The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) is cutting around 25 percent of its budget to a tune of around $162 million according to an article in the Texas tribune.
That begs the following questions.
Why are they adding 520 acres to Big Bend Ranch State Park?
According to TPWD, the Commission agreed to “…take the necessary steps to purchase roughly 520 acres in Presidio County…”
Why are they looking at buying a piece of property in Palo Pinto and Stephens Counties for a new state park?
TPWD admits to cutting fish stocking in freshwater, taking a $1.5 million dollar reduction in the treatment of noxious vegetation like salvinia and is slashing $2 million from the highly successful shrimp and finfish crab license buyback retirement program. Yet, they are buying new property they will have to maintain for years to come.
Amazing.
And now I have to have a hunting license and a special permit and tag if I catch a snake? When will the money grab ever stop?
That is a good question. My problem is not with having to buy hunting/fishing licenses, etc. It is the details of like you said having to have special permit to catch a snake but them buying new state parks during a gigantic budget crisis. Insanity.
If they have enough money to require and enforce people hunting non-game species, such as axis deer, feral hogs, black buck, etc, they need their funding cut. Their mission is suppose to be to manage and protect native game species. But, they will require you to buy a license to hunt non-game species? This really makes my blood boil. TP&W has pursued and been successful at getting my money for every little thing. Use to, we had a fishing and hunting license. Now we have a salt water fishing license, fresh water license and a trout tag, plus redfish tags? A Archery tag, plus a hunting license, plus a Texas duck stamp? What are they going to think of next?