Would you pay more?

[TLRanger]

This is a question for all of the people that want "Just make it a deer season, no archery, muzzleloader, and modern gun segments". Currently, the annual hunting license is $28, and each of the three "special" seasons are also $28 each for a total of $112. Or would you rather have a $28 annual license and a $84 dollar big game tag? How would the TWRA make up for the revenue loss unless they went up on the license fees?

 

[BSK]

Yes, I would be willing to pay more for deer permits if the TWRA went to an "any weapons" deer season.

 

[JeepKuntry]

No. But personally I think the sportsman's license that I purchase each year is high. I've actually thought about canning some things to lower the cost. I'm not hunting as often as I use to.

 

[Shed Hunter]

Paying more would only make sense. If you want to hunt the whole season now, you have to pay for it. There's no reason you shouldn't have to if you want to be able to hunt the whole thing with a rifle as compared to with three different weapons.

 

[deerhunter10]

Uh yeah I guess. Like I said I'm not in favor for it. But I'm telling you for some like.me that is a trophy hunter it would help me to have a rifle or ml the first week of season. We see some of our biggest deer on the farm that first week.

 

[Football Hunter]

Yes, I would be willing to pay more for deer permits if the TWRA went to an "any weapons" deer season.

Would you be out on your place with a gun in sept/oct ,with what your cams have told you from over the years?Just wondering,not argumentitvie.

 

[Quailman]

No, I would not want to pay more than current prices. I feel they are high enough already.

I would also not want to see an "any weapon deer season" starting in September. I don't understand the need by some to constantly want change to the current regulations. If it's to "simplify" the regs, I don't know how they can be much simpler. IMO, if you cannot understand the current regs and need them to be simplified, you should probably take up golf. It's simple to understand - just hit the ball in the hole.

 

[timberjack86]

Yes, I would be willing to pay more for deer permits if the TWRA went to an "any weapons" deer season.

^^^^This! I would gladly pay more.

 

[BSK]

Yes, I would be willing to pay more for deer permits if the TWRA went to an "any weapons" deer season.

Would you be out on your place with a gun in sept/oct ,with what your cams have told you from over the years?Just wondering,not argumentitvie.

I would probably hit the woods with a firearm in mid-October. That's when activity really starts to pick up. Although peak activity is USUALLY not until the last week of October and first week of November. And I'm basically done by the end of November. Everything is post-rut after that.

 

[Mike D]

Not a fan of an " All Weapons " season. I Bow hunt and only pay $56.00 state fees. BTW that $28.00 includes fishing as well. It is a combo.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

It is amazing to me that people think license fees are high. A family of four to the movies with popcorn and drinks easily cost 60 bucks and that is just for 2 hours!

 

[Mike D]

Me too. Just adding some basic info I find that an average Gun hunter in TN who Gun hunts Turkey and Deer will spend .40 cents a day "while hunting' and that doesn't even add in the fact that the same hunter can fish ALL season for that same cost. I know it doesn't fit EVERY hunter but it is close. ONLY $56.00.

VERY cheap.

 

[BSK]

I would also not want to see an "any weapon deer season" starting in September. I don't understand the need by some to constantly want change to the current regulations.

For me personally, it isn't about "simplifying the regulations." It is about two things. First, ending all the bickering and quarreling over who gets to hunt when with which weapon--basically the current system of exclusion by weapon choice. Second, and this is a purely personal and selfish desire, to hunt the best 6-8 weeks of the year with my weapon of choice. I would be thrilled with a 6 week any weapons season lasting from mid-October through November. Now that wouldn't meet everybody's needs by a long shot. Depending on the part of the state someone is hunting, the "best 6-8 weeks" (best rut hunting) could fall anywhere from October through January.

 

[BMan]

Your question is a strawman.

Why would I pay more? I pay by the weapon I use, not by the season.

 

[Shed Hunter]

I don't understand the need by some to constantly want change to the current regulations.

For me personally, it isn't about "simplifying the regulations." It is about two things. First, ending all the bickering and quarreling over who gets to hunt when with which weapon--basically the current system of exclusion by weapon choice.

I agree with quailman. Unfortunately there is no way to end bickering and quarreling. Somebody is always going to complain because of exactly what you said BSK.. selfish reasons. I know you are smart enough to realize and admit why you want it the way you do, but some people don't realize that it is impossible to please all because of the simple fact that we all have different reasons of wanting different things.

In all honesty, to my benefit alone I would like to see TN have a one buck limit and be bow only the whole year. Why? I don't really care if I kill a buck. I would rather have more older bucks running around. Would I ever want those regulations though? No, I don't seek to have it my way because that isn't going to make for many happy hunters as a whole. Overall state regulations will never be able to make everyone happy.

 

[BSK]

All good points Master Chief.

Unquestionably, everybody wants what they want for their own benefit.

I'm just trying to find something that will provide the most hunters with maximum freedom-of-harvest without being exclusionary. Special weapons seasons, by definition, are exclusionary at a time in history where much of the state's (western two-thirds) deer population doesn't need much protection. We currently allow a huge number of hunters to kill 300+ does per year (3/day for 3 1/2 months, 8 weeks of that with firearms) in a big section of the state (Unit L) and the population is not being harmed. In this region, how much protection from excessive harvest is really needed? Obviously, little.

