I guess the issue then becomes a question of how much land does one have to own to get resident hunting privileges even when one doesn't reside on that property. Your friend owns 140 acres and feels he should be considered a resident, but what of the guy from Illinois that owns 1 acre? If the law allowed free landowner tags to every person who bought land in Iowa, we'd wind up with non-residents buying up every square inch of timber land in Iowa just to get their yearly tag, but paying very little to contribute to conservation in Iowa. If he wants to hunt on the cheap in Iowa, then he should build a house on his 140 acres and move. Then the IADNR will be happy to sell him resident deer tags and even give him a (nearly) free landowners tag every year.

Mike

NY charges $280 for non-res. Super sportsman. Or $140 for bow. $140 for shotgun... only one tag

People really are up in arms over IL non-res costs, personally one point often overlooked about IL, is we have 1, I repeat ONE big game animal, the whitetail deer.

Also, you're kinda at the mercy of a state, as a guy who hunts many states as a non-res, paying $1000 for a tag that a res prob pays $50 for is kinda nutty to me, or paying 5grand for a tag that costs 750 instate or something, I mean at what point is a tag not worth its price? At that point I think charge non res and res the same price, I think res and non res would both be happy to pay 1500 for a desert bighorn, but an instater paying 250 where a non res is paying 3000 isnt right.

I mean it depends on everyones particular situation, but a guy coming to the midwest for at rophy buck deer hunt, doesn't care about a buck tag in IA costing 250, or in IL for 450, or WI for 150, if he's dropping 5 grand round trip on his hunt at a big buck, he wants to go somewhere quality and if that means spending an extra 100 on his hunt, think he could care less? but ya a guy who owns land in IA and cant hunt it every year because he doesnt live in IA...is a bit obsurd I agree.

In my opinion Illinois would do well to follow Iowa's lead. It would solve a lot of our problems! :wink:

Hunting Lic.
 

get out of La La land! States want $$$ Lic. fees are one of them. The real debate we should have is:

Why do I have to buy a xxxx state lic. and tag when I am hunting on Forest Service or BLM land?

Completely agree with that! I don't think non residents have that much of an impact on our doe population. Tags in Illinois are still pretty expensive but I like the draw systems for non residents.

Driftrider, I agree with you about a minimum of land. Id say 60 acres should gaurentee you a tag, even if it is out of state price. As for the house, hopefully that is down the road, but after buying 140 acres you got to make a little more $$$$ for that ! :)

No, I think you're misunderstanding my point. You should still have to pay the non-resident fee for the big game tags, but you shouldn't have to purchase another hunting license. I live 2 miles from Georgia and thier non-resident license and tags are $299. I think that the license cost $114 or something like that, which would leave the $185 for big game tags. Should you have to purchase an non-resident drivers license to drive in my state? No, you already have a valid drivers license. I know that's apples & oranges, but I think you get the point.

Do you also feel that the state should tax you at whatever rate they feel is due for the PRIVILEGE of living in their state? No, you don't. And get off your high horse. I was simply posing a question of why is a hunting license only valid within the state it is purchased. I think you should have to pay non-resident fees on game tags, but you shouldn't have to purchase another license.

They would just make you required to buy a new stamp etc...if your hunting license covered you nationwide...

also some states require you to buy a non-res license just to get bonus pts, whereas others only require it if you draw, so whether they charge you a $100 to apply, or for a non-res license, you know they're gonna get you coming or going...

So ya 1 nationwide hunting license would be nice, but then you'd be rquired to purchase a non-resident hunting license stamp ya know? haha.

I would like to just see a license, and a game tag, and go hunt, no etra stamps, permits, etc...also some states call a tag, a permit, a license etc...

we need a hunting csar! lol. I'm available for $200k/year...

The same logic applies to the license as the tags... controlling the number of hunters in the state to manage the game in that state. If everybody could buy a cheap resident license in their home state that would be valid in Iowa, then what's to stop a flood of non-resident hunters from blasting the pheasant population into oblivion in Iowa? Not much. This goes beyond just deer hunting, which apparently you don't understand.

Mike