hcsafari
Member
I just wanted to throw something out here that you may want to consider when you make that call or pen that letter to your state representative or for that matter it may just be a good topic for discussion on this site.
Here in MS we have what is called a "MS Lifetime License". When purchased, it covers the license holder to just what it says - a lifetime license. The intial cost is pretty steep ($500.00 - $1,000.00 I believe, but would need to be higher in Iowa as general license fees are higher there) but just imagine the savings over the long haul. They are very common here in MS - many parents purchase them as gifts for their children - and what a gift. Can you imagine going through life never having to purchase a license because your Dad or Mom already took care of it, or maybe you purchased your own when you turned 16 or 18? I have not purchased one here as it would not be cost effective at my age.
I just read a post by supertec where he states "It's time for us residents to stand up and belly up to the plate to help preserve what is ours for our future kids and grandkids!" - well I agree with him 100% and this may be one part of doing just that.
I only wish there had one been a lifetime license when I still lived there.
I can't imagine my parents ever thought when I grew up and accepted a poisition that I would not be living in Iowa - well it happened. How many of you parents can know for sure your children will stay in Iowa? If they leave - with an Iowa Lifetime License - they'd be covered and be able to come back home and pheasant hunt or deer hunt or turkey with family or life-long friends. Surely there are some of you who have had friends move away and now you only get to hunt with them when they are able to draw a tag.
Something else to consider would be some sort of "roots" or "native" license for persons who were born and raised in Iowa. I know most of you would not consider something like this, but maybe there are enough parents or family memebers out there who have already had other family memebers move out of state. And let's be honest here - I would venture to say that 95% of these types of people who come back to Iowa to hunt with family or friends are hunting land you (as a resident) never had access to anyway. It's not like they will be taking any land away from residents or buying up land i.e. running up land prices. They will be hunting the same places that their family or friends have already been hunting for years. I know what's coming next - the old "just move back" - but you know it's not that easy. How many of you could just pick up and move? It's not really about that. It's more about being able to come back home and hunt with the very people who passed the sport on to you - the folks you shared so many outdoor experiences with, nephews you'd like to be able to spend time hunting with just like your uncle spent time with you - I could go on and on. Sure the "home for the holidays" tag is a great idea and I'm sure alot of people utilize them, I will most lieky use it - but I want to come home and hunt and spend time with my family when it's convienient for me, not during a special time or when I draw a particular hunt. Maybe that's too selfish, I dunno. Dosen't sound like a whole to ask.
Just some thoughts I had. Good or bad, there they are.
Here in MS we have what is called a "MS Lifetime License". When purchased, it covers the license holder to just what it says - a lifetime license. The intial cost is pretty steep ($500.00 - $1,000.00 I believe, but would need to be higher in Iowa as general license fees are higher there) but just imagine the savings over the long haul. They are very common here in MS - many parents purchase them as gifts for their children - and what a gift. Can you imagine going through life never having to purchase a license because your Dad or Mom already took care of it, or maybe you purchased your own when you turned 16 or 18? I have not purchased one here as it would not be cost effective at my age.
I just read a post by supertec where he states "It's time for us residents to stand up and belly up to the plate to help preserve what is ours for our future kids and grandkids!" - well I agree with him 100% and this may be one part of doing just that.
I only wish there had one been a lifetime license when I still lived there.
I can't imagine my parents ever thought when I grew up and accepted a poisition that I would not be living in Iowa - well it happened. How many of you parents can know for sure your children will stay in Iowa? If they leave - with an Iowa Lifetime License - they'd be covered and be able to come back home and pheasant hunt or deer hunt or turkey with family or life-long friends. Surely there are some of you who have had friends move away and now you only get to hunt with them when they are able to draw a tag.
Something else to consider would be some sort of "roots" or "native" license for persons who were born and raised in Iowa. I know most of you would not consider something like this, but maybe there are enough parents or family memebers out there who have already had other family memebers move out of state. And let's be honest here - I would venture to say that 95% of these types of people who come back to Iowa to hunt with family or friends are hunting land you (as a resident) never had access to anyway. It's not like they will be taking any land away from residents or buying up land i.e. running up land prices. They will be hunting the same places that their family or friends have already been hunting for years. I know what's coming next - the old "just move back" - but you know it's not that easy. How many of you could just pick up and move? It's not really about that. It's more about being able to come back home and hunt with the very people who passed the sport on to you - the folks you shared so many outdoor experiences with, nephews you'd like to be able to spend time hunting with just like your uncle spent time with you - I could go on and on. Sure the "home for the holidays" tag is a great idea and I'm sure alot of people utilize them, I will most lieky use it - but I want to come home and hunt and spend time with my family when it's convienient for me, not during a special time or when I draw a particular hunt. Maybe that's too selfish, I dunno. Dosen't sound like a whole to ask.
Just some thoughts I had. Good or bad, there they are.