TexasKayakFisherman.com est. 2000

[TKFStubb]

Since freshwater use of kayaks is growing as fast as it is, I think this response from TPWD is especially needed on this subject. Some of us will be going to Austin on March 21st to sit down and discuss alternative ways to fund our addiction. Your ideas are always valued.

Here's Carter Smith's message to kayakers....



TPWD Weighs-in on Kayak Registration Rumor:



Recently a TPWD employee saw this thread on TKF and e-mailed TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith to find out if there was any truth to the rumor that TPWD is seeking to register kayaks.



The short answer is no.



With Mr. Smith’s permission, I’m posting his reply to the TPWD employee here:



“As I understand it, the idea of registering kayaks has been floated in past years as a way to help fund conservation work, particularly for aquatic systems. Nothing has ever come of it. There is no such proposal on the table that I am aware of, and I haven't heard anything like that being proposed at the legislature.



“As you may be aware, the lion's share of our conservation funding comes from the sale of hunting and fishing license fees and associated revenues. That revenue stream is not sustainable, nor robust enough, to truly fund our land and water conservation work at the level it needs to be funded in order to meet the burgeoning pressures on our natural resources.



“As such, we need to explore other mechanisms to help augment revenue from hunting and fishing license fees to support conservation work that benefits anglers, hunters, kayakers, birders, hikers, nature enthusiasts, and all others who enjoy and appreciate Texas' great outdoors. It is a major challenge facing the agency, and we need all our outdoor enthusiasts and conservation partners to help us identify solutions.”



Speaking for myself, I would ask you to consider that the department has dipped into existing funds to help local communities survey, design interpretive materials and build launch sites for 15 coastal and inland paddling trails. Applications continue to pour in, and it looks as if we may add many more paddling trails this year.



TPWD also works creatively with communities, river authorities and others to fund paddling launch sites with federal “pass-through” grant dollars, and recently awarded the Kayak Anglers Society of America a $50,000 Community Outreach grant to fund that organization’s Heroes on the Water program.



As you can see from Carter’s response above, there is a sincere desire to engage outdoor enthusiasts in addition to the traditional “hook and bullet” crowd – which many of us who paddle also are part of. I truly believe the leadership of TPWD is open to your ideas and committed to working with the paddling community as a partner.



Aaron Reed (kayakrockport)

Wildlife & Fisheries Information Specialist

aaron.reed@tpwd.state.tx.us

512-389-8046

[DarrellS]

I personally dont see anything wrong with a nominal registration fee, as long as it would not be put into the General Fund but rather used to develop and sustain interest in kayaking especially among children. They are the future of Outdoorsman.
Darrell

[BIG_B]

i to wouldn't mind paying a fee...as long as we see the benifets

[bowgarguide]

I disagree totaly.
One of the reasons kayaks are so popular is there cheap to operate, a great way to start new anglers, and for family outings. Most folks on here own more than one yak so your not talking about 1 registration . Now most yaks carry one person a power boat may carry half dozen. But they buy one we buy 6 .
I own 7 yaks I have built and have two more I want to build, if I pay 35.00 a boat thats 315.00 a year.
Plus with my wooden boats I do not want a TX number splashed all over the side of a boat I spent a lot of hours on to look like it does.

As far as I know every penny tpw collects winds up being accessed by the general fund.
Kayaking is growing so more license are sold and more tags young folks are getting involved, instead of doing something to slow the sport down
let it grow because for every yak sold dollars are generated.
Ron

[Iamdamoder]

What Ron said

X2

[indy ag]

i've never bought a commercial yak, new or used, so i may be out of the know here....but....
have you even tried to title an untitled pb in texas to get it registered?
do you have the title to your yak(s)?
i'm all for financially aiding conservation efforts, but i'm w/ ron one this one

[Big Country]

What Ron said

X2

More taxes? I don't care what the intended benefit is supposed to be. It's more taxes. I don't want to pay more taxes for anything. If anybody wants to volunteer more money--put your wallet where your mouth is and start writing checks payable to me. I promise I'll put the money to good use for the benefit of the people. You got my word on it. If you don't believe me, why would you believe anyone else or any other bureaucratic entity.

