NC is going to issue lifetime hunting and fishing licenses to volunteer firefighters. I think the jesture is good, but wonder why our Wildlife Dept is involved in this benefit. Seems this is a local county issue. Maybe a property tax credit would be better. It would reward non hunting volunteers equally.

Optics , It sounds good but the number of people who have time for Vol FD and serious hunting and fishing are probably not that huge also never a news story again about a fireman hunting without a license or fishing without a license..

also they can say it is a 200 dollar a year value as an example but actual cost is a tiny revenue of maybe 1 in 5 buying a fishing license and deer license.

why , think of all the water rescues , drownings , boat accidents , tree stand rescues . ect.. the DNR is the water and woods police , it is their jurisdiction but they might be hours away with enough conservation officers to lead a rescue , or by that time a recovery. so it falls on the local Vol FD most of the time.

it might buy a little good will with the FD , if it gets the FD guys on the water fishing more they will be that much better at boat handling and use and know the waters better.

This was done by the General Assembly. The General Assembly controls all license costs, the WRC just administers the law. The WRC gets heat form lots of things they have zero control over. Yes, they are authorized by the General Assembly to establish some rules and regulations but a lot of things that do not make sense to the average hunter/fisherman/trapper are caused by the way a law is worded.

BTW, all license cost and revenue generating fee are set by the General Assembly. It has been only a couple years ago that they finally approved a formula where WRC license fees can be adjusted based on a cost of living index without a bill having to go through the legislature.

if it recruits even a couple volunteers i'd say it's worth it in my eyes.a lot of folks need to wake up cause the numbers in volunteer services like this,ems and many others are in dire need of members.very dire in areas.

I think it's good thing to help recruit more volunteers.

I agree it is a good thing , and if the general assembly sets it then it was nice of them. maybe it will help benefit those who are volunteer FD.

not sure anyone would join for the benefit it is a huge commitment.

but anything we can do for the volunteers as a benefit is good.

That's a great deal all the fire fitters in our rural community are volunteers. Wish they would do that hear, I already have my life time but know other that cant afford it but would gladly get it if it was discounted.

Here is the wording of the Law:



This became effective in NC on Oct. 1, 2019 but the system changes required to implement it probably will not be in place until Jan. 2020.

We don't even have an option of a lifetime license here. Your lucky.

I know I sure wish the would offer such a thing even if it was just a senior lifetime purchase at 60 and pay once and you fish and hunt all through retirement with no additional fees.

Virginia has the lifetime hunting license option.

The Lifetime License in NC was established in 1981, crafted by a forward thinking WRC Commissioner, Eddie Bridges. He has received much deserved recognition for his effort to enhance wildlife and opportunity for the hunters, fishermen and trappers in NC. Last year he was inducted into the NC Sports Hall of Fame that is mostly comprised of stick and ball sports figures. Here is a paragraph about Mr. Bridges and the Endowment Fund that he was instrumental in establishing:

From the NC WRC Website:



We just this year got a Lifetime Trapping License added to the program.

You maybe right, it is getting harder and harder to get new fire fighters with all the training they have now days. The vast majority of fire fighters are volunteers. Most small village and town can not afford to pay full time fire fighters. I would guess Mi. pays about $40,000 per/year plus 30% in fringes.

States offering lifetime or free licenses are losing out on federal grant monies (pitman-robertson) each year....hopefully they can afford that.

I read they are offering the 1/2 price to try and recruit volunteers as their numbers are dropping. Dad got me my lifetimes before I turned 11 for a discount. I've bought them for my kids when they were born for the biggest discount. An adult in NC will recoup their money after about 12 years compared to buying yearly. The only thing is they changed that you have to fill out a survey yearly or the WRC won't send your tags. I always forget, but can get them printed at wal mart. As far as the Pitmann-Robertson tax, it has racked up the money in NC. I am afraid the assembly might somehow get their hands on the money other than what it was intended for, Wildlife conservation!

Well, if it is a volunteer fireman recruitment ploy, it will take 5 years to determine if it is a success since you have to be volunteer fireman for 5 years to be eligible.

The original bill that established the Endowment and set the rules was carefully worded to keep the Endowment money safe from future political raids. It will soon be 40 years and the principal is a very large sum of money and there has been no attempt to raid it yet.

Pitman funds are allocated back to states based on number of licenses SOLD....not based on free licenses or lifetime licenses (except the original purchase year for the lifetime). Also, if the state discounts the license price enough that the cost of selling it is higher than the license fee itself, it also will not count for Pitman funds. Useless trivia I guess...Lol