Water Gap - Proposed Entrance Fees

[akoop]

As sportsmen we pay our hunting & fishing license fees but other outdoor activities such as hiking, photography, mountain biking, etc encounter no extra fees but they get to access the same areas. Maybe a reduced fee for licensed hunters & anglers. I know NJ was once thinking about a recreation permit for non-licensed hunters and anglers to use the WMAs. This makes sense to me, if the land is purchased and maintained through the license purchases then why should non-licensed activities benefit without contributing?

[Drossi]

Originally Posted by akoop

As sportsmen we pay our hunting & fishing license fees but other outdoor activities such as hiking, photography, mountain biking, etc encounter no extra fees but they get to access the same areas. Maybe a reduced fee for licensed hunters & anglers. I know NJ was once thinking about a recreation permit for non-licensed hunters and anglers to use the WMAs. This makes sense to me, if the land is purchased and maintained through the license purchases then why should non-licensed activities benefit without contributing?

Agreed. i'm tired of paying my license fees to fish on WMA and NPS land in NJ while others get to use (and abuse) them for free.

[NJSquatch]

Originally Posted by akoop

As sportsmen we pay our hunting & fishing license fees but other outdoor activities such as hiking, photography, mountain biking, etc encounter no extra fees but they get to access the same areas. Maybe a reduced fee for licensed hunters & anglers. I know NJ was once thinking about a recreation permit for non-licensed hunters and anglers to use the WMAs. This makes sense to me, if the land is purchased and maintained through the license purchases then why should non-licensed activities benefit without contributing?

The issue here is that this is Federal property. I would imagine they are going to get a lot of push back from the hunting and fishing community.

[akoop]

Originally Posted by NJSquatch

The issue here is that this is Federal property. I would imagine they are going to get a lot of push back from the hunting and fishing community.

But isn't the Flatbrook WMA enclosed in that area too?

[Dave B.]

Originally Posted by akoop

But isn't the Flatbrook WMA enclosed in that area too?

The Flatbrook/Roy WMA isn't enclosed within the DWGNRA, just surrounded by it on basically 3 sides. However the Walpack WMA is entirely within the national recreation area.

[FASTEDDIE29]

The new signs are up at the entrance/exit areas of the proposed area. This isn’t a proposal any longer. This is happening. I entered the area late this morning near Millbrook village where I saw the first sign. I headed south from there on Old Mine Rd., which is marked for road work on weekdays as of right now. The other sign marking the area is a hair south of the Poxono boat launch where the road closed gate is near the northern end of Worthington. Be prepared to pay if you explore this area from Memorial weekend through Labor Day weekend. It’s happening and thankfully I don’t fish the area during these months unless the Shad are still around

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by FASTEDDIE29

The new signs are up at the entrance/exit areas of the proposed area. This isn’t a proposal any longer. This is happening. I entered the area late this morning near Millbrook village where I saw the first sign. I headed south from there on Old Mine Rd., which is marked for road work on weekdays as of right now. The other sign marking the area is a hair south of the Poxono boat launch where the road closed gate is near the northern end of Worthington. Be prepared to pay if you explore this area from Memorial weekend through Labor Day weekend. It’s happening and thankfully I don’t fish the area during these months unless the Shad are still around

How are they planning to have people pay + enforce it? You think all spots are being affected?

[FASTEDDIE29]

Not sure if the area goes north of Millbrook village. I didn’t travel that way. There are existing gates at the southern end of Old Mine rd. near Rt 80, then again a hair north of Worthington state park. The end would be Millbrook Village as far as I’ve seen.

[Doug Vitale]

Originally Posted by NJSquatch

The issue here is that this is Federal property. I would imagine they are going to get a lot of push back from the hunting and fishing community.

Worthington is state-land, and it suffers from the same problem as the Gap (too many visitors; too much trash).

charging a fee will more than likely keep the POS riff raff away. I wouldn't be surprised if the locals are all for this... that place gets trashed every weekend in the summer.

Spot on. The entrance fee will result in marked decrease of visitors, which is fine because the park is overpopulated during the warmer time of the year.

I think the movie goodfellas had it right, "business is slow, fu** you pay me, the building got struck by lightning, fu** you pay me, Oh you want to fish in nj, fu** you, pay me twice

Love it.