No new taxes, no new fees, no new surcharges, no new anything that means I got to spend more money.

If you don't want to volunteer your money to me, then write the TPWD and ask them where you can send your money. I bet they got all kinds of endowments, foundations, scholarships, and money pools that will gladly take your money. You can feel good about "giving" of yourself and I can be happy that you got to exercise your willingness to "give." We don't need more taxes, fees, charges, or imposed costs on any of us to do what we do.

Good day. (Sounds like Paul Harvey--huh?)


P.S. Brother Stubb, thanks for posting TPWD's response. Good job.

[DarrellS]

I would rather not pay anything either,but I was saying if we had to as long as it was put to good use it would not really bother me. With all of the calls and letters about this to TPWD I bet we have caught their attention. Somewhere in Austin there is an account saying "let's see there is 13886 members on TKF alone, wonder how many kayaks are in Texas. We may be missing out on $$$$". We may have cut our own throat on this one. We all know if they decide to put a regristration on kayaks there is nothing we can do about it. TPWD has a history of doing what they want to do regardless. Sure they may have some open discussions with the public but in the end they will do it if they want to.
Darrell

[Night Wing]

I agree with Darrell. I don't TX numbers on my yak. Nothing sticks to plastic very well and I don't want to paint any TX numbers on my yaks.

[beljason]

Another fee would just be another reason for someone new to kayaking, fishing, etc to say "nevermind, its too expensive, or too much trouble." Instead of tacking on ANOTHER fee to those poor souls who god forbid want to go outside, we should all write our state congressmen and tell them how and why we think the state should increase its budget to tpwd.

here is an idea, what about the sin tax method, like they did when they wanted people to stop smoking they increased the taxes on it sky high. I say we put a tax on cable tv, and use that to pay for the tpwd! they'll be swimming in money.

[FishingSETX]

If this is going to actually benefit kayakers and not go into the general fund, then I dont have a problem with it. I think they ought to leave off the titling and numbering of yaks though. Maybe a registration card for each yak. This would cut out the titling fees. Maybe just a registration card with the kayaks serial number on it that you are required to show when asked by a warden. I think this would solve both the problem of high initial cost and of the numbers staying on.

One other option would be to not license a yak, but the paddler. Basically just a stamp on your fishing license or if you just paddle, they could set up their system to sell just the paddling stamp. Basically if you have ever bought an LPU permit, you know what I mean.

Again, if the funds were allocated to assist in building yak launches and paddling trails, i dont see a problem with it. no different than donating money for these purposes and I would imagine no-one on here would be against donating $10-$15 per year if access to good fishing/paddling locations was improved!!

[Night Wing]

I like the "stamp" idea. Just like an archery stamp for us bowhunters.

[FishingSETX]

I like the "stamp" idea. Just like an archery stamp for us bowhunters.

IMHO that would be the way to go. Much easier than registration/titling, and you could pick it up almost anywhere, any time. It would also solve the problem of someone with several kayaks having to title/register all of them.

[bowgarguide]

I am not going to get on my soap box.
Ron

[jsharp]

what about the people that just paddle for fun im all for putting money to good use for this sport but i got into kayking cause it was a lot cheaper than having to tittle and register a pb if we have to reg and tittle our kayks we maight as well go back to pbs and all the familys that paddle for fun that just insane i dont like the idea kayak is a cheap sport and it fun for the whole family and we dont need to make it a expensive sport lets keep it cheap

[FishingSETX]

what about the people that just paddle for fun im all for putting money to good use for this sport but i got into kayking cause it was a lot cheaper than having to tittle and register a pb if we have to reg and tittle our kayks we maight as well go back to pbs and all the familys that paddle for fun that just insane i dont like the idea kayak is a cheap sport and it fun for the whole family and we dont need to make it a expensive sport lets keep it cheap

That is why I like the stamp idea. put an age limit on it (say 17+ like fishing) so families still can afford it and dont have to pay for their kids to get out and enjoy it.

