Made my contribution..... 2026 Maybe not...!!!

cloverleaf

cloverleaf

Handloader
Sep 10, 2006
4,569
1,374
Just obtained a "predator" licsence for back home in SD. Nothing like paying non-resident prices for the privilege to carry a rifle in pursuit of coyotes, Jacks, (who's seen one in the last 30 yerars?), Crows and GOPHERS, :eek:to make you appreciate where you grew up. ;). I'm willing, but it does chap the hide a little. The state used to pay a bounty on gophers. Dad used to tell that he paid for .22 ammo buy snaring gophers w/ a stick and a piece if wire, "snagging" them as it were. At least I'm prepared. CL

See end of this Thread for an update (rant) 2026 CL
 
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As Bob Dylan put it, the times they are a changin’.

When I was a kid, the ranchers bought us .22 cartridges by the brick and were grateful to have us come shoot ground squirrels. These days they charge $250-300 per shooter, per day to come shoot the ground squirrels and the city dudes gladly pay it. I on the other hand refuse. It will be a cold day in a hot place before I pay you (landowners) to do you (landowners) a favor.

Luckily for me, where I work is a very target rich environment. Rock chucks, ground squirrels, coyotes, badgers, beavers, nutria, and raccoons are a plenty.
 
filmjunkie4ever said:
As Bob Dylan put it, the times they are a changin’.

When I was a kid, the ranchers bought us .22 cartridges by the brick and were grateful to have us come shoot ground squirrels. These days they charge $250-300 per shooter, per day to come shoot the ground squirrels and the city dudes gladly pay it. I on the other hand refuse. It will be a cold day in a hot place before I pay you (landowners) to do you (landowners) a favor.

Luckily for me, where I work is a very target rich environment. Rock chucks, ground squirrels, coyotes, badgers, beavers, nutria, and raccoons are a plenty.
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That was so much fun back then. We would drive over of a Saturday morning, knock on a door and get permission to shoot. Like as not get some lunch too if you helped out with a chore or two.
 
People have definitely changed over time...and not necessarily for the better, as demonstrated above. I too miss the good ol' days!

There seems to be a trend where many new landowners are from urban areas and did not grow up with "country folk" values, or were not exposed to the "help your neighbour" practices, many old rural people may take for granted.

And there is that "one bad apple" that ruins a good thing for everybody else...not asking for permission, driving across crops, not closing gates, cutting fences, going where they were told not to, shooting up equipment or livestock, leaving garbage behind, and so on. What landowner will tolerate that? Easier to just say no.

And how many city folk will even think to offer services in exchange for the opportunity to hunt private land today? And that is even if they know what type of service to offer, or how to perform those farm/ranch chores...therefore it almost easier to just take cash in trade.

Then there is economic hardships...farmers have a tough row to hoe...and when they can generate extra income to meet bank payments, keep stock fed and watered, keep food on the table... who can blame them if this extra revenue keeps them on the farm?

And a brick of 22LR definitely isn't as cheap as it once was!

Walk a mile in their boots before judging them too quickly or harshly... :unsure:
(Being raised as a small farm kid gives one a whole different appreciation of the issues)

Now government rates for licenses and permits...that's another thing entirely!
 
I drew a spring turkey tag. Went on line to get it. Had to buy a base license too. Since I turned 65 last fall, I'm eligible for a senior discount. Bought my deer combo buck tags, doe tag, water foul, fur bearer tags as well. Total along with a chance at Pure Michigan tags was $86.00. I'm a happy camper!

JD338
 
"And there is that "one bad apple" that ruins a good thing for everybody else...not asking for permission, driving across crops, not closing gates, cutting fences, going where they were told not to, shooting up equipment or livestock, leaving garbage behind, and so on. What landowner will tolerate that? Easier to just say no."

When I lived in Nevada I had access to several ranches to hunt coyotes and gophers. One ranch allowed me to take kids on their first deer hunt provided I was there to supervise their shot. One evening getting close to full darkness my buddy who also had access to the ranch saw this guy drive his truck through the fence. We could just barely make out the color of the truck and determine it was somewhere between a 1950 to 1954 model Chevy of GMC. We notified the rancher and he got so mad he banned us from the ranch. It took us quite a while to convince him we didn't do it After that all that he'd allow is me bringing a kid to hunt.
Last time I was up that way my buddy told me he'd sold the ranch to a bunch of California lawyers who do not allow anyone to hunt on the lace other than those they invite.
Paul B.
 
Blkram said:
And there is that "one bad apple" that ruins a good thing for everybody else...not asking for permission, driving across crops, not closing gates, cutting fences, going where they were told not to, shooting up equipment or livestock, leaving garbage behind, and so on. What landowner will tolerate that? Easier to just say no.
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As a former landowner of some prime hunting and fishing property I can tell this that this is absolutely true. One group of "bad apples" resulted in my refusal to let ANYONE fish anymore, one family of "bad apples" resulted in my refusal to let anyone (except my closest friends) to hunt anymore.

As a landowner I ran out of patience with people trespassing, leaving trash behind, and making ruts, etc. I grew tired of arguing with people to pick up their trash. In the end, it was just easier to put up posted signs and then call the state police when I saw people or a vehicle. You wouldn't believe the lies people tell you and the crap they give you when you are trying to do the public a favor.

I could go on and on about this subject, but I will drop it here.
 
