Montana reducing nonresident deer tags

[peterk123]

It's worth listening to the meeting. My takeaway was that everything was a knee jerk reaction. Maybe I'm missing something but that commisioner Lelsley Robinson is far from impressive. She very well may be the problem. In her defense, this is the first time I really listened to her.

 

[S.Clancy]

Wait a minute.. I thought the # of NR combo tags was in statute so changes had to come through legislature? Maybe that is only the Elk combo tags?

They were available and returned. There is nothing in statute that says they have to re-sell them.

 

[S.Clancy]

Mandatory harvest reporting would likely require FWP cuts elsewhere. This is from the 2025 MT FWP Budget Book.

View attachment 983238

Huh? Are all of the people who do phone surveys volunteering for free? How is all the results the collect put into "data"? I'd think having actual mandatory reporting would make that work load smaller.

What does it cost to modify an app and website and change the regs? I have a hard time seeing how it'd be a significant cost hurdle.

We've talked to FWP leadership several times. Right now they are working on a tool for harvest reporting. The initial indication is they will pursue an incentive for reporting. I think there is a lot more to come on this. If FWP creates a harvest reporting tool that functions as well as the licensing App (which IME is the best functioning one in the West at least, can't speak outside of that) I think we are trending in the right direction.

 

[wind gypsy]

For many years, FWP has probably tried hard to do the best with what they had. I believe the "ALS" system was built and maintained by state workers. It may not be easy to simply add a "harvest reporting module" to that system. I'd bet it would cost more that it would save by eliminating callers.

Harvest reporting is one of those "is the juice worth the squeeze" things. Apples to oranges - NY is NOT self-funded by license sales. Long ago, they were able to "contract out" the entire licensing system which now works great. NY issues 2x more hunting and 9x more fishing licenses than MT. They spend about $3,000,000 a year just on the sporting license system that includes harvest reporting by phone, web or app. Mandatory harvest reporting since 2000. No automatic penalties for not reporting and the ECOs don't really issue a lot of tickets for non-reporting. It took several years for the reporting rate to level off and provide "more accurate" estimates.

NY "mandatory" harvest reporting 2000-2024:
View attachment 983278

What is the reporting rate? Is that saying half of hunters dont do the mandatory reporting?

Been mandatory to register harvested deer in my home state (MN) since before I was a twinkle in my dad's eye (i'm 40). There are people who dont follow the law and they are ticketed accordingly. 50% would be wild though?

 

[S.Clancy]

What is the reporting rate? Is that saying half of hunters dont do the mandatory reporting?

Been mandatory to register harvested deer in my home state (MN) since before I was a twinkle in my dad's eye (i'm 40). There are people who dont follow the law and they are ticketed accordingly. 50% would be wild though?

Only a couple of state have true "mandatory reporting". NV and Arizona, maybe another? They are usually around or above 90% compliance. Most other state have non-mandatory reporting (ID, MT, etc). Response rates are significantly lower, 50% or so.

 

[wind gypsy]

Only a couple of state have true "mandatory reporting". NV and Arizona, maybe another? They are usually around or above 90% compliance. Most other state have non-mandatory reporting (ID, MT, etc). Response rates are significantly lower, 50% or so.

Option #3 is mandatory harvest registration. In MN (and other states) you have to register a harvested animal within 48 hrs. If you dont shoot anything you dont have to report anything. I like requiring the NV and AZ setup personally.

 

[S.Clancy]

Option #3 is mandatory harvest registration. In MN (and other states) you have to register a harvested animal within 48 hrs. If you dont shoot anything you dont have to report anything. I like requiring the NV and AZ setup personally.

Me too. It literally takes 90 seconds having done it for both states multiple times

 

[Lawnboi]

WI has mandatory reporting.

30 seconds on the game registration portal you enter your harvest auth number and receive a confirmation number. It’s stupid easy.

It’s like a 5 question survey. Deer seen, hours spent, location and gender/age.

No incentive, no bullcrap. It’s required