 

[Matador]

It is amazing to me that people think license fees are high. A family of four to the movies with popcorn and drinks easily cost 60 bucks and that is just for 2 hours!

That's the truth or try going to Red Lobster or a good steak house. I don't think license is high at all.

 

[deerhunter10]

our license is very cheap compared to other states. absolutely no reason to be complaining about that. I am going to Kansas this year and that license will be close to 450$ stop complaining about ours before they really do start giving you something to complain about.

 

[TN Whitetail Freak]

Honestly were talking about paying an organization money for an ancient past time that has been around since the B.C. era......yea i know if it wasnt for the TWRA our money benefits, the hunting period would probably be dismal......but last year hunting was dismal......also a $28 hunt fish combo explain this license? I dont fish! So i bought my hunt fish combo for $28 now what do i hunt with? Blow dart gun? Slingshot? Cause if i want to use bow gun or muzzleloader ding ding yep $28 more each....that i dont get maybe im tunnel minded at the moment

 

[scn]

The Type 01 HUnt/Fish license is a combo due to federal aid funding rules. Due to being able to accumulate federal aid for both hunting and fishing, it brings in X amount of dollars. If we separated the two licenses, they would have to sell for around $26-27 each to get to the same amount of money. Since surveys have shown that most people both hunt and fish, TWRA for the past 35+ years has combined the licenses as a benifit to our customers.

 

[stik]

also a $28 hunt fish combo explain this license? I dont fish! So i bought my hunt fish combo for $28 now what do i hunt with? Blow dart gun? Slingshot? Cause if i want to use bow gun or muzzleloader ding ding yep $28 more each

you can hunt small game with bow, gun or muzzleloader on that $28 license without any other permits/license.

 

[Deer Assassin]

life time here so yes i would love an any weapon season

i could sell my cross bow and ml

 

[BHC]

I'd be ok w MZ season opening a tad earlier, if archery opened a tad earlier... Open archery first sat in sept, and MZ the second or third sat in oct..

However on our place this would probably put a lot more pressure on deer prior to the best rut hunting Nov 15- Dec 15 depending...

As for prices they are good where they are I think..

 

[Hunter 257W]

This is a question for all of the people that want "Just make it a deer season, no archery, muzzleloader, and modern gun segments". Currently, the annual hunting license is $28, and each of the three "special" seasons are also $28 each for a total of $112. Or would you rather have a $28 annual license and a $84 dollar big game tag? How would the TWRA make up for the revenue loss unless they went up on the license fees?

I wish I COULD hunt as cheap as $112/yr. I grew up in TN and own 237 acres there including the farm I grew up on but still have to pay closer to $300/yr to hunt on it because I don't live there.

Annual All Game Type 073 (NonResident) = $251.00
Special Season Doe Permit Type 094 = $ 21.00
WMA Small Game Type 093 = $ 17.00

 

[mike243]

Id like to see it raised if that's what it takes to acquire more land to make into wma's, large tracks are going to be all gone 1 day & they aint making no more lol

 

[SALTMAN]

Quailman , I ain't getting into this dogfight , But. Golf ain't that easy ! Lol

 

[Quailman]

Quailman , I ain't getting into this dogfight , But. Golf ain't that easy ! Lol

Ha! Saltman, I'm definitely not saying golf is easy, but the concept is pretty simple to understand for most. Trust me, I've played before and it's not pretty!!

 

[darn2ten]

our license is very cheap compared to other states. absolutely no reason to be complaining about that. I am going to Kansas this year and that license will be close to 450$ stop complaining about ours before they really do start giving you something to complain about.

Maybe for non resident, but not residents. Tennessee has some of the highest resident license fees there is. Kentucky sportsman is $95, Georgia sportsman is $55, Mississippi is $32, and Alabama doesn't list a sportsman but a resident can deer and turkey hunt with all weapons for $25.55. I not complaining, and gladly pay every year to help support our resources. Usually I only bow and muzzleload on my own land and wouldn't even have to pay for those, but I do. I'm fine with the fees now, but certainly don't think they need to be higher.

 

[Mike Belt]

I have the lifetime license so no fee increase. There have been times I've been in a tree early on with a bow or muzzleloader in my hands with a deer out of range wishing I had a rifle instead. I love to rifle hunt especially during pre rut which some times happens before rifle season. As much as I love it I also realize that there are others that feel the same way about archery and muzzleloader season. For that reason I have to vote for no change in our seasons. Their bow seasons are as important to those hunters just as my rifle is to me. I also understand that if you want to bow hunt during rifle season you're free to do so. If I'm rifle hunting I don't mind archery hunters sharing the woods. I can't say that if I was bow hunting (during the traditional time frame) that I'd want a bunch of rifle hunters around. That may sound elitist and pro archery but that statement is coming from a hunter that carries a bow to the woods because it's the only season open at the time and he's itching for rifle to open. As much as deer hunting means to a lot of people I simply think each segment should have their time. Those time frames may be debatable.

 

[AT Hiker]

I would be willing to pay more if we got more, i.e. more public land access.

I think a any weapon season would be crazy, deer would be nocturnal by the end of Sept...but that opening day would be a hay day for sure!