On a Web site for hunters in Connecticut , www . cthuntingnshooting . com , many local hunters expressed their concerns about Governor Jodi Rell’s proposal to increase the hunting license fees .

“ She better not do this . It will make me angry , ” responded one of the members to the online conversation . The bill proposes the hunting license fee hike from $ 28 to $ 56 , firearm license from $ 14 to $ 28 and archery license from $ 14 to $ 28 , for both state and private land hunting .

“ The governor’s proposal essentially doubles the fees , ” said Dennis Schain , spokesperson of the Department of Environmental Protection of the Governor’s Bill 6371 . “ As youcould understand , people are concerned about the increase , ” said Schain . This proposal is indeed making Connecticut hunters more than just concerned . Some worry that they’ll not be able to afford hunting in the coming season , and some say that there may be a rise in criminal activities because not everyone will not want to comply with the increase .

“ It’s going to hurt a lot of people , ” said Andy Swatik of Willington , the creator of the Web site . The 63-year-old hunter , who lives on disability funds , said that he hunts for meat for his family to last him for a year. “ It’s going to take a chunk out of my pocket . ” Swatik , who buys permits for two rifles , a muzzleloader , and archery , says that he spends about a $ 100 each season just for licenses and permits .

Another hunter , Rich Kratzke of Ashford , says that he hunts only for food . “ That’s how I feed my family in winter , ” said Kratzke , “ If I’m able to tag even one deer , it gives me stew meat , steak , roasts and tenderloins . ” Kratze , who lives with his wife and two sons , says a deer a yearlasts his family throughout the year. Although he says he buys other meat from stores , it saves him a lot of money .

Hunters , such as Kratzke and Swatik also invest in much more than licenses . They spend on various preparation gadgets and products . Kratze uses a Trail Cam , a camera with a motion detector that takes pictures when there’s a movement of animals , which cost him $ 200 . He also buys attractants to lure the animals , which he says are not cheap . Kratze , a custodian at Eastern Connecticut University , says that if there was an increase on the fees , he will spend 20 percent of his income on deer hunting .

Kratzke , who has been hunting for 19 years, believes that he contributes to the environment by hunting the over populating animals . The DEP recommends hunting of white-tail deer for population management and reduction of nuisance such as road kills and destruction of private plants and shrubs . But he laments that instead of providing incentive for protecting the environment , the government is taxing him more .

In the face of an economic decline , however , the proponent of the license fee increase , Gov . Rell’s office , argues that this increase , if approved , will bring in a $ 1 million income in the next year. Gov . Rell justified her position , in an e-mail response , by saying , “ We are experiencing an extraordinary fiscal crisis , and I do not want to raise taxes across the board on Connecticut residents . In these times , we need to make certain fees cover costs associated with specific programs . I suggested this fee increase to the legislature . Now , it is up to the General Assembly to decide what measures it believes are necessary to balance the budget . ”

There are approximately 50 , 000 licensed hunters in the state , according to DEP officials . And if there was an increase in the fee , not all may comply with it , says another hunter from Willington . Alan DaRos says that this increase of fees may backfire . “ I don’t think people will stop hunting , even if they can’t afford it . They’ll say , ‘ Hey I’m not going pay , ’ and there’ll be a lot of criminal activities , ” said DaRos . He said that it’s unfair for the state to try and balance the budget by trying to restrict his constitutional right .

If the bill is approved by the house , it will be activated on July 1 , 2009 .