Okay, hunting season is pretty much “in the books”, so I guess it’s okay to discuss this. If our wives see it, they’ll forget about the costs outlined below before next hunting season…I hope. Here’s how it works:
In hunting, it’s ChaChing first. KaBoom second. Before you fire a shot or make a cast, to be a legal sportsman, you have to make sure you have the right license, permit and stamp. Recently I wrote about how complex regulations around hunting have become. Well, something else that has changed in hunting and fishing. It’s the complexity and costs of licenses. In that 1973-74 pamphlet we mentioned recently (type it in the search bar if you want to go back and see it…), all required licenses and costs were listed in about two inches of copy. Today it takes about two pages.
Then:
* Fishing license: $2 (anywhere, anytime, any species) 
* Hunting license: $2 (excluding deer and turkey)
* Big-game license: $2 (deer and turkey)
Now
Here is a list of JUST hunting licenses and fees:
Resident Hunting Fees
Basic Season (excluding Big Game) $15.00
Big Game $14.00
Bow $10.50
Primitive Firearm $10.50
LA Duck $5.50
LA Sportsman’s Paradise License $100.00
Wild Louisiana Stamp $9.50
Wild Louisiana Stamp (1 day) $2.00
Wild Turkey $5.50
Harvest Information Program (HIP)4 FREE
Senior Hunt/Fish License $5.00
WMA Hunting Permit (age 18-59) $15.00
Federal Electronic Duck Stamp $16.72
There are also different fees for out of state hunters, military hunting fees and then there is my favorite license of all: Senior Hunt/Fish License for any resident who reached age 60 on June 1, 2000 or later must obtain a Senior Hunt/Fish License to hunt or fish. This license is in lieu of Basic and Saltwater Fishing, Basic Hunting, Big Game, Bow, Primitive Firearms, LA Duck License, Turkey Stamp and WMA Hunting Permit. It does not include special gear such as trawls, crab traps, crawfish traps, hoop nets, etc.
DISCLAIMER: As with any second-hand reference to the regulations, I must tell you to check the official hunting and fishing regulations to ensure you know exactly what you need because if you get a ticket, it isn’t my fault! Any questions?
The one positive from this years license purchase is that you can do it from the privacy of your on home . All you need to do is go to the LDWF website and click on buy license. In 1979 you had to go to Genes sporting goods or Howard Brothers. If the stories I’ve heard about your hunting antics in 1979 are true, you didn’t really need a license.
George
Posted by george | January 29, 2015, 12:368:33 am