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

[LR5Ranger]

Residents voted in the politicians determined to squeeze every penny out of montanas wildlife. Montana resident license fees are priced like it’s 1980 because Montana residents demand it. MT still hunts mule deer OTC with rifles through the rut because residents demand it.

You’re absolutely right. And if MT residents insist on being freeloaders so they can hunt elk for the price of a fast food meal I can point it out on the internet.

Freeloaders eh? The people living every day of the year, paying property taxes, income taxes, vehicle registration, sales tax etc are the freeloaders? The people filling their freezers because living costs are out of control, being driven up by a bunch of out of state Yellowstone wannabe yahoos?

I hope MT charges non-res hunters through the nose just for attitudes like this. And I hope Idaho follows suit. Wanna waltz in, shoot a trophy and drive home, it should cost you a significant chunk of change.

 

[wind gypsy]

Freeloaders eh? The people living every day of the year, paying property taxes, income taxes, vehicle registration, sales tax etc are the freeloaders? The people filling their freezers because living costs are out of control, being driven up by a bunch of out of state Yellowstone wannabe yahoos?

I hope MT charges non-res hunters through the nose just for attitudes like this. And I hope Idaho follows suit. Wanna waltz in, shoot a trophy and drive home, it should cost you a significant chunk of change.

When you pay less for an elk tag than I paid for my first non youth mn whitetail tag 23 years ago, you’re counting on someone else to foot the bill for your wildlife agency. Maybe your wildlife agency would represent resident hunters better and cater to tx billionaire ranch owners and outfitted NR less if you guys paid anywhere close to all the other Rocky Mountain states.

Edit: maybe freeloader was a bit strong. Still the ratio of R to NR fees in MT are bonkers compared to the rest of the west.

 

[Cmf88]

I wish they would just cut the amount of tags by 50%. Of course it’s not about the animals, it’s about money.

 

[tdhanses]

Freeloaders eh? The people living every day of the year, paying property taxes, income taxes, vehicle registration, sales tax etc are the freeloaders? The people filling their freezers because living costs are out of control, being driven up by a bunch of out of state Yellowstone wannabe yahoos?

I hope MT charges non-res hunters through the nose just for attitudes like this. And I hope Idaho follows suit. Wanna waltz in, shoot a trophy and drive home, it should cost you a significant chunk of change.

MT doesn’t have some of those things you listed that residents pay.

 

[LR5Ranger]

MT doesn’t have some of those things you listed that residents pay.

The point still stands.

 

[dirtytough]

MT doesn’t have some of those things you listed that residents pay.

It sounds better to embellish and it helps gain sympathy for the poor poor residents.

 

[tdhanses]

The point still stands.

Yes and many in MT don’t feel your a resident if you don’t have a MT birth certificate.

Many Nonresidents pay all those same things for their second or third homes.

Personally maybe all resident tags should be based purely on birth certificates, maybe it should be a birth right to hunt states wildlife.

 

[The Guide]

MT doesn’t have some of those things you listed that residents pay.

It sounds better to embellish and it helps gain sympathy for the poor poor residents.

I know you think you're correct, but your not. Even though there is no state sales tax, many area (mostly tourist areas which happen to be high traffic hunting areas) have "local sales tax" and "resort fees" which are a sales tax no matter how you look at it. We do have property tax and income tax and pay vehicle tax with our registration.

Jay

 

[tdhanses]

I know you think you're correct, but your not. Even though there is no state sales tax, many area (mostly tourist areas which happen to be high traffic hunting areas) have "local sales tax" and "resort fees" which are a sales tax no matter how you look at it. We do have property tax and income tax and pay vehicle tax with our registration.

Jay

Yes sales tax is it but what Nonresident that ownes a $2m second home with a few cars that remain at it do not pay those as well and pay more then many residents?

Just saying that is a silly argument, resident tags should be based on birth certificates, would stop some of those transplants moving just to hunt as residents as well.

