This topic frustrates me.
Rarely is doing “what’s best for me right now” the right decision in almost any circumstance. We all know that. That’s not what you teach your kids. That’s not the kind of behavior you would tolerate from your friends or hunting partners.
WY residents that support this need to understand that NR are not your enemy. NR are not the source of the problem. This “solution” doesn’t solve anything. What it does do is turn your allies into adversaries, and that’s never a good move.
I really don’t understand why states do this. I mean, I do, but it’s stupid. I would love to see all western states go to the other extreme. Imagine if all states dedicated up to 30% of tags to NR? Since these NR tags are priced ~ 10x, that would be a HUGE source of revenue, and that money can be put towards programs that WILL have a meaningful impact on wildlife populations. It could do wonders to help with access initiatives, habitat restoration, etc etc. I know the feds don’t control the wildlife, but I sure wish the feds could/would incentivize states to offer more NR tags instead of less. IMO, everybody wins.
The thing is… out of state hunts are FUN! They are a great adventure. Sure, everyone wants to draw a tag right next to home, and hopefully you will most years. But what if you also had a tag in another state most years? Wouldn’t that be great! you just can’t beat a destination hunt in a unit you’ve never been to.
When NR come into another state and experience the joys and wonders it has to offer, then they feel connected to it. And that’s what we all need right now… to be on the same team.
If things continue down their current path of squeezing the NR out of tags in every western state, then I predict two major outcomes. # 1 is that a large amount of NR (who live in elk-less states) will give up trying. That may not hurt your feelings any or have any immediate effect. But that also means they will also no longer donate or support RMEF or BHA or any of the groups that need funding to make an impact. They won’t be your allies when you need them. The next time a ridiculously rich landowner pushes for something detrimental to your way of life, you won’t have the nations support. You’ll be on your own.
#2, while it may not happen overnight, there will be an influx on people moving to the state so that they can hunt as a resident. Ranches slowly get bought up and turned into subdivisions. The people encroach more on the land. More people/less habitat. The 10% of NR tags you gain from this change makes almost ZERO difference in your draw odds anyway, but what little gain there is will seem be eliminated by just a small influx of NR relocating there. It Doesn’t take that many people to move there to net that out to zero increase in draw odds, and in fact of more keep coming then your draw odds continue to fall.
now your problem isn’t any better-its worse! Way worse. You have the Same draw odds as before (or maybe even lower), you have significantly less revenue from NR tags coming in to help the programs, you have more housing/less habitat for the game animals, and you have far less support from NR on issues that matter to you when you need them. This isn’t the outcome you want.
We have to look at the long game here. People may argue with me about how low the population is in WY and how hard it is to live there. All true, but you know I’m not wrong. It won’t all happen in a year… but it will happen. Slowly. But by the time you actually see it it will be too late.
I hope Resident hunters in all states listen to what I’m saying. THE NR IS NOT YOUR ENEMY.
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