Prices going up?

[marty d]

SCN was assistant chief of law enforcement at TWRA, or I believe that is what was under his name on here. We talked a lot. I remember telling him that there were several things wrong with the TWRA and they should be taken to court, I was positive the TWRA would lose, SCN was positive the TWRA would not lose. I believe I was right. I have talked to a few judges who have little respect or care for the TWRA.

I do believe the TWRA has become a crooked agency who has lost care about conservation and is becoming a leftist, liberal bunch of idiots.

In my reply that is why I stated I had a good idea where he was tied to by his ridiculous response. Usually when someone is afraid to post under their own name and blasts off like he did it tells me a lot of who they really are. Not everyone at the TWRA is a rogue, some are great guys and gals but what is going on at their top today is a spending problem not a money intake issue. We all know their income comes from license sales and instead of saying we want more sportsman in TN let's go up on our prices…. That fits no successful business model. "Ever" If anything it may drive some away. Bottom line TN costs are already as high as or the highest around here in the south and if TWRA SCN wants numbers I can post them. Just amazes me how he shoots his mouth off yet pulls nothing to back his side. Well I have them and will call him out when I get to the office. I may be new to this forum but I have been in this game a long time and have no issue calling wrong what it is…and yes I have an opinion but facts don't lie and to cover for bad behavior is wrong and one this Public Servant will not stand for.

 

[fairchaser]

It's naive to think prices aren't going to continue to go up in this broken money system of debt backed dollars. Complain all you want. Inflation is built into the system. If you are young enough, buy the lifetime license. I bought them for me and my grandsons or just keep paying more every few years.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

What I find most interesting is all of the states I hunt that do get general state funds… they listen to hunters more, have more hunter outreach, more hunt opportunity, etc etc. It's the opposite of what we have all been told to be afraid of. The fact is, a "rogue" politician can still get their way in TN on wildlife related matters, regardless of if TWRA is state funded or not.

 

[scn]

In my reply that is why I stated I had a good idea where he was tied to by his ridiculous response. Usually when someone is afraid to post under their own name and blasts off like he did it tells me a lot of who they really are. Not everyone at the TWRA is a rogue, some are great guys and gals but what is going on at their top today is a spending problem not a money intake issue. We all know their income comes from license sales and instead of saying we want more sportsman in TN let's go up on our prices…. That fits no successful business model. "Ever" If anything it may drive some away. Bottom line TN costs are already as high as or the highest around here in the south and if TWRA SCN wants numbers I can post them. Just amazes me how he shoots his mouth off yet pulls nothing to back his side. Well I have them and will call him out when I get to the office. I may be new to this forum but I have been in this game a long time and have no issue calling wrong what it is…and yes I have an opinion but facts don't lie and to cover for bad behavior is wrong and one this Public Servant will not stand for.

For the people that matter on here, they are well aware of my name. I've posted under my initials since 2003.

Before you waste your time comparing more apples to oranges, be aware that I served on at least three licensing committees where the number crunchers did very detailed cost analysis in comparing license costs. As stated, TWRA was never the cheapest, but was never the most expensive. The license increases over that thirty year period kept TWRA somewhere in the middle of the pack. I highly suspect the coming increase maintains that placement.

But, continue on with your clueless rants.

 

[marty d]

For the people that matter on here, they are well aware of my name. I've posted under my initials since 2003.

Before you waste your time comparing more apples to oranges, be aware that I served on at least three licensing committees where the number crunchers did very detailed cost analysis in comparing license costs. As stated, TWRA was never the cheapest, but was never the most expensive. The license increases over that thirty year period kept TWRA somewhere in the middle of the pack. I highly suspect the coming increase maintains that placement.

But, continue on with your clueless rants.

Sportsman Lic by state…..
Virginia $100.00
Georgia $65.00
Mississippi $48.49
Arkansas $35.50
Florida $80.50
North Carolina $63.00
South Carolina $50.00
Alabama $141.85
Tennessee $165.00

These prices reflect what each state's DNR posted as their prices this year.

I am sure if you cherry pick something here or there you can find a state with a fishing license or small game only a few dollars more or less but I chose a Sportsman because most people I know that do not have a lifetime license choose this this because it is the most cost effective.

 

[scn]

Sportsman Lic by state…..
Virginia $100.00
Georgia $65.00
Mississippi $48.49
Arkansas $35.50
Florida $80.50
North Carolina $63.00
South Carolina $50.00
Alabama $141.85
Tennessee $165.00

These prices reflect what each state's DNR posted as their prices this year.

