Ballot Initiative to End NR Big Game Hunting?

[Gerald Martin]

Publicizing Montana hunting when you have a statewide tag congregated hunters, that is a fact.

I would agree for deer. For elk the fact that most of the central and eastern part of the state has limited public access where there are elk and low elk numbers in the NW pretty much ensures that most elk hunters concentrate on the parts of the rest of the state that I won’t mention because I don’t want to give any secrets away…

 

[BlazerBeam]

Also, the entire economy of MT would collapse if MT resident outfitters can’t get enough tags for NR clients.

#Fact
#JustaskMacMinard
#sarcasm

Gerald, I don't know you. But how long have you been in MT? Did you grow up in MT? What do you do? You seem very well connected to what is going on, do you work for FWP?

But the tiny group of outfitters and landowners who you are referring to and making it sound like they represented the resident of MT is off the mark. No average resident hunter in their right mind was ok with any of that.

 

[BenInMT]

If the premise is true, and desire to hunt Montana is so strong that NRs eventually become residents, then wouldn't ending NR hunting just speed up the process by encouraging more NRs to become residents?

I am cool with them residing here and paying income tax here, instead of just owning their tax shelter properties and providing little value to our communities. Then they can get the $16 deer tag and 10 mule deer B tags like the rest of us. There aren’t that many people who are going to relocate to MT for our garbage hunting opportunities.

 

[TheJason]

All symptoms of the selling of all things hunting and western states living in general. #stopthepimps

10-4. It’s as simple as that. Want my clipboard?

 

[RobertD]

I am cool with them residing here and paying income tax here, instead of just owning their tax shelter properties and providing little value to our communities. Then they can get the $16 deer tag and 10 mule deer B tags like the rest of us. There aren’t that many people who are going to relocate to MT for our garbage hunting opportunities.

A perspective I can understand. Still struggle to understand how you identify a very specific type of NR as the problem but lump all of them into your solution, though.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Not surprised by this thread at all, lots of anti non resident hunter sentiment across the west. Problem is eliminating or even decreasing non resident tags most likely won’t solve your problems or make hunting significantly better for residents. But it will make you feel better, always gotta have someone to blame and non-resident hunters are an easy target.

Yeah those resident hunters that suck at hunting need something to blame their lack of success on.

 

[Shangobango]

Gerald, I don't know you. But how long have you been in MT? Did you grow up in MT? What do you do? You seem very well connected to what is going on, do you work for FWP?

Here comes the "you ain't 4th generation so you don't even count as a resident discussion".

 

[Straight Arrow]

Here comes the "you ain't 4th generation so you don't even count as a resident discussion".

Is that popcorn shrimp! If you ain't cajun ... then you ain't squat!

 

[Gerald Martin]

Gerald, I don't know you. But how long have you been in MT? Did you grow up in MT? What do you do? You seem very well connected to what is going on, do you work for FWP?

But the tiny group of outfitters and landowners who you are referring to and making it sound like they represented the resident of MT is off the mark. No average resident hunter in their right mind was ok with any of that.

I’ve been here for 20 years. Long enough to see a lot of changes to hunting. Few for the good of the resource and resident and NR hunters.

I hate to tell you but the folks driving the bus off the road don’t care about you and me and other resident hunters. But they are MT residents.

Most Montana resident hunters don’t care enough to show up when decisions are being made. That’s the sad reality.

 

[BlazerBeam]

Here comes the "you ain't 4th generation so you don't even count as a resident discussion".

Not at all. Its just that he is like 1 or 2 of the 60 people in this thread that is actually from MT, but I don't know who he is.

 

[BlazerBeam]

I’ve been here for 20 years. Long enough to see a lot of changes to hunting. Few for the good of the resource and resident and NR hunters.

I hate to tell you but the folks driving the bus off the road don’t care about you and me and other resident hunters. But they are MT residents.

Most Montana resident hunters don’t care enough to show up when decisions are being made. That’s the sad reality.

I don't think that its that they don't care. It is sad that they don't show up. But I think its more of that they just don't know. Or that they have never had to show up in the past. Things are slipping downhill without many of them even knowing that it is, other than "I'm seeing fewer elk and more people each year", but never thinking or learning beyond that.

 

[SwaggyD]

Not at all. Its just that he is like 1 or 2 of the 60 people in this thread that is actually from MT, but I don't know who he is.

much much more than 3% of people in this thread are from MT.

 

[RobertD]

much much more than 3% of people in this thread are from MT.

Yeah there are more than one or two different Montanans on this one page. Seems like 1/4 to 1/3 of the most active users on HT are Montanans. I mean other hunting forums call it "The Montana Site" lol

 

[TheJason]

It is sad that they don't show up.

Haha they show up when their elk tag might go up by a few bucks. Been there, seen that.

 

[SwaggyD]

I don't think that its that they don't care. It is sad that they don't show up. But I think its more of that they just don't know. Or that they have never had to show up in the past. Things are slipping downhill without many of them even knowing that it is, other than "I'm seeing fewer elk and more people each year", but never thinking or learning beyond that.

this ^^ i had a buddy turn me onto this forum not too long ago. this was the only place i ever saw anything about the changes that were being proposed to the hunting regulations. had i not been following here, not sure i would have ever known.

 

[Deleted member 40728]

Haha they show up when their elk tag might go up by a few bucks. Been there, seen that.

I seen resident doe license cost go up 27 cents where I live over the years and people were losing their minds haha. They had no bitch about the cost increase of (2) stamps to mail in your application since we have no online application but the 27 cent license increase was way too much. That increase over the cost of 6 antlerless tags were costing guys an extra bottle of Mountain Dew during a hard day of road hunting.

 

[BenInMT]

A perspective I can understand. Still struggle to understand how you identify a very specific type of NR as the problem but lump all of them into your solution, though.

In my opinion, the ones that are towing their 5th wheels over here and hunting the bulk of the season like a plague of locusts are just as much a part of the problem.

One potential solution that we’re probably going to end up at sooner or later- all big game hunting by non-residents will have to be guided. No more DIY non resident hunting. I have thought a lot about this and I’m not completely sure how I feel about it. I do think it’s better than what we have now, but I may be overlooking some consequences of such a system. To go along with this cut the NR tags numbers way down. Everyone gets some pie. Outfitters get another socialist handout that they like so much. Less crowds. More game? Maybe.

 

[Deleted member 40728]

In my opinion, the ones that are towing their 5th wheels over here and hunting the bulk of the season like a plague of locusts are just as much a part of the problem.

One potential solution that we’re probably going to end up at sooner or later- all big game hunting by non-residents will have to be guided. No more DIY non resident hunting. I have thought a lot about this and I’m not completely sure how I feel about it. I do think it’s better than what we have now, but I may be overlooking some consequences of such a system. To go along with this cut the NR tags numbers way down. Everyone gets some pie. Outfitters get another socialist handout that they like so much. Less crowds. More game? Maybe.

Wouldn’t that make the handshake private land that much more difficult to get permission on? The outfitters would be leasing up even more land than they do now just to take on more NR hunters

 

[BenInMT]

Wouldn’t that make the handshake private land that much more difficult to get permission on? The outfitters would be leasing up even more land than they do now just to take on more NR hunters

If the land is worth a shit it’s already leased. If there is a lower number of guaranteed sports it might free up some marginal leases to go into block management.

 

[TheJason]

Good grief Charlie Brown. These proposed “fixes” are completely scorched earth, and would do you little to no good in the long run. Not to mention the cost in terms of money and manpower you would need to even remotely have a prayer at succeeding.

It is entertaining though…