Signs and Trout Stamps

[THE EG]

Two different topics.

1) Owl asks in another thread about signs at Smith Creek. Do you know or can you tell me who to ask about putting signs up on regulated streams in general? Are there state or federal (or even county) legal problems involved in doing this? Are there rules about the aesthetics of information signs in parks or WMA's? Have governmental agencies or others (I expect TU would have acted on this a long time ago if allowed) ever placed information signs near or on public streams?

2) Every once in awhile somebody on the board is willing to "pay 5 or 10 extra dollars" on the trout stamp for whatever cause. I am looking for current (and past) data on: A)number of stamps sold each year. B)How much revenue is raised? C)How is that revenue used? If you just point me in the right direction I'll go find it.

TIA
Bill Egeland

[Owl]

Hey Eggie ! TU or the DNR ( don't know who footed the bill ! http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif ) has signs showing stream improvements and in-stream structure improvements along many heavily used stream ( I think Lower Smith's would qualify . http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif ) I'd Reeeealyy like to hear everyone's thoughts on a sign that says .........This stream patroled by DNR Enforcement Officers and members of NGTO..Turn in Poachers - ( tele # )


Anyone ? I'll put in some $$$$ for this ? ( C'mon guys....action speaks louder....you know how it goes.)

[dredger]

I like the sign idea. I was thinking of the Neighborhood Watch signs that subdivisions but up at their entrances while driving home Friday. We could have a Stream Watch program.

[Owl]

Stream Watch !!!!! Great name , Dredger ! http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif

NGTO Stream Watch
Poaching is a CRIME.
No littering.
( T.I.P. # here)

[stardaddy]

The EG, I attended a meeting about the Rock Creek hatchery two years ago, and the question of money from licenses and where it went was raised and the State of Georgia representive told us the following. All revenue (fees) raised from the purchase of all fishing and hunting licenses go into the general fund. There is no separate fund for these fees to be used for hunting or fishing projects, so paying more money for licenses will not benefit any game related issue.
However, he did say that more money is spent on game and fish projects than is taken in as fees from licenses.

[The Ole Man]

stardaddy
Re your last sentence. They do spend beyond the license fee collections ,because the Fed's have a fishing tackle tax collected at the wholesale level on every piece of fishing equipment made. The Feds then dole this out to the states for spending on fishing. So-I don't know if Ga. spends beyond these two combined revenues or not. Also don't know if they spend some of the fishing money on hunting or other outdoor rec. or not.

[THE EG]

Stardaddy,

My cynical X-Files response would be: "Wow! The state rep didn't give you any information that you asked for and made you feel guilty at the same time" http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif.

Seriously, I'm just looking for facts (specific facts) to get a better picture of where the money is being spent and how much is there. What is the trout fishing impact? If we make any arguments to anybody we have to have numbers to stand on. The info should be public and accessable. We just have to find the right people to ask.

[THE EG]

Owl,

I liked jeffg's idea about emphasizing education. State the regulations of the stream on the sign in a prominent yet appealing place. Put the local and 800 TIP numbers at the bottom as needed. I still think a lot of the problems are due to uninformed anglers. As for asking around first, I take a "measure twice, cut once" attitude. I don't want fanatical members of the Ladies'Garden Club of the Chattahoochie WMA taking chainsaws to the signs (I made that group up). If we got an OK to put up signs, I would anticipate replacing them quite often from the vandals and real poachers. My 2 cents.

[Owl]

ok by me.

[THE EG]

Hey Owl,

I forgot to make my first point yesterday. Talkin' too much. I'll gladly help with the sign making if we get an OK from the powers that be. Just got to find them first so we're not wasting our time.

[Owl]

Agreed. Let me know. http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif


Owl

[Bill Couch]

I'm swamped and will respond ASAPractical.
Bill