Also I’m not saying transplants should pay nonresident fees but at the very least they can pay 50%. Like everyone says, it’s mainly wealthy out of staters moving in anyway.

 

[Jason Snyder]

When you pay less for an elk tag than I paid for my first non youth mn whitetail tag 23 years ago, you’re counting on someone else to foot the bill for your wildlife agency. Maybe your wildlife agency would represent resident hunters better and cater to tx billionaire ranch owners and outfitted NR less if you guys paid anywhere close to all the other Rocky Mountain states.

Edit: maybe freeloader was a bit strong. Still the ratio of R to NR fees in MT are bonkers compared to the rest of the west.

In MT you can get two elk tags for $40. One for a cow and one general.

 

[The Guide]

LOL Montana. They already have the biggest resident to non-resident tag cost discrepancy in the west, maybe not counting Alaska when residents dont have to pay for a tag.

NR Currently can expect to pay $1278 (base fee plus 2 preference points) for a general elk tag.

Residents pay $20 for an elk tag.

Pretty pathetic that resident hunters that act like they care so much about their hunting cant stomach to pay more than that to pursue their prized critters.

Also, incorrect. If I, as a resident, wanted to buy an elk tag only I also have to buy a conservation license, base hunting license, and the elk tag for a total of $38.

A nonresident COMBINATION tag includes those items plus a season fishing and an upland game bird license. They want you to experience more than just the hunting. My friends that come and hunt from out of state like the added opportunities because I take them to do all kinds of stuff when they are in the state.

If you just want an elk tag, an OTC NR cow elk tag is $270. If you want a general tag you have to pay for it.

When I want to go fishing offshore out of San Diego on a 7 day trip I have to pay for a California fishing license for 7 days too even though we might be in Mexican waters for 6 of those 7 days. I also have to pay for a Mexican license for all 7 days plus a have a Mexican tourist card for all 7 days. I don't cry online about it, I just pay the fee and enjoy 7 days offshore on a boat with my phone turned off eating good food and catching big fish.

Life is too short to worry about who pays what because of where they live.

Jay

 

[The Guide]

Yes sales tax is it but what Nonresident that ownes a $2m second home with a few cars that remain at it do not pay those as well and pay more then many residents?

Just saying that is a silly argument, resident tags should be based on birth certificates, would stop some of those transplants moving just to hunt as residents as well.

Also I’m not saying transplants should pay nonresident fees but at the very least they can pay 50%. Like everyone says, it’s mainly wealthy out of staters moving in anyway.

Residency has benefits. Our state constitution has written in it that the residents of the state have the right to hunt and fish and those rights are not expressly given to nonresidents. If you can afford a $2M 2nd home you can afford a nonresident hunting license. As a resident, I can't afford a $2M first home let alone a second home of that value.

Jay

 

[CorbLand]

I think Arizona charges a $100 for a “general hunting license” which is non refundable when applying as a non resident, but required if you want to apply for a big game license.

Personally I thought that was a bit high applying for a Coues deer license ($315 which I didn’t think was too bad).

AZ NR hunting license is 160.

 

[The Guide]

In MT you can get two elk tags for $40. One for a cow and one general.

Technical, you could get 2 for $58 and 3 for $78 as you are allowed 1 Elk A and 2 Elk B tags per year. Yes, you can kill 3 elk per year in Montana.

Jay

 

[tdhanses]

Residency has benefits. Our state constitution has written in it that the residents of the state have the right to hunt and fish and those rights are not expressly given to nonresidents. If you can afford a $2M 2nd home you can afford a nonresident hunting license. As a resident, I can't afford a $2M first home let alone a second home of that value.

Jay

And if your a resident with a $500k home you can afford $600 to hunt as well, it cracks me up how cheap residents of every state are, it’s not just western states.

So I’m guessing you weren’t born in MT? Nothing says you wouldn’t get resident hunting and fishing rights as a resident but the cost to do that can easily be modified, birth right status should matter as hunting sees more pressure.

MT is the only state that actually realizes this and offers a discount to those with one, yes hunters ed and immediate family are required.

