In case most of you missed it, last week sometime (Don't remember the exact day) there was an article about Fish & Game running out of money for Search and Rescue, and that possibly they would have to raise license fee's etc. to get some of this money back. Our local Fish and Game club is sending a letter to our local Senator John Gallus, The letter reads as follows (I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to introduce a new law or amend RSA 206:26 XII, Which requires the New Hampshire Conservation Officers to do the Search and Rescue within woodlands and inland waters of the State of New Hampshire. I would like you to introduce a law to exclude the White Mountain National Forest. It is time the Federal Gov't paid for its own Search and Rescue (New Hampshire is one of the only states that pays for search and rescue in a national forest) As a resident of N.H. I have to pay a 20$ parking pass fee to hike, fish, hunt or do any outdoor recreation in the White Mountain National Forest. I beleive that this is wrong and needs to be changed. The amount of hikers that this area attracts from all over the country and the amount of money spent by the state in rescues can be greatly reduced by making a law that would exclude the White Mountain National Forest as an are that the State of N.H. is responsible for and giving the responsibility and the "Cost" to the Federal Government.) Personally from my standpoint i agree with this letter as Fish & Game does a remarkable Job, I know this pertains to my area up North, but it would also be nice to see Fish & Game not have to worry about where they are going to get the Money for these Search and Rescues in the White Mountain National Forest Leaving them to Spend the money Elsewhere such as Hunting and Fishing. Sorry if i bored anyone or stepped on any toes It wasn't mean't to be that way!!!!!!!! Take Care God Bless and Tight Lines LOL Dave From up North P.S. if anyone would like a copy of the letter to sign their names and send it out Let me know and I'll gladly send it to you!!!!!

Send me a copy Dave... I totally agree that the funds should come from the government. Or better yet, make the yahoos pay for their own rescues. Most of them are just ill-prepared for the wilderness they're entering anyways.
I stopped visiting the mountains when they came up with that darn fee. Just for the point of it. I live here and pay taxes here... I should be able to hunt, fish and hike for free. Isn't our state motto "Live free or die"???

Slip -- I think there is an asterisk on that motto that reads "after taxes." - Eric

wish my vote counted in nh, moved a few years ago to mass., that always irritated me that funds get shifted like that. i can honestly say i havent gone to the kangamangus since they started those parking fees, dont we already pay taxes for that park.

Try living up here and face a fine for parking on a dirt road to hunt in an area you've hunted your entire life, Needless to say I was fined in the first couple of years and having been hunting there again since, I feel if i live 5 miles away and have been going there since i was a kid why should i have to pay to go there now???????? Take Care God Bless and Tight Lines LOL Dave From up North

Dave, greetings from southern NH. In my opinion, letting the federal government take control of the WMNF will lead to gates, controlled hours of operation, and worse than we freedom loving granite staters could handle. I agree completely that mountain rescues have been on the backs of hunters and fishermen,(and snowmobile and OHRV registrations) and this is the issue that should be addressed. Don't forget the MRS, Androscoggin S&R, RMC S&R, and many other local volunteer groups, the answer could lie with state funding to these groups?? I also completely disagree with the parking pass program, and have never purchased one, and never been ticketed. I also know of 45 cases that were thrown out by a judge in one day, and only 2 of the 45 actually showed up in court. This happened from the parking situation at Rumney about 3 years ago. I'm not trying to rile any feathers or anything here, I just don't like the idea of the government having more control of "our" resource than they already do.(and I'll admit I'm a republican) Oh god! I hope this doesn't start a war. God bless from a southern frenchman.

Point well taken, but up in my neck of the woods the forest service already has tight reins on the White Mountain National Forest, so in layman's terms you could say that the Gov't is already in control of it. Secondly The biggest point i'm trying to get across is that New Hampshire is one of the only states that pays for its own search and Rescues on Federally protected lands, Most other states the Federal Gov't pays for any rescues on such land and i feel N.H. should follow that paths of those states and take the financial burden off of our local Fish & Game Conservation Officers who have to little to spend as it already is Point well taken though Take Care God Bless and Tight Lines LOL Dave From Up North

This may sound like a joke but if we as hunters and anglers have to pay for the sports that are near and dear to our hearts Non=residents like my self a bite more than is fair (that is this mans opinion). then why doesn't the state have a hikers license, mountain climbers a license etc. and making those people go through some classes to learn about thier sport, and be able to pass a written test like us hunters and boaters have to do? maybe if they were prepared before they go out then the state wouldn't be spending time and money looking for these clowns or at least if it was spent at least it would be justified knowing they paid for that service via licensing fees. the way it is now however is just not fair making anglers and hunters foot this cost.

Its been a while since I wa sthere but does this mean if I want to got to sandwich notch and fish in the bebe river or take my kid to cow cave I need a parking permit?