Korea. Just food for thought on exempting hunting licenses only not the others you metioned earlier. And dad still buys a combo license every year at the Iola WalMart just to do his part.
 
Turtle, that's an easy answer that I answered in an earlier post:

"EVERYONE should have a license. Why? Because the matrix is partly based on license sales(numbers and dollars)! Can we work the system and get to a similar place without losing participants? Yes. If we would sell a special license to folks at a reduced cost/extended period to these groups instead of making them exempt, they would be counted in the matrix and increase our draw down. Our new "youth" license is an example. A 16 year old can now buy a license for $37.50 that lasts until they turn 21. We could do the same for military personnel, landowners, people over 65........ "

It could be a one time license that lasted from 65 on, or from 65 to whatever. It wouldn't have to cost much, if anything, just insure that they had a license so that they are still counted in the matrix as a hunter. Without them being counted in this age where many of our active hunters are over 65, our matrix does not reflect what is actually being seen in the field and significant "Kansas" dollars may be going to other states.

On another note, I don't know anywhere in the State or national constitution where exemptions are "guaranteed" as a right. Exemptions are a politically generated vote getter that may have worked when 98% of the Kansas population lived outside the city, but is of questionable value today when 7-10% of the population hunt and support the continuation of our sport. Your father's own action of buying licenses after becoming exempt validates that he agrees with continuing his support of the sport that has given him so many beautiful memories and provided him the opportunity to mentor new members into the sport. This would just provide an avenue for him, and every other currently expempt group to continue benefitting the sport by being counted in the matrix. It may well be time to reconfigure our licensing system to better allow today's participants to be fully counted in the matrix.
 
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What about us that carry a lifetime hunting and fishing license, are we counted in the math? Guess this is a stupid question but thought about it last night after I posted. Should I be buying a license every year to get our numbers up for more money, or am I already counted? Just a thought that kept me up all night and still bothers me, am I being counted since I havent bought a license in 11 years?
Troy you are a wealth of knowledge and hope you have an answer. (Right or wrong maybe I can sleep tonite and not ponder if I am getting counted.)
What about these 16 to 21 licenses. You cant get a hunter safety card till 12 but can hunt till then in presents of licensed adult. How about a beginners $5 license for 0 to 16 each year. My Bubby would pay $5 a day to hunt. Never have figured out why 16 was a magic number. Bash if you want but my generation will pay to hunt before I leave this CRP here to the big hunt in the sky. Sad but true. I am game to pay my kids and my way to prolong the inevitival.
 
I don't think that anyone would want to eliminate the exemption for under 16. Yes, you are counted when you have a lifetime license. The 16-21 licenses would also go into the system for each year that it applies.
 
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