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

[wind gypsy]

Colorado had a 57000 jump in applications between 2019 and 2022. Vast majority NR as resident hunter numbers have been declining.

Makes me wonder how much of the applications and point buying has increased due to loss easily accessible tags. A decade ago a guy could get a MT or ID tag at their leisure, WY was an every other year, CO OTC probably sucked a lot less, so lots of people didn't even play the points game. I hunted MT general tags for 2 or 3 years before i even considered a bonus point or applying for the LE units.

 

[ridgerunnerrron]

Keep on dinging the non-residents constantly. If you won't pay it, there's the next guy that will.

 

[Sanchez]

...Yeah, also enjoying the hell out of all our white privledge

Exactly.

 

[RyanT26]

Eventually everyone gets price out and for ever hunter that quits hunting Montana that’s one less continuing family that will most likely be sympathetic to helping fight anti hunting legislation in Montana.

Hope I’m wrong but that’s trend I shaw when Colorado’s recent lion and wolf legislation. I talked to a lot of hunters in states like TX, Okla, Kansas, Nebraska that no longer hunt there due to cost, they were not the least bit open to donating to help fight the legislation. Decreasing hunting number mean decreasing support.

I am falling into this category more every year. 10 years ago I was donating $1,500 a year between state based conservation org’s and western states walk in hunting programs. Not a lot in the grand scheme of things but sure felt like I was helping.
After years of G&F agency’s milking NR’s for every penny they can get that amount has dropped to zero. Hindsight I would have enjoyed spending that 15,000ish on hunts or private land access for myself and got a hell of a lot more out of it.