As I see it... the heart of the issue is that the cost of mere opportunity is getting to the point where the average guy isn't even able to participate. What seems to be happening across all the states is a dramatic increase simply for the CHANCE, and that is a little messed up. I understand that these agencies have rising costs and budget constraints, but what is happening is that the average guy can't afford to even give himself a chance, and that's a slippery slope that makes me a bit queasy. I mean, I'm going to stay in the game for MT sheep & goat, and my chances might even go up. But is that good? Is it right that I might have a better chance because some guy who loves to hunt, but makes a little less, can't afford to stay in the draw? That doesn't smell right.
There are some activities that will be impossible for a guy unless he has money to burn. I get that. Yachting, breeding Kentucky Derby thoroughbreds, traveling the world on a luxury cruise boat... yeah... you're gonna need some money to do those things. But an American guy should be able to go hunting in a neighboring state or he should at least be able to afford the CHANCE to go hunting in a neighboring state. One of the goals in the hunting community should be affordability in my opinion. When we deliberately start pricing people out of the activity, we do so at our own peril. Heaven knows we lose enough hunters every year for other reasons. Let's not push others out the door if we can help it.