I think transplants should get resident rights to tags but still pay way more for the right than those born in the state for the same tags and this should go for all states.

Personally as hunting keeps growing it would be smart for western states to adopt birth right pricing to reduce people moving just to hunt and fish and it would reduce the need for Nonresidents that much more, just think if 50% of resident tags fees were from transplants that start paying 50% of what nonresidents pay, they would substantially fund the state fish and game dept.

And it wouldn’t even be political suicide, probably would reduce resident issues in time.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Technical, you could get 2 for $58 and 3 for $78 as you are allowed 1 Elk A and 2 Elk B tags per year. Yes, you can kill 3 elk per year in Montana.

Jay

Thanks for correcting my error.

 

[Jason Snyder]

LOL Montana. They already have the biggest resident to non-resident tag cost discrepancy in the west, maybe not counting Alaska when residents dont have to pay for a tag.

NR Currently can expect to pay $1278 (base fee plus 2 preference points) for a general elk tag.

Residents pay $20 for an elk tag.

Pretty pathetic that resident hunters that act like they care so much about their hunting cant stomach to pay more than that to pursue their prized critters.

Montanans have fought resident fee increases tooth and nail for decades. Frankly, I’m past the point of caring. MT residents as a whole have clearly shown over the years how much they are willing to pay for their wildlife resources.

The pigeons will come home to roost when the money buying the out of state governor wants more hunting benefits. It’s sad to watch. Enjoy those cheap elk tags. More bulls for billionaires, coming soon to a hunt district near you.

 

[wind gypsy]

Also, incorrect. If I, as a resident, wanted to buy an elk tag only I also have to buy a conservation license, base hunting license, and the elk tag for a total of $38.

A nonresident COMBINATION tag includes those items plus a season fishing and an upland game bird license. They want you to experience more than just the hunting. My friends that come and hunt from out of state like the added opportunities because I take them to do all kinds of stuff when they are in the state.

According to FWP, the combo license does not include base hunting license or base conservation license. I don’t want to hunt ditch parrots and I probably don’t have time to go fishing.
2 points plus combo tag: $1278
Resident elk tag: $20
1278/20= 63.9x as expensive for a NR





Funny that you brought up CA fishing licenses. if a NR wants a 10 day license in CA, it costs $62.90. If a CA resident wants to be covered for ten days of fishing they have to buy and annual license which costs the exact same as the NR 10 day- $62.90 man they are sure sticking it to you for being a NR. Not quite the extent of the 64x MT residents get compared to NR to get an elk tag.

 

[The Guide]

And if your a resident with a $500k home you can afford $600 to hunt as well, it cracks me up how cheap residents of every state are, it’s not just western states.

So I’m guessing you weren’t born in MT? Nothing says you would get resident hunting and fishing rights but the cost to do that can easily be modified, birth right status should matter as it hunting sees more pressure.

MT is the only state that actually realizes this and offers a discount to those with one.

I was born in Bozeman in 1976 and have resided in the state since then. Who in the world owns a $500k home and is actually from a working family? I hunt only Montana since I can kill more than we could eat on general OTC tags. I put in for in state special draws and hunt those when I'm drawn. I don't worry about what other states do because there are a lot of places in this state I haven't seen or hunted yet. Might hunt Alaska one day but that won't be after my kids are grown and if my wife and I move there because of our careers (we have had transfer offers but choose to stay for less pay to keep our kids steady with education and sports).

Not really sure why everyone gets upset with Montana and Montanians when it comes to our laws and hunting. If you don't like them, don't hunt here. I won't tell you how to do things where you live.

Jay

 

[Jason Snyder]

Not really sure why everyone gets upset with Montana and Montanians when it comes to our laws and hunting. If you don't like them, don't hunt here. I won't tell you how to do things where you live.

No one is forcing you to read their comments either.

Nothing any of us write on here will have any bearing on the success or failure of this bill. Legislators can and should serve their constituents. Apparently, this bill is satisfying their wishes.