Montana next year prediction

[big wood]

Didn't want to jack other thread so I have been going since 1986 every year but 2 I didn't draw. The tags were 325.00 for big game with a bear tag. When this many people are putting in and on the alternates list. I guarantee they will increase the prices. I have seen it many times. I am predicting 1500 for big game

[Miles]

They could go the Wyoming route and offer a “special” draw.  Take in more cash while giving a false sense of increased odds.

[Stein]

Price will go up next round for sure.  The western states all go up using each other to validate people will pay.  Once they crossed the $1k limit and sold out, there is no fear they will price themselves out.  They can increase the price of the tags as well as the new licenses you need and they will.  My guess would be $1300is for the combo or they will split them and not offer the combo anymore.

[dvolmer]

I hope they go up.  I'm 52 and don't want to sit a year out not getting drawn.  Don't know how many more years I have to hump up and down the hills.  Im going good and strong but im willing to pay a bit more.  Sitting out a year is not an option I want to deal with.

[shallowforks]

I understand your sentiment but arent we just making hunting a rich mans pastime? The more we price people out of hunting opportunity the closer we get to losing our base of support and then guess what happens. Goodbye hunting, good bye public lands. Inflation is one thing but We as in all states should do our best to keep hunting licenses as affordable as possible.   

[Stein]

I understand your sentiment but arent we just making hunting a rich mans pastime? The more we price people out of hunting opportunity the closer we get to losing our base of support and then guess what happens. Goodbye hunting, good bye public lands. Inflation is one thing but We as in all states should do our best to keep hunting licenses as affordable as possible.   

Absolutely, unfortunately the game agencies have made the transition from general fund support to pay to play.  It used to be the responsibility of the citizens to manage their game and habitat and that funding has largely been completely pulled.  The game agencies have no choice other than to send the bill to the users through license fees.  In state residents vote, thus any state with sizable out of state hunters get the increases piled on them. 

In MT and neighboring states, when the in state elk tag goes up $4, there is practically a riot in the streets.  Game agencies really have no choice but to stick the bill with the out of state hunters.  The only way it will slow down is if they have enough leftover tags that they actually bring in less by increasing.  That has not been seen and no indication it is about to start as they oversold the combo by at least 1,000.

In WA, we don't have many out of state hunters, so we get the increases.

[shallowforks]

Basically what your saying is the only power non-residents have to counter the trend of quickly rising out of state license fees is to boycott. Which doesnt seem anywhere in the realm of possibility. Dagnabit!

[Mtnwalker]

We are in the middle of an economic boom right now, lots of money out there for the blue collar guys. If prices go much higher the next time things slow down they’ll start to have a lot of leftover tags on their hands.

[bornhunter]

You nailed it mtnwalker