I am sure if you cherry pick something here or there you can find one a few dollars less but I chose a Sportsman because most people I know that do not have a lifetime license choose this this because it is the most cost effective.

Awesome job on your simplistic work.

I look forward to your more detailed analysis on what the licenses actually cover in each state and what percentage of those agencies revenue come from license sales.

 

[marty d]

Awesome job on your simplistic work.

I look forward to your more detailed analysis on what the licenses actually cover in each state and what percentage of those agencies revenue come from license

I kept it simple for you…. Again Google is free I would expect someone of your self proclaimed stature to quickly show everyone how flawed my prices from each states DNR page is…. I mean most say the exact same thing and offer the same…. But you already know that but can't admit fault. Yet again another issue with where TWRA spends their money. Apparently they paid your salary and you have showed nothing to dispute my comments. You sir are part of the problem. I truly wish you the day you deserve.

 

[knightrider]

 

[DaveTN]

I hate to see anyone in LE defend what those agents did. And I may have defended them before I had all the facts, I don't remember. It may have been legal, but it wasn't right. I have no doubt that higher courts will overturn the ridiculous opinion that LE Officers need a warrant to patrol private property. But that is where we are for now in our state. I don't know how much time those Officers had on the job, but I'd expect more out of rookies. Maybe they had superiors driving what they did; I don't know.

But the bottom line is wildlife enforcement in the state of Tennessee is on hold for the time being because a couple of knuckleheads did something ignorant and some judges who were as ignorant as them decided to make an example of them. I hope those judges don't get a chance to tie the hands of all LEO's, we will really be hosed then.

As to the cost of licenses, below is a link to the TWRA salaries. They have a lot of Directors and Managers. Also, there are about 17 wealthy members on the board. Do they get a salary?

https://govsalaries.com/salaries/TN/tennessee-wildlife-resources-agency

 

[marty d]

I hate to see anyone in LE defend what those agents did. And I may have defended them before I had all the facts, I don't remember. It may have been legal, but it wasn't right. I have no doubt that higher courts will overturn the ridiculous opinion that LE Officers need a warrant to patrol private property. But that is where we are for now in our state. I don't know how much time those Officers had on the job, but I'd expect more out of rookies. Maybe they had superiors driving what they did; I don't know.

But the bottom line is wildlife enforcement in the state of Tennessee is on hold for the time being because a couple of knuckleheads did something ignorant and some judges who were as ignorant as them decided to make an example of them. I hope those judges don't get a chance to tie the hands of all LEO's, we will really be hosed then.

As to the cost of licenses, below is a link to the TWRA salaries. They have a lot of Directors and Managers. Also, there are about 17 wealthy members on the board. Do they get a salary?

https://govsalaries.com/salaries/TN/tennessee-wildlife-resources-agency

I agree 100%…. Like I have said…. Almost 30 years in this profession and I have witnessed a lot of wasteful spending and as a tax payer myself it isn't right. It seems so easy for some to spend other the people's money and then defend their wasteful use of it.

 

[scn]

I kept it simple for you…. Again Google is free I would expect someone of your self proclaimed stature to quickly show everyone how flawed my prices from each states DNR page is…. I mean most say the exact same thing and offer the same…. But you already know that but can't admit fault. Yet again another issue with where TWRA spends their money. Apparently they paid your salary and you have showed nothing to dispute my comments. You sir are part of the problem. I truly wish you the day you deserve.

Since you can't grasp the concept, I will try to dumb it down for you.

1. Unless you are someone with an obvious agenda, it doesn't take much understanding to realize that comparing agencies that get a high percentage of their budget revenue from license sales are likely going to be higher than the states that are getting a significant chunk from the state general fund. Most of the states that get the general fund money also have a state income tax. You may be one of the libtards that would OK with a state income tax, but I enjoy living in a state that doesn't have one.

2. Your simplistic list doesn't show a valid comparison. The TN Sportsman license covers every state cost that a hunter, fisherman, or trapper would have to pursue their activities anywhere in the state with the exception of a couple of federal areas. It also covers all fees to put in for any quota hunt in the state, and at one time included a subscription to the agency magazine.

In some of the states you listed, unless it has changed drastically in recent years, their "Sportsman License " only covers the basic licenses. If you hunt on WMAs there are additional permits to do buy. They also don't cover other areas that the TWRA license covers. So, your list is comparing apples to oranges.

And, with that, I will take the spot on advice about not feeling the trolls and add you to the idiot bin list.

