The Louisiana Legislature kicked off their session yesterday and among the nine hundred, or so, bills and resolutions they are considering is something near and dear to every outdoorsman in the Bayou State.

Along with increased gas taxes and the possibility of the legalization of recreational marijuana usage, is a proposed increase to the cost of hunting and fishing licenses in Louisiana.

While the specifics of the proposal have not been made available to the public as of yet, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet says  the increases are projected to net the state an additional $17 million in annual sales.

According to the Associated Press in an article on katc.com,

Montoucet proposed a smaller license restructuring two years ago to consolidate licenses, reduce the types of permits and increase some costs, but the House rejected it. Since then, the agency’s financial problems have worsened.

In the same article we learn the following:

“We haven’t had an adjustment in what the licenses cost in 20 years,” Montoucet said. “We are doing 50 more things that have been put on our plate” since then.

The current price of a Louisiana resident fishing license is $9.50 and who knows what the proposal could be asking for, but it's likely that it's only a nominal increase.

I, personally, have no issue with an increase, as long as it's not exorbitant, and that we're provided with some info about how the monies are being spent.  For example, I'd like to see just what the "50 more things on our plate" are.

I'd pay an extra hundred bucks for my fishing license if they could show me how they plan to totally eliminate the salvinia issue, as I'm pretty sure the current plan is to just attempt to "manage" it and not eliminate it.  Course, I might just be dreaming.

I'd even pay an extra hundred for my hunting license if they can show where they are making strides in the elimination of Louisiana's wild hog problem. Again, I tend to live in a dream world.

We'll let you know the results of this proposition the minute we get the official word from Baton Rouge, so stay tuned.

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