fruntz
Posts: 125
Joined: 10/31/2000
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1. Did you go to the web site and see the intended purpose and what they are trying to do?
In case you did not, following is the gist of the program.
The potential annual revenue from a junior license would be $2.1 million per year. Over the past few years, an average of $480,000 annually was spent by the Fish and Boat Commission on programs targeting youth. All additional dollars generated by the junior license will be dedicated to programs for youth.
If House Bill 2900 becomes law, Pennsylvania would join 13 states that require some form of license or permit for their youth anglers. The average cost of a youth fishing license nationwide is $12.16.
At $5, a youth fishing license would cost less than a new music CD ($13); video or computer game ($39); movie ticket ($6.50); or admission to an amusement park (as much as $44).
Smith said the Fish and Boat Commission is committed to ensuring that cost won’t be a barrier for youngsters who cannot afford a license.
"The commission will work with clubs and organizations to sponsor the purchase of licenses for youngsters who can’t afford them,†Smith said.
2. To answear the first part, the motivation for the family is to spend a day as a family out of the house. There are two fish-for-free days in PA every year to try to get people interested. The commission attempts to publicize these as much as possible. If they want to fish for one day on a different day, they have the ability to purchase a one day license for 11.70 each (they cannot show up for trout opening day though). Plus they also have the option of going to a pay lake for the day. Case in point is that my father was not very much interested in fishing when I was a kid so our one or two annual fishing days were spent at Lake Joann. I did not get interested until a few years ago ( and I'm in my 60's). I would also venture to say that there are a number of people who take a chance and go out for one, or more than one, day without a license. I would also venture to say that many of these same people, unless fiscal circumstances prohibit them, take advantage of society in many other ways and probably will never become good proponents of the sport.
As to your second paragraph.
What would you calculate is the percentage of people that are NOT introduced to the sport via an older relative, a relative of a friend, or a friendly neighbor? In order to support your opinion in line 2, have you taken a survey to know how many kids would not buy the license? I realize that there are plenty of recreational options for kids. Something or someone got them interested in those areas. The question is "how do we get the kids interested in fishing?" as one of those options.
As opposed to your straight forward negative opinion, I really do not believe that the comm is out to kill the sport and the young peoples interests by pursuing this. I am a proponent of this and also a $2 pin for younger kids. This may generate the feeling " I have a license just like dad's / mom's!" and be a keepsake for years to come and rekindle that feeling somewhere down the road. To give you an example, each week when I take the collection at my church, I make it a point of going into the kids section. With a smile on my face, I thank each one of the little kids that gives me an envelope with a big "thanks pal or sweatheart, I really appreciate your offering". I see their smiles and pride when I do this and I think this would work here also. Ask yourself, when was the last time the usher thanked you for your offering at church?
I would be more than happy to throw in $10 for two licenses for two kids that could not afford them!
Thanks for reading this.
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