WI doesn’t require small game license on your property. Growing up there were plenty of pigeons to pick off the silo roofs. After baling hay the ground squirrels lost their cover, easy pickins.
 
filmjunkie4ever said:
As Bob Dylan put it, the times they are a changin’.

When I was a kid, the ranchers bought us .22 cartridges by the brick and were grateful to have us come shoot ground squirrels. These days they charge $250-300 per shooter, per day to come shoot the ground squirrels and the city dudes gladly pay it. I on the other hand refuse. It will be a cold day in a hot place before I pay you (landowners) to do you (landowners) a favor.

Luckily for me, where I work is a very target rich environment. Rock chucks, ground squirrels, coyotes, badgers, beavers, nutria, and raccoons are a plenty.
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Yah, even 40+ years ago Dad wouldnt pay to hunt "on a ranch where the state was paying depredation payments for deer and they wont let you hunt". In some cases we as hunters may have made our own problems, but those are rare IMHO. Greed and government involvement let people think its ok to charge to shoot prairie dogs and make it ok to charge me for a lisc. to shoot gophers...! I dont begrudge the folks who stay and tough it out at home....but most of those folks wouldnt charge me a dime. Times change.....
 
Hell we use to keep our Ruger 10/22s on baler and combines. Often had to work at night to keep up and or to get the humidity right. Always a lot of stuff to shoot at from up there. I imagine OSHA would have a stroke if they saw 12 and 14 year old boys climbing on a piece of field machinery with rifle.
 
When I was a youngster we would go to the Valley (border counties) to shoot white wing dove. We would just pull off on the county road and go at it. You could also hunt on some of the larger ranches by giving the foreman beer or other such beverages. Oilfield people like my dad knew most of the Foreman from working on the ranches. Boy, the good ol' days. A senior super combo in Texas is $32. The only extra to hunt and fish anywhere in the state is a Federal Migratory stamp. Too bad there isn't much open public land to hunt.
 
Dont get me wrong.... like I said if you are still trying to farm or raise cattle, pigs etc and having to work a day or night job to keep the farm going, all you get is my respect. As a non resident in most of those places now I get it. Growing up, I learned how to "leave the gates" and when I was "just in the way" working livestock. Its different now for sure. The corporate entity in Mpls "managing the land" aint what I'm talking about. I dont have as much understanding of the industry as I used too. Just know I was lucky enough to appreciate the good old days back when I was living them, even more now. CL
 
So a week or two ago I looked up what it would cost for me to get my "coyote license" (predator lisc.) back home for 2026. Price went up another ten bucks....okay....what hasn't. But then that's $75 to go home and carry a rifle with my cousin's. :eek: C'mon... So lets see, the state has a $5 bounty on Coons. That should be cheap right? After all they're gonna pay me to help take out those egg eating pheasant destroying rodents. Nope- that requires a permit to take furbearer. Thats several hundred dollars and an application process for a permit! (Unless I'm reading the confusing state regs wrong). Oh comon!!! Support my home state....yes but not stupidity. So sad. Feel like a man w/o a home. CL
 
Beyond wildlife agencies desperately trying to generate revenue, hunting continues to move toward becoming a rich man's "sport".

Landowners, outfitters, rich fat cats with man boobs going out west to "hunt" trophy elk.

I used to work in a financial institution and would routinely witness people paying six figure invoices for fishing and hunting trips. Unbelievable.

Hopefully this concerning trend will start to fade away soon.
 
cloverleaf said:
So a week or two ago I looked up what it would cost for me to get my "coyote license" (predator lisc.) back home for 2026. Price went up another ten bucks....okay....what hasn't. But then that's $75 to go home and carry a rifle with my cousin's. :eek: C'mon... So lets see, the state has a $5 bounty on Coons. That should be cheap right? After all they're gonna pay me to help take out those egg eating pheasant destroying rodents. Nope- that requires a permit to take furbearer. Thats several hundred dollars and an application process for a permit! (Unless I'm reading the confusing state regs wrong). Oh comon!!! Support my home state....yes but not stupidity. So sad. Feel like a man w/o a home. CL
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in PA , I can Hunt coyotes with my regular hunting license , $20.97, during a big game season , "IF" I have an unused tag for this season / game animal . so to shoot a coyote during archery season , I need an Archery license , $16.97 . PA sells a furtakers license that is needed for hunting the other furbearer animals , and to hunt coyotes out of a big game season . the furtaker license , $20.97 is required for trapping anything . PA also has a Bobcat permit $6.97 , and a Fisher permit , $6.97 .these permits allow the trapper to keep one of each . these are Adult Resident prices .

June of 2027 I'll turn 65 years old . at 65 I can buy a lifetime "combo " license . I "THINK" this combo includes everything except Doe license , and Migratory bird . the Combo price is $101.97

PA just kind of nickel and dimes a hunter to gather up the licenses he wants .
 
8mm Enthusiast said:
Beyond wildlife agencies desperately trying to generate revenue, hunting continues to move toward becoming a rich man's "sport".

Landowners, outfitters, rich fat cats with man boobs going out west to "hunt" trophy elk.

I used to work in a financial institution and would routinely witness people paying six figure invoices for fishing and hunting trips. Unbelievable.

Hopefully this concerning trend will start to fade away soon.
Click to expand...


I fear it will only get worse .
 
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