New bill will greatly impact DIY nonresident hunters in Montana

[dreamingbig]

Is their a list saying how many Non Residents go with and outfitter in the past years for both deer and/or elk?

They say 39% is the historical number for elk.  The latest amendment in the bill drops outfitter requirement.


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[ctwiggs1]

So now you can pay several hundred dollars to just get in on an earlier draw? 

[Bigshooter]

(A) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (1)(A)(III), 40% OF THE CLASS B-10 AND CLASS B-11 LICENSES 25 MADE AVAILABLE PURSUANT TO 87-2-505 AND 87-2-510 MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH AN EARLY DRAWING TO OCCUR 26 ON JANUARY 15 BY PERSONS WHO APPLY BETWEEN DECEMBER 1 AND DECEMBER 31 FOR A FEE OF $300. IF APPLYING 27 AS A PARTY, EACH PERSON MUST PAY THE APPLICATION FEE. APPLICATION FEES MUST BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO 28 SECURE, DEVELOP, AND MAINTAIN WILDLIFE HABITAT PURSUANT TO 87-1-242. AT THEOF EACH FISCAL YEAR, 1 UNOBLIGATED FUNDS COLLECTED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION (1)(A)(I) ARE AVAILABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR 2 ANY PURPOSE PURSUANT TO 87-1-201(3)

[Skyvalhunter]

If 6you care to see more here is a link to the bill. As you can see certain things from the original bill have been hashed out or removed.
https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2021/billpdf/SB0143.pdf

[Stein]

So now you can pay several hundred dollars to just get in on an earlier draw?

Sounds like it, very similar to Wyoming's Special tags.  Pay extra to get in the Special draw (WY term), if you don't draw there you bounce into the riff-raff draw and have a second chance there.

[Skyvalhunter]

Looking at it doesn't mention if you apply for special permits during the early time or later or you can for both which I am assuming is the case.

[andrew_in_idaho]

So now you can pay several hundred dollars to just get in on an earlier draw?

Sounds like it, very similar to Wyoming's Special tags.  Pay extra to get in the Special draw (WY term), if you don't draw there you bounce into the riff-raff draw and have a second chance there.

If you don’t draw in the special you don’t get entered in the regular draw, the special draw does still have a 25% random component to it


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[Stein]

Wow, they aren't thinking that one through.

[vandeman17]

just turning hunting into a rich man's sport by the day

[ctwiggs1]

just turning hunting into a rich man's sport by the day

Kind of.  Overall, Newberg brought up the point that Montana actually provides one of the best values for a tag.  If you compare their price to say, Wyoming's special or Utah or New Mexico... Montana is hard to beat.

[Stein]

just turning hunting into a rich man's sport by the day

Kind of.  Overall, Newberg brought up the point that Montana actually provides one of the best values for a tag.  If you compare their price to say, Wyoming's special or Utah or New Mexico... Montana is hard to beat.

Part of that is the planning cycle.  I have no doubt that they will look out and see other states and push another price increase at some point.  It will also be increasingly difficult to get a tag as more and more people compete for the same number of tags - the very reason this bill was introduced.  One interest group said they are willing to pay more for a guaranteed tag every year.

[vandeman17]

just turning hunting into a rich man's sport by the day

Kind of.  Overall, Newberg brought up the point that Montana actually provides one of the best values for a tag.  If you compare their price to say, Wyoming's special or Utah or New Mexico... Montana is hard to beat.

I agree in the value but I still think that the $300 early/special or whatever you want to call it draw only favors people with more disposable income. I can't blame states for trying to bring in more revenue but it just stinks the way things are trending

[ctwiggs1]

just turning hunting into a rich man's sport by the day

Kind of.  Overall, Newberg brought up the point that Montana actually provides one of the best values for a tag.  If you compare their price to say, Wyoming's special or Utah or New Mexico... Montana is hard to beat.

I agree in the value but I still think that the $300 early/special or whatever you want to call it draw only favors people with more disposable income. I can't blame states for trying to bring in more revenue but it just stinks the way things are trending

100% agree.

I'm not sure what the right answer is here.  It's a constant balance of managing public lands, private land partnerships, biological studies on wildlife, enforcement, etc.... and budget. 

Work hard, make money, keep expenses low and go hunting

[Stein]

In my opinion, if you want to do a tiered system, you should at least have a huge conservation benefit to balance the reduction of tags for the average guy.

I do support raffles and auctions because the state gets tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to use for conservation in exchange for only a few tags.

If wealthy MT landowners want guaranteed tags for their buddies, at least make them pay for it.  Instead of $300, make it $5,000 or $10,000 and have it a landowner sponsored tag.  Each landowner can buy a few tags a year at $5,000 and the revenue must go into something fun like public access.

[Mtnwalker]

just turning hunting into a rich man's sport by the day

Kind of.  Overall, Newberg brought up the point that Montana actually provides one of the best values for a tag.  If you compare their price to say, Wyoming's special or Utah or New Mexico... Montana is hard to beat.

Is this factoring in opportunity, season length etc? or just a straight up price comparison?