Davis Budget

[Slugblaster]

Davis proposed Budget includes an increase in pig tags from $1.75 a tag to $15. $75 for a book of 5. This man needs to be thrown out of office.

[Shot]

I had about enough of Davis

[New Pig Hunter]

No kidding ??
What about out-of-state pig tag cost ?? Did that go up ??

That means it's a 99% done-deal.... I would reckon it to be near-impossible to have that changed.

Call AND write your "elected" representatives, it's the only way to have even a remote chance to change it.

[WildBird]

Get ready for lots more "economics from outer space". Remember Steve Peace? He was the rocket scientist behind "deregulation of energy" in CA that led to the electricity crisis and eventually the Enron stuff. Well, he ran out time in office (El Cajon) due to term limits. Guess what he is doing now - He is on Grey Davis' staff, and is his Chief Economic Advisor???? WB

[Speckmisser]

Here's the link to the DFG page where you can read the proposed fee changes. Link to DFG Budget page

All I can say is, "Unbelievable!" Someone really needs to remind Sacramento that the wild pig hunts aren't simply a cash cow to be milked, but a control effort that is barely efficient as it is. If tag prices are increased to such a ridiculously prohibitive cost, those results are going to fall off drastically while poaching will increase. In order to manage wild pig populations, professional trappers and hunters will have to be paid to pick up where the recreational hunters drop off (I know this is already happening, but it will increase).

Keep in mind, though, that these are only "proposed" changes. Hopefully, folks will speak up and shut some of this down before it happens! If there was ever a time to make your voices heard!

The other alternative is to simply boycott the pig tags... especially if they still require a book of 5 (I imagine they'll allow single tag purchases, due to the new cost). Shoot, it may be an involuntary boycott for many folks anyway... who the heck is gonna pay $75 for a book of tags, when most of us almost never use more than one tag in a season?

Which brings up the devil's advocate side of the discussion, how many folks annually take multiple pigs? If we go from buying books of 5 to buying one tag at a time, is it still worth it to most hog hunters? What if individual tags were, say, $10 bucks instead of $15? Will this reduce hunting pressure on some public lands (I doubt it)?

Anyway, I'm shocked. It certainly shows what Sacramento thinks about the hunters and fishermen... we're just a small little "special interest" group in the government's eyes, and hardly worth worrying about. Just stick a nearly 1000% increase on their fees... what're they gonna do?

[bubba]

That's it. I'm buying my lifetime license with the big game upgrade.

[Speckmisser]

I'm sure glad I got mine, now.

[yotegetter]

Wow!! This is just nutts. Davis needs to be thrown out there with the pigs!!! First handgun buyers now hunters are getting screwed by this guy!!

[RIFLEMAN]

QUOTE

Someone really needs to remind Sacramento that the wild pig hunts aren't simply a cash cow to be milked, but a control effort that is barely efficient as it is.[/b]

Couldn't agree more, Speck. As I've said many times, this pig tag program was originally introduced as a temporary means of determining the distribution and population of feral hogs in the state. We didn't make a concerted effort to oppose the fee because it was intended only to cover that temporary study. Then, several years later, we never made an organized objection to the fee being raised to $9.20 because it was a relatively nominal (.27 each) increase. But this is absolutely ridiculous!!!

QUOTE

The other alternative is to simply boycott the pig tags...[/b]

You can count on several hog hunters boycotting the pig tags...one way or the other.

QUOTE

Which brings up the devil's advocate side of the discussion, how many folks annually take multiple pigs?[/b]

I have caught 40 or more hogs every year for the past five years, with my record of 50 caught in 2002. While I lprefer to be in the position to be able to let most go, I often have to kill quite a few; it depends on how rough of a hog they are. Last year, most were very rank boars with nasty cutters being bayed by only two of my dogs, so 38/50 were killed. Those tags alone would have cost me $570!!!

QUOTE

If we go from buying books of 5 to buying one tag at a time, is it still worth it to most hog hunters?[/b]

For myself, I will never stop hunting hogs. While I love to run bobcats and bears with my dogs, enjoy hunting deer and pronghorn, dove, duck, goose and quail, I am first and foremost a hoghunter. That is what I am, that is what I do. I have dedicated far too much of myself, my money, my time and my efforts to hog hunting to let this fee increase keep me from doing what I live to do. For the sheer number of times I have gone and the hogs I have caught in my relatively short life, I have never grown tired of it, nor taken a break of more than three or four weeks from it; it seems as if the instinct to hunt hogs is flowing through my veins as much as it flows through the veins of my dogs. I will not let any government action-whether it be an inordinant increase in fees or an outright ban on hog hunting-keep me from pursuing hogs with my dogs. It may seem unreasonable, immature, or unrational for someone to advocate such action, but for some things that you feel so passionately about, there may not be any other alternative. So, to coin a new phrase, " I will stop hunting hogs with dogs when they pry the leash from my cold, dead fingers."

---RIFLEMAN

[sportyg]

We need to start a campain to stop this now before it gets out of hand. We all need to email, call or write our elected officals and make it clear we don't want this..

[spectr17]

I've hunted several states and I must say California is the worst as far as management I've seen. They make their hunters and fishermen bend over each year and grab their ankles. We write and email our representatives and yet it still continues.

This is where the proposed California united sportsmans group lobby might be effective. Davis and his cronies float a trial balloon for a new fee or restriction and we blast it out of the sky. I'd be willing to fork up $20.00 a year in membership just to be a pain in the arse to Davis and his ilk. Anyone else?

[RIFLEMAN]

So long as this lobby does not get caught up with the "we must police our own" ideology to the point where they condemn trapping, hound hunting or other supposedly controversial sports, you can count on my $20.

