FS Digest

Now I’m sure the money you pay for a license helps pay fish and game wardens salaries as well as equipment needed for the job, but is that it??

I live in NY where you have can fish without a license until you are 16, then you have to purchase a license to fish.

What’s the difference between fishing at 15 years old and 16 years old that requires licensing to fish?

I never understood it.

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by DeliberateA

FS Digest

They let you fish for free up to a certain age. A lot of resources go into raising and stocking fish. Plus they work to remove invasive species that may harm your fisheries. Maintaining parks and facilities is another thing. It’s not that much to spend if you fish on the regular. You don’t complain about a drivers license.

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by tcf

FS Digest

Sometimes I do

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by Benjimeetsworld

FS Digest

In my state (NH); the fees paid for licensing go largely into trout stocking and the biology associated with responsibly stocking those fish. I’m sure that a healthy share of those funds goes to funding F&G. It’s my understanding that the license is required at 16 due to a sort of promotion of the sport/lifestyle.

It gives kids a free pass to enjoy angling until they’re technically able to work to buy their own license. It sets a standard of general responsibility.

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by Aurphan

FS Digest

In the long run, it supports quality angling opportunities. Keep in mind, fishing licenses came about after over harvesting depleted fish populations to record lows. It has only been through the work of state DNR's, the success of the catch and release mentality started in the late 80's, and dedication of local anglers and associations that quality fishing has made a comeback.

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by RU4real13

flybynight Loc: Brookline, MA

What if your a Bass Guy. ?

catfish catcher

parks and wildlife used some of the moneys to put in the boat ramp you use to get your boat into the public lake so you can bass fish among numerous other thing s to long to list.

flybynight Loc: Brookline, MA

great answer

Raw Dawg Ron Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Hooked UP! All tackle taxed too! Sure many pork projects but stewardship of our outdoors is expensive! We as users pay in many ways??? We help with coastal clean ups and red tide reporting also!

Speck Loc: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Hunting and fishing license sales make up the largest portion of sportsmen's contributions to state fish and wildlife agencies. The revenue generated by license sales, including trapping licenses, equates to more than $1 billion a year nationally. One hundred percent of license fees go directly toward conservation and restoration. That license money cannot, by law, be used for any purpose other than state wildlife and conservation programs.

johnsnead Loc: Tonto basin , Arizona

Then stop driving and fishing. See how simple it is?

OOHRAH

In America, that's the way it's done. In most states, you can fish where you wish to in others you can't trespass, ergo the land owner owns that section of the stream. In England, the land owner owns the stream and governs all fishing rights. The license fee here supports conservation efforts like fish law enforcement, policing stream pollution, Hatchery/stocking research and stream maintenance. Like all Govt. fees there are benefits and detriments to license laws. There are purely arbitrary reasons for some things like the difference between age 15 and 16, but that's the law and we have to live with it or pay fines.

No one special

What is the difference between being relegated to a bicycle at 15 and getting your permit to drive at 16? Or being able to vote at 18 instead of 17? It is impossible to judge each person individually so the states, based on history and experience, have chosen various ages as markers on the road to maturity. Just as parents give their children more freedom and responsibility to ease them into adulthood, the states do likewise. At 16 you are considered mature enough to get working papers and, unfortunately, end your formal education. You are also considered mature enough to start paying for some things you have enjoyed for free since birth. And these things were “free” to you only because others were paying the freight.

I also reside in New York state and believe that very few people, indeed, can come close to listing even half of what sport license fees provide. I suggest that you, and everyone who uses this site visit New York’s website at https://www.dec.ny.gov. I am sure that all the states have similar sites, but I am familiar with this one.

You are already ahead of the game. Many of our young people have never had the opportunity to visit the outdoors. That means no fishing, hunting, trapping, camping or even hiking. And they have not gone boating, skiing or snowmobiling either. They never saw a wild turkey or eagle nor a fawn or even a trout in a stream. Some of the fees go to introducing these people to what many of us unthinkingly enjoy by holding free fishing clinics where anyone new to the sport can try it for free for a day without a license. The state provides the rods, reels, tackle and bait while others attend to teach them how to fish. Our license fees help to provide this for them and I, for one, am happy to contribute in my small way.

Very few families can afford the formal education that you have benefitted from since you were very young. We have all benefitted from others, including those whose children are grown as well as those who never had children but continue to pay their school taxes. At least you directly benefit for the small fee that you are asked to pay.

I assume that you have recently turned 16 or will do so soon. You may well live another 80 years or more and I hope that you do and will be able to enjoy the outdoors for all those years. You appear to be at a crossroads now. You must decide whether you will spend those years helping those who need it or worrying if you are getting your every penny’s worth. The latter leads to a long, miserable life no matter what age you attain. I was fortunate enough to be raised in a family where donating to worthy causes was taught to us at an early age. I still donate, though maybe not as much as I could. I will turn 70 next year and I have not been able to fish the past few years, but I still buy a license each year and will do so as long as I can. I sleep well and have never been visited by my own “Jacob Marley”.

My apologies for such a long response. I hope that you made it to the end and that you will consider my answer to your question. Many people want to feel that they are making a positive contribution and not being a drain. I hope that you buy a license and maybe consider volunteering, even if it is just taking someone fishing with you. Your time is much more valuable than your few dollars. In any event, good fishing.

TWalker Loc: Leland, NC

NC, once you turn 65, it’s free again and a lot of states provide free licenses to active duty military!

Big A Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Don't know what state you're in, but not all states allow seniors to fish for free ! I grew up and lived in N.H. most of my life, although I have also lived briefly in Florida and Virginia; N.H. has a dis-counted annual license for $7.00 (plus $2.00 admin. fee) for seniors 68 yrs. and over ! In Virginia, seniors 65 and over pay $9.00 for a yearly fresh-water license ! In Florida, seniors 65 and over fish free, but must either carry proof of age and residence, or get a senior fishing certificate that does both ! Now I live in Arizona and get no such consideration; however, if you are at least 70 yrs.old and have been a bona fide resident for at least 25 consecutive years imme-diately prior to your appli-cation, you can get a Pioneer license ! There is no fee, nor does it need annual renewal ! Since I have a nine year gap from my prior residency (10 yrs.) to my current (7yrs.), I can only count the recent stay, so I will be farting dust long before I can qualify ! NO FREEBIES HERE ! 😒