Originally Posted by
AK Jeff
Because they still make a lot of money from resident license fees is why. They're less expensive, but they sell considerably more of them than they do non-resident licenses.
You don't pay MT taxes. You don't pay MT income tax, county property taxes, vehicle licensing fees, and you don't contribute to the MT economy year round. Federal income taxes are irrelevant because game animals are the property of the state. Do you honestly think the people of Montana give a crap about whether or not you think their system is fair? I can tell you with absolute certainty the answer is not in the slightest. They have a valuable commodity to sell, that your state doesn't have, and they're going to get the highest price they can for it. If you want to enjoy that commodity then you can either fork over the license fees or you can move to MT and contribute like everyone else. That's about as "fair" as it's going to get.
I expect the disparity in fee cost may end up in court. I have no problem with NR paying higher tag fees, but 10x residents is getting absurd. It is true the people of the state own the wildlife, but much of it resides on federal land were the state is not paying for the cover, food, water and raising of the states animals either, the American tax payer is. Locals are also not paying private land owners for raising the states wildlife either.
Locals have demanded access to private lands via I-161. Has anybody bothered to ask, how long will these prime areas be prime if it is opened to public access? The local Montana hunter has complained and whined for years. Survey after survey has indicated that private lands are leased for control issues and bad history with the general public. There are millions of acres of public land here, but the reident wants to shoot a 6x6 out of the truck window, those days are gone forever.