Here is a good article from the trib on where all your fishing/hunting license money goes (for those of you who might not know the truth). Its a good, short read.
Link to SL Tribune article
I for one, did know that. I did not know that our officers are paid THAT poorly. [:(]
Great Info - that helps explain the hunting license change this year.
In case you haven’t heard - you now have to have a hunting license before you can apply for any special hunts – I think it’s a great change!!
Now could someone PLEASE tell me WHY there are so many vehicle’s at the Department of Natural Resources building (Home of the DWR) on West Temple? Everytime I go there you can’t find parking!!! Why aren’'t these people out in the field if the number of officer’s patrolling is so low? Maybe the question should be “How many people does it take to manage the manager’s of the DNR?”
Someone out there please “educate” me about this topic?
They (we) can’t afford the gas prices!
As with all business, if you want quality employees pay them the $$$. Unfortunately, DWR Biologists don’t make enough. Fortunately,
there are dedicated guys like BLFG that put up with the pay.
I for one would be happy to support a license increase as long as it went back to the Biologists, Wardens and habitat. The price for fishing and hunting licenses is dirt cheap. Take a family of 5 to the movies and see how much it costs.
I am probably in the minority, but I say raise fees and put the extra investment into our wildlife.
My perception is that the Hunting and Fishing license fees have been on the INCREASE for my entire 56 years in Utah. When we hear these Lifetime License holders gloat! AS THEY SHOULD-
(THEY SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL AND WERE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT IN THE FUTURE INCREASES)
In addition I would like to know what percentage of the application fees comes back to the State or Wildlife Agency, they have become a huge part of the cost of Participating in the Outdoor fun and don’t even count toward securing a License. Who gets the windfall from application fees?
DON’T LET ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY PLEAD POVERTY OR EXPRESS CONCERN FOR HOW YOUR MONEY IS USED- IT JUST AINT SO!!!
I think you are right DL, the money from our license should go to the Biologist & WL officers before it goes into the general fund. I’ve heard that as little as 5 percent of our license fees goes back to the DWR. Back in 92 when I bought my lifetime license it was something I could not afford so I borrowed the money. It took me a year to pay the money back but as you know it was money well spent. When they first offered the lifetime license in 84, a combo license was only $25 and that included a deer license. Eight years later in 92 the same license cost $35 and that did not include the deer tag. The writing was on the wall, it was hard not to buy the license, I only wish I could have come up with another $500 to buy one for my son. WH2
I think you need to read the original post again as it clearly states that **100% **of our license fees go back to the DWR and not into the general fund.
Ops my bad, thats what I get when I skip over part of the post and just read down. But that must be something new because it wasn’t like that a few years ago. WH2
A good read. Too bad the state doesn’t funnel a little more cash your way.
I see where I missed it, the link. We have had this conversation before and either we were misinformed about what amounts went where or it has really changed a lot. Anyway, that is good news for the wildlife folks, if it has changed but not so good if they are loosing the fight to get young people involved in the sport of hunting and fishing. I just read an article about this very thing in F&S, it said that nation wide number are down, 12 % decrease in anglers and 4 % decrease in hunters since 2001. WH2
Curt, maybe you were thinking of the tax collected from the license and sporting goods. I believe that they go into the state general fund. The taxs should also go back to the DWR in my oppinion.
AMEN BROTHER! ! !
Could not agree with you more.
Throw in there cops, fire fighters, teachers and a host of other public servants that care about what they do enough to put up with the low pay.
I’d pay twice the price of a license if it meant the DWR guys would get paid more decent salaries.
I’m not one of them BTW…just have a tremendous amount of respect for them.
You could be right Travis and I agree, it all should go to the DWR.
I agree with you! 
Well that’s a nice pretty story by mr glass. However, I have a hard time believing that it’s true. I don’t trust any state or goverment with money. Also, please note that utah in general is one of the lowest paid states. I’m pretty sure those state guys and gals make more $$ than I do, so I don’t feal sorry for them. Honestly, imadgine a job where you walk up and down fishing areas, fishing and pretending to be just another angler, then occasionally checking a tag. Getting paid, to fish!!! Where do I sign??? and what about all the fine money? $150 if a fish is 1/2 inch to small a strawberry. I know the state keeps that money. Sorry for venting, But I don’t buy it. I may have been born at night, but not last night!
Trout,
If it is so great, you can register for school, get your degree and
become one also
Unless you are working at McDonalds or something you are probrably making more than most State employees. Did youknow that a POST certified officer (UHP and others) for the first year or two, with two children qualifies for food stamps for those kids? Yes those guys out protecting you with their lives are deffinately overpaid. Same for Corrections and wildlife. The wildlife guys have lots of extra school behind them also (probrably with student loans).
I think the voices inside my head have now overpowered yours. You sir, should not let voices talk when you type. You give a bad name to the rest of us idiots.
IFG