@Troutslayer2 I'm with you on this. I will say though that the NR will never be on board with anything that limits their opportunities. BUT! We owe nothing to the NR, so that doesn't really matter if they are or not.
A couple of things:
1. We need to stop allowing the hunting media/gear/influencer's to suck every last drop of money or attention to be given. GoHunt, Randy Newburg, Hushin, Ryan Lampers, Born and Raised, etc. need to be done away with. They have led to everyone and their mom feeling like they need to film themselves in the woods. Be warned, if I see anyone carrying camera equipment in the woods, you will be introduced to a 200 gr Accubond. JK…..maybe…
Enough with the "hunting summits" and "online courses" and subscriptions. All about money money money, and it's a shame that the outdoorsman falls for it.
2. The NR hunter of today is not the same as the NR hunter 20 years ago.
Last season: I read a post from a guy asking for month to month rental options in Missoula because he drew a NR combo and was moving his family to MT and putting his little kids in school for the months of august-December so that he could scout, archery hunt, rifle hunt, and muzzle loader hunt.
This season: at the shooting range in July I ran into two guys with campers and trailers filled to the brim, out of state plates, sighting in rifles. They said they were "moving" up here for a few months until tags were filled. They were starting to scout in August and were going to archery and rifle hunt. They were in their early 30's with no wife and kids and said "we only work enough to be able to pay for our hunting trips".
3. When talking about limiting NR opportunities in MT there should be zero discussion or consideration, from a management standpoint, about the small businesses in rural MT. We don't manage wildlife for small businesses. Aside from that, unless you own a small business in rural MT, it's only your assumption that they depend upon the NR hunter for survival.
Also the idea that MT NEEDS the funds from nonresident tag sales is simply not true. It is true that there has historically been a great deal of money generated from NR tags, but to then say that it is a perpetual need is only trying to justify the liberal opportunities given in MT.
4. I know several people who have uprooted their lives and moved to MT strictly to be a resident hunter. There should be an 18 month waiting period.
5. FWP is not as transparent about things as some may think. They are bureaucrats just like every other government agency, and are overly concerned with easy $ in my opinion.
6. Sorry if I tick anyone off, not my intentions, but it's tough to sit back and watch the decline of my own backyard. Something has got to give, and I'm sorry to say it will start with NR opportunities just like many other Western states have already started to do.
Interesting take. While choosing which state you live in gives you obligation to pay all the appropriate taxes and dictates what state laws are enacted by voters it does not mean that they are managed simply for you as a resident of Montana. You can lose your rights last time I checked. Also if that statement held true then they wouldn't sale NR tags
It's not my "take", it's actually how it is. Wildlife in a state is owned by the residents of that state and held in trust by the state. Sorry, just the way it is.
