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Boat show starts today in Louisville. Ky dept of fish and wildlife giving free sportsmans licence to youth and 16 yr olds. This is a $95 value if you are 16. Must have hunter certification card. Can take the shooting part there free if you have done the online class work. This is a great chance to take our youth to the outdoors free of charge.
While those of us ages 17-64 foot the bill for everybody else? I can't say I agree with giving away Sportsman's license. Jr hunting maybe but not $95 Sportsmans license.
The sportsman is only for the kids turning 16 this year caught in the change from junior license. I am for anything that will help get youth hunting and fishing. Their purchase of future license will more than make up for it. And I would rather foot the bill for that than to pay for their drug rehab or jail time for trouble they might get in on the street. My son and several of his friends are involved in hunting and fishing. And it keeps them off the street and out of trouble. They have joined the archery club and fishing clubs. My wife teaches archery in the schools and this gives some of those kids a chance to expand into hunting that could not afford to otherwise.
They will be giving away sportsmans license at the Lexington show as well on Jan 31-Feb 3. These licence is for first timers only age 12-16.
KDFWR - News Release
I'm all in favor of taking your kids out and introducing them to the outdoors, be it fishing, hunting, archery. My boys are proof of introducing them to the outdoors and not doing things that will get you out of bed at 3:00am (along with the grace of God). I have a friend with the Ky Dept of Fish and Game who tells me that money is so short in the till that job vacancies are not being filled and some programs are are not completed. I love to fish and I make an attempt at deer hunting every year just so I can spend time with my boys and listen to them tell tall tales of the days hunt........don't tell anybody but I haven't shot a deer in 4-5 years but I still get a sportsmans license and buy one for my son who is in college. I guess i'd rather donate money to the state willingly through a license than to have another tax levied against me. Just not sure how I feel about passing up an oppertunity for KDFW to take in more operating money.
I had a both hunting and fishing licenses when I was 16 and it didn't keep me out of trouble! :Rofl I don't have a problem with the Sportsman's License, but what kids really need are mentors, especially the kids from single parent homes. I've taken several young men fishing and hunting over the years, and it's been really rewarding.
We don't have enough COs to enforce game laws as it is now. Giving away license may be a good PR step but it sure doesn't put $$ in the coffers.
Went to boat show my son did not get free license because he was not a first timer. But the 4 of us bought license. Also noticed several kids get license and every one I watched had a parent buy license also. Maybe they would have bought them either way I don't know. But I am sure there are some parents who only buy so they can be with their kids. I understand people wanting the state to get all the money they can by selling the license. But the fish and wildlife also gets money from all the guns, ammunition, and hunting supplies those kids and their parents buy. I believe if we invest in our youth it will pay off in the long run.