Montana Proposed bill to raise Non resident base hunting fees over 500%

[Erict]

I really don't care if residents get free licenses, but as a NR take offense when the prices go up and there is no reasonable explanation nor does it seem easy to get accurate data from FWP. Can someone refresh my memory?

1. Have split seasons for NR, or everybody, ever been considered, like Colorado (Rifle 1, Rifle 2)?
2. Why not just add a fee for ALL Block Management Access (BMA) users (private land)?
3. What exactly is the hangup with mandatory "harvest" reporting like many other states have? We've had it for years here in NY and while there is still only about a 50% reporting rate, it's cheap to administer and provides additional verification for population trends.

 

[tdhanses]

Same here. I'm 4x on whatever we have for licenses, permits, and drawings. If they start charging more to residents, you will see residents killing more game. If it costs them $100 for the tag, they will kill every 2 point, raghorn, doe, and cow that is legal. Nothing will get a pass. If you think resident hunters are dicks to nonresident hunters now, just wait until those tags go up. When residents quit traveling in-state to hunt and you nonresident hunters have to float the entire tourism bill for some of these small towns, just wait to see the prices of your lodging and food. Your desire for "equity" will cost everyone.

Jay

A minority may act like that but I doubt most in MT will, many would be ok to pay even double what they do today.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Resources belong to the state and its residents. I have zero issues with any state charging non residents what they want to.

 

[rogerdoger]

Honestly I am a bit confused as how each resident of each state pays more or less in taxes for our federal land management, are we not all taxed on the same federal tax brackets? Most of the wildlife management on those said lands is by each state not the federal government. This where Montana has decided to get a bulk of its funding from the NR, and I understand how it can be frustrating to have no say in how the system is managed, but since you are not a resident you have no vote in this state. If you would like more involvement in the management of the land get involved in those organizations. If you want more involvement in wildlife management get involved in those organizations, does not have to be donations. Sending letters to congress, donate time etc. If you do not belong to any organization or help in any way it does nothing more for land management than your neighbor that doesn’t hunt or fish.

As for NR tags, it as simple as supply and demand. When you have a governor whose main background is in business you bet he’s going to look at any potential source into create revenue. They will continue to raise prices as long as there are takers. This will then cater to the rich non residents and the thousands that own their third or fourth home in Montana.

Many NR are correct in saying that most residents would blow a gasket if the price increased, it’s sad because they are in the end lowering the quality of wildlife for the future.