How isn't Buzz just going off on this? He seems to flip a lid if the Montana FWP breathes wrong, but with Wyoming hunters both resident and nonresident having to pay some of the highest license rates it's crickets and that's for OK opportunities on anything but antelope.
Chris D, I think it would be wise for you to read some of the threads on this bill.
While you were likely sitting on your ass, whining about fees, I was working on getting this bill amended to something that would have resulted in a revenue gain to the GF department. I volunteered my time and worked on this bill more than any other bill in the session. Keep in mind, that I'm not paid to do this. I have to flex my work schedule (which means working on my weekends and days off) and/or take vacation days to work on these things.
Also, I don't mind paying NR fees at all, never have. In particular when those fees go to game management that results in good hunting, healthy herds, etc. I also never object to paying fee increases to keep the GF/DOW/DNR agencies funded so they can continue to function.
The contrast between what Montana calls "management", and how Wyoming actually does conduct management is so stark, that its very tough to call what goes on with the MTFWP management at all. I'll pay for management, through increases in both R and NR fees.
Just so you know, the final version of this bill, after the CPI and GF Commission authority was stripped, along with the Hicks amendment failing by a few votes and was not attached, there was exactly one Wyoming Sportsman's group that opposed the final version of the bill...the one that I chair.
The reason that WYBHA opposed the bill was not over the fee increase...
Finally, you're so far off base with your comments about "OK opportunities on anything but antelope", its almost laughable. Seems our elk hunting opportunities for NR's are pretty popular...over 3k more applicants for full priced elk tags the last 3 years.
Of course, having correct management that results in bull-to-cow ratios in the general units near Laramie at 42 bulls per 100 cows and 49 calves per 100 cows...that doesn't hurt anything. Real management nets real results.
Too bad John Vore, MTFWP Game Management Bureau Chief, thinks even bull to cow ratios of 20 to 100 are "unattainable"...yeah, when you don't manage, that would be a true statement.
I wonder when the last time Montana had over 40% over-all success on elk was?
