OT Hunting License Rant

peter nap

peter nap

Joined
Nov 27, 1999
Messages
3,745
Rant time.
BP season comes in in a couple of weeks and I haven't had time to bow hunt so I didn't get a license. I went to Walmart tonight and got mine. First, I got some old SOB who was hard of hearing, to waited on me.

I told him I wanted a license. He demanded my drivers license. I gave him my old hunting license and told him that was all the information he needed. He said he preferred my drivers license. Sparks won't let me post how I responded to that.

He took my hunting license to a computer and typed in all the information and asked for my phone number. I told him the game commission didn't need my phone number. He said he preferred to have it. Sparks won't let me post my response to that either.

He printed my license out on a laser printer. I asked if he was online with the Game Commission and I was going to raise hell about creating a database. He said he wasn't online and this was something Walmart was doing.
What in hell is going on?
Is this what I keep hearing about concerning Va. selling the Hunting/fishing license lists.
 
That's what I like about being a landowner in Kaintuckee. You don't need no stinking hunting license :D

Raise hell with em..
 
Don U/Sam wants you... :eek:

do you know all the new Cell phones now come with GPS chips,,, yeahup it's the law.. now they can track you anywhere..and they say that's a good thing :confused:
right,, like if my arse is lost,,, they'll come running for me :rolleyes:
 
like if my arse is lost,,, they'll come running for me

Well, if they thought you were making methamphetamine it would make you easier to track; if you caught your rig on fire they could come save you're skinny arse - and blighted soul.

Don, is Walmart the only place you have to buy a license or the most conventient one? I'd be looking for somewhere less intrusive next year. I don't like databases either. But the only guy I know who may not be on many doesn't have a job, hasn't filed income taxes since 1968 and only spends cash. He has no cell phone either. His lifestyle seems limited, but you have to wonder who's the freer of the two of us...
 
You're not alone Don, Maryland"s the same way. Every year they seem to make it more complicated to get your money sucking license. The money from hunting and fishing licenses is suppose to go for conservation within the state, but i doubt it. As far as Walmart, you better be educated about whatever you need because they don't know squat when you ask a question. :mad:
Scott
 
I remember a few years back I bought a couple of bricks of 22 ammo at Walmart. They asked if this was for a rifle or pistol. I told the little girl it was none of Janet Renos GD buisness what the hell it was for. The information age is sucking.
 
Mark Williams said:
I remember a few years back I bought a couple of bricks of 22 ammo at Walmart. They asked if this was for a rifle or pistol. I told the little girl it was none of Janet Renos GD buisness what the hell it was for. The information age is sucking.
Click to expand...
Right on, Mark! Here at the Burlington walmart Superstore we have two full time gentlemen that are REAL outdoorsmen and can answer questions and offer good advice. I've purchased my sporting goods at their counter for several years. I hope WalMart never hears about two of their employees knowing what they are doing! The two fellas will be in serious trouble, and I will have to go elsewhere, dang it.
 
Don, it must just be your area, I bought BP and Bow tags at wal-mart a couple weeks ago in Mo. and they asked to see my old license and that was it, took maybe 2 minutes to get my business taken care of.

Kit, its the same way in Mo. but I like to roam and still hunt to much to tie myself down to one property. Now if I had 5000 arces it would be different.. :)

Bill
 
I am glad you blokes are not the only ones with drop kicks running things they have no common sence to be running.

To post to the US we need to fill out a couple of forms to say there is nothing in the pakage that is harm full. Fair enough. But then they (our postal workers)ask for my drivers licence I show them my firearms licence wich is the same shape and size and the same serial number. It is issued buy the same police force. The only difference is one is blue and the other is red.No sorry sir it has to be your drivers licence it says so on my list.

I was tempeted to say I was physically impared and did not have a drivers licence and say they were discriminating against me. Just to see how they would react to it. I am not, and I do have a drivers licence but how do you get on if you don't drive. Or better still tell them my licence was taken off me for running over postal workers.

I think it just boils down to they have a stupid set of guidlines and they are not lateral thinkers. I was too lazy to send a letter to the post office suggesting they amend there list to include a firearms licence. So if i am too lazy to get it changed I don't bother taking it out on the poor slob at the counter after all he is an idiot and can't help it.

As far as intel goes you think they would be more interested to know I had a firearms licence sending parcels if they are concerned with dangerous goods.
 
Driver's licences ? They are the most commonly forged documents !! BTDT, I've had really good IDs refused because they only take DL.
 
last year i went to buy some pistol ammo. and the guy gave me crap about not being able to buy pistol ammo untill i was 21. but he sure enough let me get my 12 guage shotgun shells and my .22 ammo.
i said "hey buddy you know this .22 ammo is good for pistols too? and you know they make more rifles that shoot pistol ammo right?" he had no response.
it makes me mad that some place like wal-mart that has god knows who running the registers try to but their nose in on something they don't even know anyting about.
and when you call them on it they have nothing to back up their stupid mistakes becaue they dont know jack schnitt
 
Michael J. Spangler said:
they dont know jack schnitt
Click to expand...

