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$2.5 Million will be going into Montana’s public access account in order to open up more Block Management ground for hunting access. Good news right? Well, yes and no…
Montana, like the rest of us, can’t just print money so that $2.5 Million has to come from someplace and that someplace will be an increase in cost to the base hunting license for non-resident hunters.
Right now the non-resident base hunting license cost is $15, but HB 145, signed into law by Gov. Greg Gianforte, raises that dollar amount to $50. This increase is expected to generate roughly $2.9 Million thanks to the fact that non-residents make up about 80% of the revenue from deer and elk licenses sold. $2.5 Million of the expected funds will be used for increasing public access.
While $50 is for a base hunting license isn’t an outrageous sum it still adds cost. That said, I do like the idea of that money going into access programs in a state that can be woefully difficult to find access in.
What are your thoughts on this price increase? Good or Bad and Why?
I agree with you if they money is going to conservation don’t mind paying it. If you can’t afford it just don’t hunt. Nothing is FREE.
Why does this have to be out of the wallets of only the non-resident hunters. A increase of over 300%. I’m not complaining about not affording the price increase as this will open up access for both resident and non-residents. There should be a price increase for both and just not directed towards non-residents.
I agree that it will benefit access if used appropriately. Hopefully, other ranchers will take advantage of it to open their ground up and limit their problem with elk and deer Problem is, outfitters leese up ranches for $$$$ and pass the cost on to their clients. I have witnessed those same outfitters then hunting on block management grounds.
I am a nonresident and am for it. First and foremost hunting should be affordable to residents, no matter what state that may be.
Todd, you, the Eastman staff, and residents are all for gouging nonresidents, cutting nonresident tags and nearly making it impossible to draw tags, while insisting nonresidents fund your state’s budget shortcomings. If residents paid even 1/4 of nonresidents, there would be no budget shortfalls. Your company also badgers the same nonresidents to purchase products from your sponsors. Here’s a novel idea, residents, pay your fair share.