May is always one of the city’s busiest months. This when all of the 500 Festival activities and clear weather for outdoor fun consume our time: Pacers in the playoffs, and Indy Eleven professional soccer, high school and college track and baseball, and the Indians season is in full swing. Seems like there is something going on for everyone — on a daily basis! I want to congratulate our Indiana Pacers on reaching the second round of the NBA playoffs, although as of this writing, the Pacers lost to the Washington Wizards at home in the opening game of the series, 102-96. This seems to be par for the course with Indiana which as a team seems to tie one hand behind it’s back. By the time you read this, the issue could be settled.
Anyway the following is a letter I received from reader Dean Farr, who is an outdoors man and open air sportsman who also happens to be a disabled veteran. Since the theme of this week’s View special publication is hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities and the fact that Mr. Farr so eloquently presented his point of view in his letter, I am sharing it with you. Thanks to Dean Farr for his input and his interest in my column.
Commentary: Why Buy Hunting and Fishing Licenses?
As I write this, I think of the two guarantees in life: death and taxes. Sometimes I think we sportspersons liken our licenses to taxes when in reality they help pay for our outdoor adventures. I really think of these licenses as user fees for my benefit.
A few years ago, I remember having a discussion with Dick Mercier of Indiana Sportsmen’s Roundtable. The conversation went something like this. Dick commented that most hunters and fishermen just wanted to go the woods or lake and hunt or fish. They did not want to get involved, be bothered, and many felt that licenses were not necessary. The long and short of it, they did not like having to pay to hunt or fish. Unfortunately, the reality today is that there is “no free lunch” when it comes to hunting or fishing.
What do hunting and fishing licenses pay for? Many things from the acquisition and maintenance of wildlife management areas, to private lands programs, to fish hatcheries and stocking programs, to access points on lakes and streams. Over the years, game management has brought back and maintained game species so today we can enjoy our outdoor pursuits. Even private landowners benefit from many of these game management programs. So even if you are fortunate enough to hunt private lands, you too benefit.
Where does all this money come from? Our license fees alone are not enough. What really helps are the federal matching programs like Dingell/Johnson and Pittman/Robertson, which can provide up to a 3 to 1 match. Meaning for every license dollar we invest (pay), Uncle Sam matches with three federal tax dollars collected from manufacturers of sporting equipment. We pay it so we should take advantage and bring this money back home to invest in our hunting and fishing.
I am one of those disabled veterans that is entitled to a low cost fishing and small game license. I chose though to buy a comprehensive lifetime hunting and fishing license. (For the record I did this right after the last price increase while the program still existed.) To me, it’s a well paid investment which allows me to hunt and fish. I remind my fellow veterans we need to invest in hunting and fishing so that the next generation of veterans have the same opportunity we have today. I remind older seniors (born before April 1943) as well that to enjoy fishing with their grandkids; they need to invest by purchasing a voluntary “senior fishing license.” In 2010, that $3 voluntary senior license will bring $11 in federal apportionment to Indiana as an investment in ours and our children’s fishing programs.
Why did I buy hunting and fishing licenses? Two reasons: one for my personal benefit and enjoyment of the out of doors, second and more importantly an investment for my son and his generation. I hope to pass the hunting and fishing legacy on to the next generation as my father and grandfathers did for me.
Finally, I want to commend the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. They do a great job in managing our license fees. They use prudent financial practices to get the “most bang for the buck.” They are also very sensitive to market factors and the cost to us sportsmen. We need to support IDNR in their efforts.
Dean Farr
Indianapolis, IN