South33

& I agree. If there is better or equivalent hunting for less somewhere else I would definitely choose the cheaper of the two. Im not saying money is no object or that MT is the only place to hunt; im saying that MT has so much to offer hunters & if the time/scouting is put in anyone can get an animal.

(empty 7 out of 10 years!) You need a new hunting spot... not a new state.
-South

scottb3472

I have to wonder, is it the actuall cost of the tag that has people taking a second or third look at hunting out of state, or is it the total cost these days of hunting out of state?

Seriously, look at the ridiculous raise in the cost of fuel, airline tickets, food, motels, and now the hunting license. It occured to me that it may be the total hit to the pocket book that really has people upset and not just the raise in non res hunting fee's.

Because i have several non resident friends, i have an idea of how much the total cost of them coming here to hunt costs. After talking with them, it wasn't neccessarily the raise in the license fee's but a raise in the cost of everything that kept them from putting in for the draw. A couple of them are some that waited and bought the tags after the draw results were announced because they didn't want to chance the draw, not draw and lose even the small fee for drawing. This way they were gauranteed to get the tags they wanted.

I do agree that the fee's are to high, and to me it feels like like the heritage that we all love is becoming a sport that only the well to do will be able to participate in.

TwoBear

Like everything in life, you get what you pay for. Montana has longer seasons, less pressure, and access to better quality elk than Colorado. Too many, it is worth in quality to pay the extra for an elk only tag in Montana. If you are buying both, the cost is the same and Montana is the better bargain. Colorado does well because they are an OTC state, and a much closer drive for most folks. Comparing the two states are like apples to oranges in my view.

Muley Hunter

Some truth to that, but when you hunt the muzzleloader season before it gets crowded from out of state hunters, and you know where the elk are, and it cost $49 for the tag and $10 for gas.

Colorado can be sweet.

txhunter58

"(empty 7 out of 10 years!) You need a new hunting spot... not a new state."

Those are not my odds. Those are published odds for the "average" hunter.

In Montana, I have been there 3 times and I am 100% (two elk, 1 bear). In Colorado, I average probably slightly better than 50% but that is for probably 25 hunting seasons.

And the Montana long seasons are great..........for residents. Nonresidents have to come and hunt and get home. I certainly don't have a month to hunt. If I did, I could find a way to afford Montana.

Hey, come to Texas. A $350 nonresident tags gives you 5 whitetail, 1 mule deer, 4 turkeys and unlimited hogs and exotics. And you can come back and hunt turkeys in the spring on the same tag! Our season runs from October 1st until the first weekend in Jan. Oh that is right, you have to have a place to go in Texas with that pesky private land thing. Well, there is always something isn't there!

That is why I do swap hunts! Have swapped in Alaska, Montana, and Colorado. Will swap for Utah if I ever get picked!!!

MinnFinn

This huge rise in MT non-res. BG Combo to over $900 is the main reason we didn't apply this year in that state.... Basically, the message I get from it is that they only want non-res. hunters with big bank accounts. That's their prerogative. So, my family won't go to MT hunting or for vacations anymore. That's ours.

terricaryan1

As long as Montana has the animals that people want to hunt, there will be people buying the tags regardless of cost. I also agree that when people do come here to hunt, it's the hunt, not neccessarily harvesting of the animal that sticks with them the most. All of the outfitters that i have personal contact with have built their business and their reputations on mostly return hunters. These are hunters that enjoyed their total Montana experience so much that they book with the same hunter year after year, whether they harvest or not, it's the hunt in it's entirety that brings you here.
I have friends from out of state that put in for their tags like clock work every year for diy hunts. They have a wonderful time here and have made lifelong friendships with many of the people that they have come across on their hunts here.
Bottom line is this i guess, yes it is expensive for a non resident to come here and hunt, but it's still way cheaper then a 5 day "vacation" to Disneyland or to Disneyworld. Just my 2 cents worth.

tojo70

One of the things that has not been discussed is the fact that the fee increase was voted on as part of a bill to abolish outfitter sponsered licenses. Voters in MT passed I-161 54%-46%.
I voted for I-161. I voted for it for many reasons. One of the problems I had with it was that the outfitter didn't have to pay for these licenses, then they can turn around and charge for them. I know they have to pay fees to be a licensed outfitter, but the fact that they can get the licenses for nothing and then sell them rubbed me the wrong way.
The way I look at it, now these licenses are available to everyone and if you buy one and still want to hire a guide, then go for it. But for the hunter who wants to hunt land that is publicly accessible (which we have A LOT of) they can do it.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I see this as opening the door to the more avid hunter, and ones that can't afford a guide. They can pay a couple hundred bucks more for the license and hunt on their own, rather than having to pay thousands for a guide.

TwoBear

This is simply not true. First off, outfitters never collected a penny for outfitter tags. The client sent the money straight to the state, the state sends us the clients license which we issue upon their arrival. We were never given a tag to sell. Secondly, why do you suggest a hunter going DIY is a more avid hunter then one who choses a guide? Most of our hunters tell me hunting with us is the hardest they have ever hunted in their lives.