Post by: TwoBear on February 07, 2011, 09:17:39 AM
Post by: TwoBear on February 26, 2011, 09:50:20 AM
Post by: 400out on February 26, 2011, 09:53:18 AM
Post by: Todd_ID on February 26, 2011, 12:45:36 PM
We've been thinking about applying, but a $300 increase may exclude about 3 out of our group of 5.
Post by: norsepeak on February 26, 2011, 12:50:32 PM
Post by: Jason on February 26, 2011, 01:04:49 PM
spent my money on other things this year. I have been wanting a pack gun for hiking
and Hunting.
Post by: 400out on February 26, 2011, 01:37:08 PM
Am I reading this correctly that the combo license went up from $643 last year to $912 this year? Isn't that a bad way to do business? We want more people to apply, so we'll raise the fees. Sure, the outfitted hunters are smiling because their price went down from $1500, but they are not the bulk of the money coming in, and they are also the group most likely to absorb a fee increase.I understand Todd bad deal but, I will not book a hunt with a guide not knowing if I'm getting drawn! unless I can reserve my spot for no charge untill I get conformation of my tags :twocents:
We've been thinking about applying, but a $300 increase may exclude about 3 out of our group of 5.
It looks like a marketing nightmare for guides :(
Post by: TwoBear on February 26, 2011, 04:38:25 PM
I can't speak for other outfitters but our policy is simple: if you don't draw we give you the option of rolling your down into next year, or receiving a 100% refund. I know we are in the minority with that, but I honestly cannot see trying to hold on to anybody's down money because they didn't draw. If folks don't draw, they get a refund from us for the full amount. They, and everybody they tell will know that we stand by what we say and their down is safe with us. As the years go by, it will be easier to book hunts for us because folks know their down money is refunded by Two Bear. I think this is the smartest most honest way to deal with this new policy as we head into the future with these new regulations.
This year, with the increased fees and outfitter tags going back in the general pool, the draw odds or going to be extremely high, like 95%+ kind of high. Montana over the next couple years will essentially be a OTC state via the draw process. It may even be we have tags left over, we are all waiting to see what happens. For us, we do not have the down money as operating capital because of the possibilty of folks not drawing. So outfits that are marginal and need those operating funds, they could find themselves in hot water were it not for high draw results. The biggest downside for us as we move into the future is repeat cleints. We depend a fair amount on repeats, and now that the outfitter tag is gone they have to draw. This could seriously jeopardize the repeat flow and only hurts good solid operations.
Post by: Huntnphish on February 26, 2011, 05:10:16 PM
Just a heads up to all, Montana draw deadline is March 15. We no longer are able to supply Outfitter Sponsored Tags, so everybody has to put in for the draw. It looks like some real high draw odds in Montana this year for those who are planning to over here.
I dont see the odds increasing much at all. For the sake of arguement lets say there were 2000 deer tags available last year and 2000 guaranteed tags for the outfitter. Those 2K tags that the outfitters were giving out are now going into the general deer draw, so 4000 total. Again for the sake of arguement, lets assume that last year all the outfitter tags were given out, this means 2K hunters for both categories. Now, because of I-161, everyone is lumped into the same general category to draw from, there are still those 2K outfitter hunters that are applying, except now they are applying in the same category as you. Odds may change slightly either way but its not going to be significant. :twocents:
I hope that makes sense. :dunno:
Post by: 270Shooter on February 26, 2011, 05:35:18 PM
I seriously doubt that there were 2,000 people buying outfitter deer tags in montana last year. Seems way to high to me, but maybe I'm wrong. I'm not happy about the price increase, and I really don't understand why anyone in their right mind would want it. But Im still going to apply there.Just a heads up to all, Montana draw deadline is March 15. We no longer are able to supply Outfitter Sponsored Tags, so everybody has to put in for the draw. It looks like some real high draw odds in Montana this year for those who are planning to over here.
I dont see the odds increasing much at all. For the sake of arguement lets say there were 2000 deer tags available last year and 2000 guaranteed tags for the outfitter. Those 2K tags that the outfitters were giving out are now going into the general deer draw, so 4000 total. Again for the sake of arguement, lets assume that last year all the outfitter tags were given out, this means 2K hunters for both categories. Now, because of I-161, everyone is lumped into the same general category to draw from, there are still those 2K outfitter hunters that are applying, except now they are applying in the same category as you. Odds may change slightly either way but its not going to be significant. :twocents:
I hope that makes sense. :dunno:
Post by: Huntnphish on February 26, 2011, 05:44:14 PM
Quote
I seriously doubt that there were 2,000 people buying outfitter deer tags in montana last year. Seems way to high to me, but maybe I'm wrong.
You must have missed the part where I said "For the sake of arguement"
Post by: TwoBear on February 26, 2011, 06:35:29 PM
Post by: rb2506 on February 26, 2011, 06:41:12 PM
Post by: Huntnphish on February 27, 2011, 12:23:25 PM
Quote
We had 11500 tags and around 18000 applicants in 2009,
You are talking about the Combo for $898?
Post by: TwoBear on February 27, 2011, 12:48:02 PM