Montana fee proposals

[chiefeng]

Out of state hunting licenses generate 2/3 of the FPW's revenue they are already losing nonresident hunters so lets charge them more.  you would think maybe they would lower prices and get the hunters back. Doesn't National me everyone in the USofA  we all pay taxes the fund the national forest and wildlife preserves.

[DoubleJ]

Wait.  I thought there were western montana whitetail doe hunts where you could buy like 7 tags for $70 each or something like that.  Help me understand

[300rum]

Montana is just so much father ahead of Washington in overall quality of animals, access, just everything.  When they raised the prices a few years ago it allowed most people to go every year instead of every other. 

What I don't like is them sticking it to the sportsman and in particular the out-of-state sportsman.  The percentage increase should stay the same between resident and non-resident.  I think that states should start taxing the looki-loos and "granola hikers" too, why shouldn't they pay more? 

[go4steelhd]

Oregon is planing an increase in 2016 and every two years after that if approved. Once one state makes there move the rest follow. At some point hunters will throw there hands up and give up.

[KimberRich]

Wait.  I thought there were western montana whitetail doe hunts where you could buy like 7 tags for $70 each or something like that.  Help me understand

There used to be until disease and other things reduced populations enough that MFWP reduced the B tags.  A lot of regions had little or no B tags this year.
There were still some units that had "Surplus" tags come available in August like years past but I'm not sure if they capped the limit at 1 per person or if you could still buy multiple tags.  Maybe someone else on here knows if they reduced the actual purchase limit.

[KimberRich]

The proposals actually dropped fees for non-resident deer and elk hunters. 

"Cap the price of the nonresident big game combination license and
the nonresident deer combination license, including purchase of the new base hunting
license and application fees, at $999 and $625 respectively."

......These were set to increase with inflation.

Revise the refund policy to allow nonresidents who are unsuccessful in
drawing a permit to receive a 95% refund of the big game combination license at the time of
the drawing.

......a change from 80%

It was bad news for the bison/ram/goat tag fee costs but the refund was good news.

This is confusing.  In years past when it was actually a drawing to get a Big Game Combo, I would get all my $$ back except a ~$10 processing fee if I was unsuccessful.  I'm confused on where the 80% comes in?  Are you talking about sheep/goat/??

Obviously at this point with all the excess Deer/Elk licenses, refunds are not a huge issue.

[vandeman17]

The proposals actually dropped fees for non-resident deer and elk hunters. 

"Cap the price of the nonresident big game combination license and
the nonresident deer combination license, including purchase of the new base hunting
license and application fees, at $999 and $625 respectively."

......These were set to increase with inflation.

Revise the refund policy to allow nonresidents who are unsuccessful in
drawing a permit to receive a 95% refund of the big game combination license at the time of
the drawing.

......a change from 80%

It was bad news for the bison/ram/goat tag fee costs but the refund was good news.

This is confusing.  In years past when it was actually a drawing to get a Big Game Combo, I would get all my $$ back except a ~$10 processing fee if I was unsuccessful.  I'm confused on where the 80% comes in?  Are you talking about sheep/goat/??

Obviously at this point with all the excess Deer/Elk licenses, refunds are not a huge issue.

I believe the 80% is if you are to keep one of your tags and return the other if not drawn for a special permit. We have been doing that for elk since they don't do ghost points and we just want to build points. Put in for lowest draw odds in state and then when not drawn, get 80% of elk tag fee back.

[KimberRich]

The proposals actually dropped fees for non-resident deer and elk hunters. 

"Cap the price of the nonresident big game combination license and
the nonresident deer combination license, including purchase of the new base hunting
license and application fees, at $999 and $625 respectively."

......These were set to increase with inflation.

Revise the refund policy to allow nonresidents who are unsuccessful in
drawing a permit to receive a 95% refund of the big game combination license at the time of
the drawing.

......a change from 80%

It was bad news for the bison/ram/goat tag fee costs but the refund was good news.

This is confusing.  In years past when it was actually a drawing to get a Big Game Combo, I would get all my $$ back except a ~$10 processing fee if I was unsuccessful.  I'm confused on where the 80% comes in?  Are you talking about sheep/goat/??

Obviously at this point with all the excess Deer/Elk licenses, refunds are not a huge issue.

I believe the 80% is if you are to keep one of your tags and return the other if not drawn for a special permit. We have been doing that for elk since they don't do ghost points and we just want to build points. Put in for lowest draw odds in state and then when not drawn, get 80% of elk tag fee back.

Ok that makes sense.  Thanks Vandeman!

[Stein]

I hate trying to sort out the language that they use. So, if it passes, will I qualify for a discounted license because I and both of my parents were born in MT? The "come home to hunt" and the "non resident relative of a resident" requirements are confusing. It's a bit frustrating that because I don't have a close enough relative there, I don't qualify, even though I have 2 cousins there with fairly large ranches, and ALL of my aunts/uncles live there. Not trying to make it all about me but like most, I'm looking for any break that I can get.

I have two nonresident native tags in my pocket and the price is going up something like 500% next year.  For that tag, you need proof of your birth in Montana, having held a resident fishing or hunting license in MT and proof of an immediate relative still living in MT.  I submit an e-mail showing proof of having held a resident fishing license in MT as well as a birth certificate and copy of my dad's driver's license showing a MT address.  Not the easiest tag to apply for, but a bargain (in the past anyway).

I admit the price is incredible, but the 500% increase in one year is tough to swallow.  My "discount" tag next year will be almost the same price as a full bore OTC Colorado nonresident tag without all of the paperwork hassle.

[Taco280AI]

States are just going to keep more people from hunting with these crazy increases

[steeleywhopper]

Good bye Montana....just when you get your elk spot dialed in they put the screws to ya. F-off!

[chiefeng]

While buying my son nonresident tag in lewistown the game department lady told me they sold out all their nonres deer tags and guys where. Buying  combo liscenes just to deer hunt that's a 1000 dollar deer tag crazy.