ORIGINAL: stubblejumper
I totally disagree with non residents paying the same price as residents.Residents pay the taxes that pay the wages to manage the game in their state/province,they pay the taxes that maintain the roads and other services,and they support the local economy all year,not just for a week or two each year.As such, they shouldn't have to pay as much as non residents.
No, license fees pay those salaries.
Many roads are federally funded.
They only support the local economy out of necessity, that doesn't really make sense? Traveling sportsmans BOOST an economy from what it would be if only the locals were there.
Lets not loose sight that this price gouge ONLY applies to hunting. Hikers, Nature Watchers, Swimmers, National Park visitors, trail fees, etc...are all the same no matter where you live. Only the hunting licenses are out of whack, and not out of fairness....out of money. They see where they can greatly increase income revenue, so they exploit it. They realize nonresidents will continue to pay through the nose to get to hunt, pretty much to no limit....which is why the prices keep spiraling upwards.
Its sort of like the WY Nonresident wilderness law. Nonresident hunters can NOT hunt designatedwilderness areas, without the use of a guide. Resident hunters can. Resident birdwatchers and hikers can. NONRESIDENT birdwatchers and hikers can....ONLY nonresident HUNTERS are restricted from using these areas. (to supposedly save risking lives and unnesseary search and rescue missions) I guess every resident of WY and all nonresident hikers just have better survivor skills than some shmuck with a bow in hand?[&:] Its another bogus set of laws, meant only to exploit a situation and create money. NRs will still hunt these areas, only now they have to fork out an additional $5-6k to be accompanied by a local guide, funneling more money into local economy.
Don't think for a second it is about anything more than money.