I know jack schnitt we get along great :D :p

I'd work for the government but I know to much and that an't much :)

I see a bumper sticker yesterday saying

messes can not be fixed by the minds that made them. :( simple but true..
 
After a somewhat terse conversation with the Game Commission this morning, I found out Walmart was not supposed to ask for my Drivers License or Phone number and they agreed that a Drivers License is a license to drive, not an ID. I did point out that the DMV sold Id's but since this was America and Virginia and didn't need an ID, I had neglected getting one and would continue to do so.
They also agreed that if I was pulled over for speeding, the cop wouldn't want to see my license to hunt.

The Commission has also included a provision in their agent franchise agreements that they are not permitted to copy, sell or use the license information for anything other than hunting licenses. They will call Walmart to be sure that is being followed.

They also will send me a letter to that effect.

I got the impression I was not the first angry hunter to call about that.
 
I usually let these slide and I probably should here too but what the hell....

Pete, I've worked for Wal-Mart of 22+ in over 75 stores years so I can probably answer this.
The information entered into an electronic kiosk for hunting/fishing icenses is not captured by Wal-mart and is entirely for the state. It is not wal-mart equipment (unless we are required to purchase it by the state) and isn't even connected to the company computers. It is a direct phone line to game and fish. Every state seems to have their own system and states that don't have an electronic system, the licenses are all old fashioned paper. If the old guy asked you for a phone number, the game and fish terminal asked for it. If you wrote a check, the register may have prompted you for a drivers license. It does that once a year. Depending on the store location, if writing a check, you may get asked for a phone number. This is to help prosecute bad checks only. The number isn't recorded anywhere else. If you bounce a check, you'll end up in the computer but that's about it.

Mark, as you know, some ammo can be used in a handgun and a long gun. Federal law requires handgun ammo age is 21, long gun 18. I can't imagine you looked even close to 21 if you bought it in the last couple years but some habits are hard to break when ringing some one up. Also, some communities require all handgun ammo sales be registered (don't go off on me about this, it is rare, but I've seen it).

If either one of you guys (or anyone else for that matter - a limited one time offer) want me to make a phone call to 'fix' something broken in your local store, send me a private email and I'll take care of it.
 
Tracy that was cool, thanks. These days of rampant abuse of ill-gotten personal information it's natural to assume the worst. And probably pragmatic. So it's good to hear that some seemingly dark questions have a benign reason and application. Not that I'm running off to buy any ammo from a big store; gun shows do me nicely thanks.

Don, you must have a manner that commands respect from bureaucrats; I sure wouldn't have received such treatment. Way to go.
 
Tracy, I know a little more about the system now. As you said, all states are different.

This is for Va only. I have no idea what other states do.

The equipment is owned by Walmart. The software is owned by the state.

It does go online and access the departments online license purchase but Walmart keeps a copy of the transaction on their system.

The phone number is not asked for by the state and in fact there is no place to put it on the state form. There is a section on saltwater fishing licenses asking for a partial number but not hunting or fresh water fishing.

I did not write a check. I paid cash and the fellow was clear that he wanted a drivers license instead of my old hunting license.

I spent a lot of time verifying this information and looking at their online purchase as well as talking with the director of licensing agents with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and with the State Attorney Generals office.

The reason I was given for Walmart to keep a database is in case someone comes in to get a replacement for a lost license. They will only have to type my name and their database will bring up my records. This is done in-house, not online. Before they had to go through the books that they had in the store with the carbon.
 
Don, you must have a manner that commands respect from bureaucrats; I sure wouldn't have received such treatment. Way to go

:D I used to be a Bureaucrat Dave. It's just a matter of knowing the right words to say.
 
tmickley said:
If either one of you guys (or anyone else for that matter - a limited one time offer) want me to make a phone call to 'fix' something broken in your local store, send me a private email and I'll take care of it.
Click to expand...

Tracy Mine needs help,, :eek:
tell the store in Bangor Maine they do not give me enouph money back when they make change for me. I'll gladly show them ID
please tell them I'd like to get as many 100's that they can spare and I'll be back each day after for more change :footinmou :D :D
 
It appears that hunters and fishermen across the country are paying the way for state parks and recreational areas to be used by non-hunters and non-fishermen.

As a resident, to hunt and fish in Texas and get all the necessary state stamps for ducks, turkey, salt water fish, fresh water fish, etc. AND the federal duck stamp, it cost me $79 before I ever wet the first hook or fired the first shot! Now what's up with that?

Some day, only the elite, like in Britain and Europe, will be the only ones that will be able to afford to hunt or fish. That is where we are headed.

Maybe its all part of a grandiose plan...

Craig
 
Craig, I'm with you on the idea of subsidizing a bunch of folks crowding up the parks and lakes. I know that there's more to the outdoors than hunting and fishing but there's something goofy about all these people who bring their TVs and DVD players along in their campers, to park by the lake and ride scooters up to the showers to blow dry their hair after a day splashing at the water's edge. Why not just stay home at the poolside, drinking Tom Collins? Leave the open sky to those of us who look up and appreciate it.
 
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