The Countertop Chronicles

Well, this is really the last straw. You know all those complaints about how the cost of hunting is driving people away - well they just may be right. I almost just purchased my RESIDENT Virginia hunting license, which would have cost me $70.

Resident State Hunting $18.00
Resident Bear, Deer, & Turkey $18.00
Resident Muzzleloader $18.00
National Forest Permit $4.00
Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp $10.00
Contribute $2.00 to Hunters for the Hungry $2.00
Total Fee $70.00

Damn thats expensive! And not only does that not include my Federal Duck Stamp ($15), but I can’t even hunt on Sunday.

By way of comparison, if I were to get (which I likely will) a license for neighboring Maryland it would cost me (with resident prices in parenthesis):

Non-Resident State Hunting $130.00 (24.50)
No Need For a Bear, Deer, & Turkey Stamp
Non - Resident Muzzleloader $25.00 (6.00)
No Need For A National Forest Permit
Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp $9.00
Contribute $2.00 to Hunters for the Hungry $2.00
Total Fee $166.00 ($41.00)

And remember, Maryland has much better waterfowl hunting (eastern shore is fantastic and they have the entire Potomac River which I can’t use as a Virginia resident), more rural farm land within a short drive of me, and more generous and flexible hunting laws AND allows me to hunt on Sunday in some places.

Well, the choice is pretty easy if you ask me. I’m just getting the Virginia basic and waterfowl license and will wait till later in the fall (closer to deer season) to decide what else to get (Since I am also hunting in Georgia and South Dakota this year, I might just by pass Virginia all together.