An update:
I think I'm over being ticked for paying the fee, especially since so many here say their states charge a fee. I do want to add some info just for completeness of the discussion.
For starters I learned yesterday I was not selected for a Swan Creek blind spot. I say spot because the the state does not supply a blind, rather a place to park a floating blind you supply for the season. We had a group of about 15 and not one of us was selected. I did hear there were more than 900 entries so that means the state brought in over $18,000. I hope those funds go right back to Swan Creek.
I took Dani's advise and asked a few questions about the drawing registration fees on the Al DCNR FB page. No response.
But were they to claim it is just to cover the cost of the blind draw I'll have to doubt that. Up until a couple years ago the blind draw was done in person with about 300 blinds showing up. All 300 blinds would be inspected and only if they passed inspection would they enter the draw. I attended several of the drawings over the years and the state had no less than a half dozen employees at the drawing all day long inspecting each and every blind. After that was done they'd start the drawing and with every blind owner present they'd spin a big tumbler full pill bottles each containing the name of a blind owner. One-by-one a pill bottle was pulled, opened, and name called out. The lucky person went to a board and picked a spot from the ones that remained. At one time there were 75 blinds, then it went to 50. Either way it made for a long day. Now everything is handled with software and the only blinds that are inspected are the 30 (reduced from 50) that are lucky enough to be drawn. This without a doubt requires a fraction of manpower to run, and given all the drawings the sate is doing now there is no doubt the fees more than cover the software they bought to run the drawings. Plainly put they cut costs and generated money at the same start. A really smart business move, but I still don't like paying to enter a raffle.
Now I wait to see if I'm drawn for the sandhill crane season and then I will to put in (maybe) for the Special Opportunity Area (SOA) draw. Yep, another $10-20, make that times two. Thomas is a nearly broke college student so I cover his fees too. By the time it is all said and done I will have spent $100 and it is not looking like I'll get anything in return. Vegas offers better odds. Such is the life of a WMA hunter in this day and age. The older I get, the less I like it.
Eric