Wow, a hidden tax in Colorado
#1
Posted 22 June 2020 - 02:02 AM
Starting July 1, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is requiring visitors to Colorado’s State Wildlife Areas to carry a valid hunting or fishing license—even if they're not hunters or anglers. We explain why.
#2
Posted 22 June 2020 - 03:51 PM
All about income. I'm surprised they don't have something else though, like a "public lands conservation card" or some such.
Craig K6JGV_________________________ 2004 2500 CTD 4X4 FWC HAWK 1960 CJ5
#3
Posted 22 June 2020 - 04:04 PM
The reasoning is that these lands were purchased/leased with funds from hunting/fishing licenses (bit tax revenue) and are seeing heavy use which may degrade their suitability for their primary wildlife use.
I am not sure I necessarily agree with this, but realize this is a small fraction of public land in the state about 600,000 acres out of 23,000,000 acres. In some ways this is similar to the State Parks, you need a pass or pay a fee to enter these as well. But I would have hoped that you could buy an add on to your state parks pass instead of needing a fishing/hunting license.
2016 Fleet Flatbed
2016 Toyota Tacoma
#4
Posted 22 June 2020 - 06:10 PM
Montana has, as do many states, a modest baseline access fee which is required to be purchased by anybody who must otherwise purchase a hunting or fishing license. I don't know if the baseline fee is due for only accessing state game lands, but I think it is solely tied to actual licensure. But I'm a fixin' to find out by purchasing two fishing licenses for an upcoming trip.
Foy
#5
Posted 22 June 2020 - 06:19 PM
States will need to generate revenue wherever they can.
#6
Posted 22 June 2020 - 06:52 PM
I don’t see an issue with modest annual fees. The funding generally goes towards things that we as outdoor people need or want. Whether that’s habitat, trails, parking, leasing access, invasive species control or staffing, it’s important. I don’t mind the expense.
I am haunted by waters
#7
Posted 22 June 2020 - 08:13 PM
Perhaps, more folks will become aware that hunters & fishermen have been footing the bills through licensing fees and excise taxes on equipment for decades.
Paul
#8
Posted 22 June 2020 - 08:37 PM
I don’t see an issue with modest annual fees. The funding generally goes towards things that we as outdoor people need or want. Whether that’s habitat, trails, parking, leasing access, invasive species control or staffing, it’s important. I don’t mind the expense.
I honestly don't mind the expense either, compared to my overall recreational budget it is a very small amount. What is annoying though is having to have a different pass for each type of land - an interagency federal lands pass (thankfully only one of these) a state parks pass for each state you use, and now a fishing license.
2016 Fleet Flatbed
2016 Toyota Tacoma
#9
Posted 22 June 2020 - 09:05 PM
I don't mind paying an entrance fee,but if I am an out of state visitor to one of these
wildlife areas that means I have to purchase at a great fee an out of state license.
Or can you just pay an entrance fee at the area?
Frank
2002 Tundra AC TRD 4WD Limited 2009 ATC Bobcat loaded http://sharychic.blogspot.com/
#10
Posted 22 June 2020 - 09:07 PM
I don't mind the expense either. What I don't like are the "upgrades" that the gov't seems to feel is needed. Those in turn require maint. and staffing and.....
Pretty soon I may as well go to Disneyland.
Where does that road go?
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