MT Legislature passes bill favoring hunters that use Outfitters

[Brushbuster]

HB 637 was passed by the MT legislature one day before the end of the session and is expected to be signed by the gov.

Two key points are:
1.   For this year only. If you were booked with an outfitter on 4/1 & did not draw a Big Game Combo Tag, they are issuing additional tags. Estimated to be about 3,000 tags. These additional tags exceed the 17K cap.
2.   Starting in 2022 if you are booked with an outfitter, you can buy 2 preference points for the Big Game Combo Drawing whereas DIY hunters not registered with a guide can only buy one. 

https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/late-amendment-adds-one-time-guaranteed-hunting-licenses-for-outfitted-nonresidents/article_321758ee-d2eb-5a3e-997e-a1b5f3d2abb4.html

[mburrows]

And just like that Montana gets even harder to draw for non residents

[MADMAX]

Once every 3 years
Maybe
It does suck

[NRA4LIFE]

I need to move.

[idahohuntr]

 
A real middle finger to DIY hunters. 

[MADMAX]

Why ?

[grundy53]

That sucks.

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[JakeLand]

I got Montana this year but starting 2022 I’ll be heading back to AK to hunt blacktails
I won’t be a part of that crap

[greenhead_killer]

I see the outfitters really do have a bit more pull. Wonder how many of them are actually native to montana or if they’re out of state operators

[vandeman17]

Glad we drew this year. Idaho deer is going to be insanity next year with guys knowing how bad odds are in a lot of western states.

[mburrows]

Glad we drew this year. Idaho deer is going to be insanity next year with guys knowing how bad odds are in a lot of western states.

Yeah that’s a good observation. Things are changing quickly

[Wolfdog2314]

Suck

[elkboy]

I see the outfitters really do have a bit more pull. Wonder how many of them are actually native to montana or if they’re out of state operators

Out of state operator?  You mean, like the governor of Montana?   

Seriously, good question.  Probably some political pull going on behind the scenes. 

[JakeLand]

I wonder if there will be a loss of $ going into the state ?

[Stein]

I wonder if there will be a loss of $ going into the state ?

No, outfitter tags will draw and the rest will fill from the diy pile.  They will still sell out, just more outfitter tags.

I wonder how long until an outfitter offers a $499 special?


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[Wanttohuntmore]

Might be a loss to the state with less DIY hunters spending money there in multiple trips.   Typically guided hunters go for a single,  short trip.  Sad about this as we have friends there that we like to hunt with.

[jrebel]

I guess I fundamentally don't see the problem with it.  Yeah, it is gonna lessen the tags for DIY out of state folks but it is what it is.  If you don't like it you should move to Montana and become a resident. 

To each their own I guess.....but it would be like me getting pissed off at my neighbor because he leases his land to hunting vs just letting me hunt it for free.   

[bearpaw]

The fact is that outfitters used to have a share of tags for many years until residents voted to eliminate them, I think the primary motivation was to get access to land that outfitters had leased. When that passed it eliminated the $1000.00 deer tags that outfitter clients paid which greatly helped support FWP, as a result they nearly doubled the price of regular non-res tags to make up for the budget shortfall. This legislation doesn't replace the quota outfitters used to have but it will help many businesses.

Just remember when you write the check for your non-resident Montana tags, the reason you are paying so much is because the much more expensive outfitter tags were eliminated! 

[kselkhunter]

The fact is that outfitters used to have a share of tags for many years until residents voted to eliminate them, I think the primary motivation was to get access to land that outfitters had leased. When that passed it eliminated the $1000.00 deer tags that outfitter clients paid and that greatly helped support FWP and nearly doubled the price of regular non-res tags to make up for the budget shortfall. This legislation doesn't replace the quota outfitters used to have but it will help many businesses.

Just remember when you write the check for your non-resident Montana tags, the reason you are paying so much is because the much more expensive outfitter tags were eliminated! 

The residents repealed it last time.  They forced the bill writer to remove references to it this time, then it was snuck in again at the last second so it couldn't go through public review again.  It will likely get repealed again by residents.   
 

[Karl Blanchard]

Kind of forgot about this but Governor signed it.


https://www.gohunt.com/read/news/montana-changes-outfitter-hunting-license-allocation-and-preference-point-system?utm_source=Klaviyo_campaign&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2005%2F23%2F21%20-%20ALL%20%282021-05-24%29&_ke=eyJrbF9jb21wYW55X2lkIjogIlBrUG1KRiIsICJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJrYXJsLmJsYW5jaGFyZDgzQHlhaG9vLmNvbSJ9#gs.25ujlr

[whacker1]

The fact is that outfitters used to have a share of tags for many years until residents voted to eliminate them, I think the primary motivation was to get access to land that outfitters had leased. When that passed it eliminated the $1000.00 deer tags that outfitter clients paid which greatly helped support FWP, as a result they nearly doubled the price of regular non-res tags to make up for the budget shortfall. This legislation doesn't replace the quota outfitters used to have but it will help many businesses.

Just remember when you write the check for your non-resident Montana tags, the reason you are paying so much is because the much more expensive outfitter tags were eliminated! 

i remember this from prior.  and then when MT FWP wasn't selling out the tags,  access to tags was a non-issue for outfitters, but that changed when people got money in there pocket again and demand increased over time for the non-resident tags.

[Stein]

Kind of forgot about this but Governor signed it.


https://www.gohunt.com/read/news/montana-changes-outfitter-hunting-license-allocation-and-preference-point-system?utm_source=Klaviyo_campaign&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2005%2F23%2F21%20-%20ALL%20%282021-05-24%29&_ke=eyJrbF9jb21wYW55X2lkIjogIlBrUG1KRiIsICJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJrYXJsLmJsYW5jaGFyZDgzQHlhaG9vLmNvbSJ9#gs.25ujlr

Great, the buy two point genie was just let out of the bottle.  I wouldn't be surprised to see more states get creative here, they can raise more revenue without touching the tag price.  With the huge number of applicants, just a few bucks more from each one adds up to a bunch more money.