 

[Apostolic Outdoors]

I am from Georgia. We moved to Tennessee in 2019. Before leaving Georgia I purchased a lifetime license. Upon being in Tennessee the required amount of time I purchased a lifetime license here also. I would recommend that to anyone. There is no comparison, as in ZERO, 0, nada, there is absolutely no comparison of the opportunities available to hunt and/or fish in Tennessee compared to the opportunities in Georgia. There is no comparison! Period. I totally understand why Georgia's license is so much cheaper than Tennessee's. We have been here in Tennessee going on 6 years. In those 6 years I have gone back to Georgia to hunt a total of 3 times. Those were all 3 turkey hunts. While I am glad I was able to purchase the Georgia lifetime license, it was a by far inferior investment if I look at what I would have paid to hunt those 3 times.

Sure, there are things I wish were different here in Tennessee, but I am blessed to be within driving distance of more public land here than I even knew existed in Georgia. The closest public land to me in Georgia was 2 hours away. I have more huntable land within 10 minutes of my house than I'll ever hunt. What a bargain!!

One thing I like about the Tennessee lifetime license is the funds go in an interest bearing trust, which means I invested in the outdoors in Tennessee beyond my life.

"The lifetime sportsman endowment fund is an irrevocable trust for the exclusive benefit of lifetime sportsman license holders, as prescribed in a trust instrument approved by the trustees, to be administered by the state treasurer. The attorney general and reporter shall approve the terms of the trust instrument."

I said all that to say this, on my lifetime license certificate I had the following printed;
"God loved me enough to call me to Tennessee!"
I still feel that way!!

 

[marty d]

Since you can't grasp the concept, I will try to dumb it down for you.

1. Unless you are someone with an obvious agenda, it doesn't take much understanding to realize that comparing agencies that get a high percentage of their budget revenue from license sales are likely going to be higher than the states that are getting a significant chunk from the state general fund. Most of the states that get the general fund money also have a state income tax. You may be one of the libtards that would OK with a state income tax, but I enjoy living in a state that doesn't have one.

2. Your simplistic list doesn't show a valid comparison. The TN Sportsman license covers every state cost that a hunter, fisherman, or trapper would have to pursue their activities anywhere in the state with the exception of a couple of federal areas. It also covers all fees to put in for any quota hunt in the state, and at one time included a subscription to the agency magazine.

In some of the states you listed, unless it has changed drastically in recent years, their "Sportsman License " only covers the basic licenses. If you hunt on WMAs there are additional permits to do buy. They also don't cover other areas that the TWRA license covers. So, your list is comparing apples to oranges.

And, with that, I will take the spot on advice about not feeling the trolls and add you to the idiot bin list.

In reverse order…. Yes, some of those states don't cover everything that Tennessee offers but when you price is almost 1/3 cheaper that small added purchase still falls nearly half that of our Great State…. I am not that obtuse.. I looked at that and I am well aware of what a Sportsman License offers, and also because I knew at some point the drunks and ignorant would surface and attempt to dispute the facts.
Secondly, my only agenda is showing those that either do not know or have listened to the likes of someone such as yourself and been misled by those attempting to fleece the resident sportsman of Tennessees into funding bloated salaries, wasted expense, and a publication that few ever look at…. I am well aware of where the TWRA's revenue comes from…. Sadly I see less and less of it going back toward those who fund it. I am not the only one that feels this way and the more you rant and attempt to dispute some of the things you have you don more to prove my point then I do…. So without one piece of evidence or factual numbers by yourself, " you know, the guy that set on all the important commissions for TWRA" one would think it would be so easy to post comparisons that could not be disputed….
I realize things go up.. everything has in the last few years.. we all know that. Groceries, gas, etc…. But we have some choices in that matter. Sometimes it is for convenance, sometimes for necessity, or the product you want. In this case other states are cheaper, some of them offer way more than Tennessee does in comparison… and my point is that it should not be this way. It doesn't have to be. Spend the money correctly and you will not hear me gripe….

 

[knightrider]

Well, stop paying ridiculous prices and hunt every where but Tennessee

 

[TNGunsmoke]

I think if TN license costs went up 2% annually, instead of 20+% every 10 years, there would be less controversy than what this causes every time they feel they need to increase them. It all comes out in the wash at the end of the day. My main problems with TWRA are not with the agency itself, but with the Commission that governs it. The Commission is where the real politics are involved. There are bound to be a few problem people here and there, and a few positions that may not be entirely necessary, but those are common threads in any organization that size, anywhere.