The way im looking at it is as paddling becomes more popular, extra fee's are inevitable. its only a matter of time no matter how hard we fight it. I think the focus ought to be on making sure they are allocated to the proper programs and benefit the ones paying the fee's. Also, with all the hassles of registration, the stamp would be alot easier that trying to register and title a paddlecraft!!

[Mythman]

For all the reasons already quoted in this post and others, I am unilaterally and totally against kayak registration by any government entity, period!!

[Night Wing]

For all the reasons already quoted in this post and others, I am unilaterally and totally against kayak registration by any government entity, period!!

This is why the stamp idea is the best.

[Bigrock]

The cost of hunting and fishing in Texas continues to rise, little by little. Want to bow hunt? x-tra Want to fish saltwater? x-tra Turkey hunt? mo $ So much has been added over the years, we got used to it, so now it's the super sized combo, just like a damn burger. And they still keep cramming stuff into it. Mo' regulation....not this time.

[Night Wing]

The cost of hunting and fishing in Texas continues to rise, little by little. Want to bow hunt? x-tra Want to fish saltwater? x-tra Turkey hunt? mo $ So much has been added over the years, we got used to it, so now it's the super sized combo, just like a damn burger. And they still keep cramming stuff into it. Mo' regulation....not this time.

The hard and sad truth is......"They are not at the mercy of us, we are at the mercy of them"....when it comes to them wanting money.

[Y2bad4u]

hey the feds are giving away money. they gave some to big companies and in turn they gave out bonus's and vacations. TPWD just needs to get in line with them.


Seriously if there is a tax, I favor the stamp.

[beljason]

So I pay $28 bucks a year to fish, then pay say another $10 to 15 per year to paddle, but oops, I want to take my wife along so there is another 10 to 15 bucks, until my kids turn 16 or 17, then Ill add another 30 to 45.
If I use an innertube with a shovel does that count as paddling? do I need a stamp for that?

We all pay taxes, take money from the general fund to increase the budget.
If you want to fund some improved kayak launch points, make it $2 or $5 to launch from the site. If the site is at a park that already has an attendant, make them pay there. If there is no attendant, put an honor box out.
I think a tax, tag, stamp, fee, registration in any form is just going to keep that many more people out of the sport. I know a bunch guys from my workplace that dont fish just because they dont get to go that often, and when they get the chance they dont have a license ready, but its not worth it to buy a year round, so they never go, and never realize what they are missing. I see the same happening with casual paddlers. We dont mind paying the fee, we will get our moneys worth out of it. But for casual, once or twice a year paddlers, well they arent going to bother with going to pay the fee to paddle every once in a while.

sorry Im a bit surprised to see so many people roll over and ask to be taxed more.

[DarrellS]

Boy, I stirred up a hornets nest. Sorry Fellas.
Seriously we all know it's just a matter of time before they realize the amount of money they could collect.

P.S. I would rather not have #'s on my pretty wood boat either.

[beljason]

sorry didnt mean to get so stirred. We wonder why more people dont get outside more often. Its getting too complicated to just walk out and do something with so many permits, licenses ,etc. Im over it now

Lets just look at the brightside, they at least SAY they arent going to be doing it anytime soon. Hopefully it never gets to that point!

[FishingSETX]

Do I want more regulation and more fees? No

Is it an inevitability? I think yes


Not saying I want it to happen, but I think it will in the near future. Im not rolling over and asking to be taxed more, I just know its going to happen sooner or later, and want to make sure that when it does, its done right and the funds go to help those paying the fees.

As for the people not fishing/hunting/other outdoor activities due to the excuse of licenses/permits, I attribute that to laziness. For the ones who only want to go fishing once or twice a year, TPWD offers a one day all water fishing license for $10. The all water yearly license is $38, and if you are fishing within a state park, you dont have to have a license!