[muskeg]

Non Resident pig tag up to $50.

I wonder if it is because Pig is the most popular hunt in Ca for the non-resident ???

But I know that when I go hunt pigs in Ca it costs a whole lot and another $50 really dosen't boost the bottom line that much.

It cost me around $2500 to come hunt a hog (guided). Most guided Big Game runs that much just for the guided hunt (low end). But most Guided hunts are more than just 1 or 2 days.

A $50 tag won't stop me from heading back down there for some piggy fun.

[1SoCalHunter]

This is getting ridiculous! Somebody needs to throw Davis out of office NOW!!! I'm really angry now! You can count with my $20 as well...

[bohunter3]

I just read the proposal! Wow!. out of state tags will be $50 each! Well if they do the increases, I hope you can purchase one resident tag at a time!

[Freedivr2]

Here's what really gets me........I was wondering a couple of months ago where the monies go for the pig tags, so I looked into the Fish and Game codes on their website. So get this; the Fish and Game code specifically states that the funds collected from Pig tags are to go directly towards the benefits of pig habitat and management. I don't know what the state does to "manage" pigs (other than to collect money and make tags and then spend millions on fences and professional hunters to waste the ones on Santa Cruz Island). And I haven't seen any wardens straightening out rooting destruction or feeding pigs. lately, so go figger. Here's the bottom line and the truth;

PIG TAGS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH GAY DAVIS' BUDGET DEFICIT! That was his own stupidity for agreeing to pay unlimited amounts per KW hour during the energy crisis. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT PIG MONIES ARE LEGALLY SUPPOSED TO GO TOWARDS AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS POSSIBLE.

How the heck did this lousy stinkin liberal socialist get into office anyway? Can't blame me, that's for sure, Republican all the way.

If this moron raises the cost of our pig tags because of his deficit, he is breaking the law. Course, I'm sure he can re-write that to help himself out, too, couldn't he? Or mealy mouth his way out of it by saying that it goes into the "general game fund" or some garbage.This is more than ridiculous and just another perfect reason why (as soon as I retire), to bail outta this State. It has the most C.S. government and laws in our USA, and that's sad as can be.

[paulc]

i would gladly pay $20.00 or more to create a voice for hunters in CA. i assume this is along the lines of what jim matthews was writing about a few weeks ago

[EVAN III]

I'd be in for $20, I'd also be willing to kick in some of my time also, problem is, I don't have a clue as to how to start or get involved in something like this.

[RIFLEMAN]

QUOTE

If this moron raises the cost of our pig tags because of his deficit, he is breaking the law.[/b]

Freedivr2,

How do we prove that? What statute or law can we cite?

[Richard McCullough]

Yep, Looks like I may have to think about not buying hog tags this July. This is getting rediculous

[HaveGunWillTravel]

i was never a big fan of using pig tags anyway............

[snoopdogg]

I've got $20.....

[Mattk53]

I'm a teacher and Davis is proposing a 40% cut to all public schools. This Idiot is ruining our state, How did he win after the energy joke!

Matt

[wavesfr]

I'm moving, And people say canada is socialists? Can't be as bad as Kalifornia right? It just seems to get worse every year. I call & write the higher ups,but guess what never get our way. Just gonna get more crowded more expensive & more LIBERAL.

[shaginator]

I'd gladly pay $1,000 for a Gray Davis tag.

[New Pig Hunter]

Fellow Hog Hunters,

I've already waded into this thread earlier..... my recommendation still stands.

WRITE AND CALL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS !!
DO IT NOW !!

I myself am not encouraged: there may have been some re-districting where I live in SoCal and my new state senator is a demoRat !! Fortunately my assemblyman is republican.

Call these people, tell 'em you don't want pig tag fees raised, FreeDivr2's first paragraph makes good sense about "why" fees shouldn't go up. And make sure you also send notice to Davis' office too.
The NRA website has a link to help with all this, providing mailing addresses, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers. Sorry, I don't have the URL here at home.

If you're fed up with all this nonsense, that put's you on the front lines of the battle. And people on the front lines learn quickly they must fight or die because no one else is going to do it for them.

The old cliche is, "put your money where your mouth is." This time, put your time where your heart is. If you want pig tag fees to stay the same, spend your time to let your "elected" officials know three things: 1) you vote; and 2) you don't want the fees to go up; 3) you'll be watching to see how your elected officials respond to your needs.

Good Luck and Get Busy,

Carl

[COHunter]

Too bad you cant make your Fish & Game department an enterprise agency. The only money it gets is what it self generates. Our State is making cutbacks in almost every Dept, but the Division of Wildlife has a $25 Million surplus that is untouchable by the State.

Would that work out there, or is Hunting & Fishing not big enough ?

[Richard McCullough]

I would be willing to fork over 20.00 if it will work, I know calling our officials doesn't, been there and done that.

[rookiehunt21]

i also have a twenty waiting in my wallet!

[BigDog]

Hi folks. Sounds like most of you are just as peeved about this as I am. Seems to me that the most productive method to voice our outrage about this is to flood them with mail.

I propose that we put together a letter that states our feelings, that addresses how much money we already contribute in relation to what the state and the antis contribute,the history and purpose of the pig tags and the stipulation of where the money is supposed to be spent. And anything else that we can think of beside foul names.

Once we have a draft, then we can make a copy addressed to each representative. Then make a couple hundred copies of each and send them out to every person who wants to be heard. They can then sign them and mail them to the appropriate addresses.

I guess we could save some money by posting the letter and the names/addresses of the representatives and then each person would have to download and address each letter.

This will of course cost some money for copying and mailing charges but it appears that most of us are hot enough about it that there will be enough money to cover those expenses.

What do you think?

Let's not let this one go on without a fight.