 

[CATCHDAWG]

In reverse order…. Yes, some of those states don't cover everything that Tennessee offers but when you price is almost 1/3 cheaper that small added purchase still falls nearly half that of our Great State…. I am not that obtuse.. I looked at that and I am well aware of what a Sportsman License offers, and also because I knew at some point the drunks and ignorant would surface and attempt to dispute the facts.
Secondly, my only agenda is showing those that either do not know or have listened to the likes of someone such as yourself and been misled by those attempting to fleece the resident sportsman of Tennessees into funding bloated salaries, wasted expense, and a publication that few ever look at…. I am well aware of where the TWRA's revenue comes from…. Sadly I see less and less of it going back toward those who fund it. I am not the only one that feels this way and the more you rant and attempt to dispute some of the things you have you don more to prove my point then I do…. So without one piece of evidence or factual numbers by yourself, " you know, the guy that set on all the important commissions for TWRA" one would think it would be so easy to post comparisons that could not be disputed….
I realize things go up.. everything has in the last few years.. we all know that. Groceries, gas, etc…. But we have some choices in that matter. Sometimes it is for convenance, sometimes for necessity, or the product you want. In this case other states are cheaper, some of them offer way more than Tennessee does in comparison… and my point is that it should not be this way. It doesn't have to be. Spend the money correctly and you will not hear me gripe….

That was a lot of typing for nothing, he can no longer see your posts. Lol

 

[marty d]

I am from Georgia. We moved to Tennessee in 2019. Before leaving Georgia I purchased a lifetime license. Upon being in Tennessee the required amount of time I purchased a lifetime license here also. I would recommend that to anyone. There is no comparison, as in ZERO, 0, nada, there is absolutely no comparison of the opportunities available to hunt and/or fish in Tennessee compared to the opportunities in Georgia. There is no comparison! Period. I totally understand why Georgia's license is so much cheaper than Tennessee's. We have been here in Tennessee going on 6 years. In those 6 years I have gone back to Georgia to hunt a total of 3 times. Those were all 3 turkey hunts. While I am glad I was able to purchase the Georgia lifetime license, it was a by far inferior investment if I look at what I would have paid to hunt those 3 times.

Sure, there are things I wish were different here in Tennessee, but I am blessed to be within driving distance of more public land here than I even knew existed in Georgia. The closest public land to me in Georgia was 2 hours away. I have more huntable land within 10 minutes of my house than I'll ever hunt. What a bargain!!

One thing I like about the Tennessee lifetime license is the funds go in an interest bearing trust, which means I invested in the outdoors in Tennessee beyond my life.

"The lifetime sportsman endowment fund is an irrevocable trust for the exclusive benefit of lifetime sportsman license holders, as prescribed in a trust instrument approved by the trustees, to be administered by the state treasurer. The attorney general and reporter shall approve the terms of the trust instrument."

I said all that to say this, on my lifetime license certificate I had the following printed;
"God loved me enough to call me to Tennessee!"
I still feel that way!!

I am from Georgia. We moved to Tennessee in 2019. Before leaving Georgia I purchased a lifetime license. Upon being in Tennessee the required amount of time I purchased a lifetime license here also. I would recommend that to anyone. There is no comparison, as in ZERO, 0, nada, there is absolutely no comparison of the opportunities available to hunt and/or fish in Tennessee compared to the opportunities in Georgia. There is no comparison! Period. I totally understand why Georgia's license is so much cheaper than Tennessee's. We have been here in Tennessee going on 6 years. In those 6 years I have gone back to Georgia to hunt a total of 3 times. Those were all 3 turkey hunts. While I am glad I was able to purchase the Georgia lifetime license, it was a by far inferior investment if I look at what I

That was a lot of typing for nothing, he can no longer see your posts. Lol

Truthfully, with people like him, it doesn't matter whether he can see the post or not. The numbers are what they are. He wants to dispute it, but produces absolutely nothing to do so.

 

[fairchaser]

To put it in perspective, a sportsman's license cost less than a months utility bill. It's a fraction of what you'll spend on gas and food to hunt this season. It cost about the same as a quality cell camera. With it you get to hunt hundreds of thousands of acres of public land for dozens of species of game and fish. Technically you could supply the entire protein food budget for your family. What a huge bargain.

 

[knightrider]

At 50 cents a day, its a hell of a deal to me for as much enjoyment as i get!

 

[marty d]

At 50 cents a day, its a hell of a deal to me for as much enjoyment as i get!

I agree with you and fairchaser when it comes to what we are currently paying and what it allows. My complaint falls more on the fact that when you are already the most expensive state in the southeast and then feel the need to charge more because of a lack of funds in a time where some may be pinching pennies as well how about cut your own budget and wasteful spending. I realize some disagree with me on this but having worked in TN in a LE roll since 95 I assure you wasteful government spending is a rampant issue…. Not always the intake there of.