While I cant speak for a majority of WY residents...I will speak for myself.
I think its pure bullshit to saddle the NR's with 100% of the needed fee increases. I also think its an equal amount of BS that Residents pay DIRT cheap fees for elk, deer, antelope, goat, moose, sheep, bear, etc.
That said, I can assure you that I am in the minority when it comes to how WY residents feel about their current license fees. Most act as if they'll have to refinance their homes to afford a resident license.
The frustrating thing for me is that both R's and NR's whine about the price of tags....no matter what they are. Every single time there is a fee increase, its the same broken record from both.
I think as a resident what we should keep in mind is that we pay literally PEANUTS for our hunting and fishing licenses.
What we should all keep in mind as non residents is that we should feel lucky that other states share their wildlife resources with us. I know I sure appreciate that I can hunt other states, even though I have to pay much more for the opportunity. I get tired of NR's thinking that hunting out-of-state is a god-given right and that they should be able to do it on the cheap. Thats crap, you dont live here and its more than clear that all States have the right to discriminate when it comes to license fees.
However, on the flip side of that, I appreciate, and take every opportunity to thank NR's for funding the WYG&F when I run into them in the field. Without NR's and their funding, the WYG&F would really be in the shit.
Cur dog, for the record, my wife and I have contributed at least $100 per year to accessyes program since we've lived in Wyoming (12 years). Most years, we've each contributed $100, but at least $100 combined. While I cant give you a definite number, I'd say in the neighborhood of $1700-$2000 in the last 12 years. Already gave them $100 this year for accessyes when I bought my dirt cheap resident fishing license.
Also, I will be making another drive to Cheyenne to testify to the House Travel, Recreation, and Wildlife committee to testify against this bill.
IMO, a better bill would have been to increase the fees just on Residents...to bring the disparity between R and NR fees closer together.
The trouble is, I can assure you that I will likely be booed out of the committee room by any residents that are there to testify.
You guys should take a close look at MT. seriously before you support such legistation.:hump:
