Don's predictions will probably bear out, especially on the Kaibab, Strip and the early rifle and muzzleloader bull elk tags. It's my opinion that AZ residents have been let down by the very agency that should have protected our states' citizens' rights to state issued big game tags. After a much closer look at the ruling in the Montoya v. Manning case, this resident is left with the conclusion that our citizens were not well served by the testimony offered by employees of the AZG&F in defense of AZ's draw method.
I seriously doubt that many have actually read the 26 page ruling, issued on July 13, 2004, that upheld the earlier ruling by the 9th Circuit Court. The cryptic, inadequate, and often defiant responses of the employees quoted in the text of the ruling is depressing. Surely we had better to offer than the weak testimony proffered within the ruling? I encourage every AZ resident that hasn't done so to take the time to read the ruling and come to their own conclusions. I believe that the AZG&F owes the resident hunters of this state something more than a capitulation that the only reasons for limits on nonresidents are "happiness factor"s, "social" consequences, and no other effect than "unhappy residents".
When repeatedly offered opportunities to give an example, any example, of how to make the draw "less discriminatory" they declined. That attitude sunk the residents' arguments in the case and has resulted in the wide open draw we have now. The AZG&F is the unwitting beneficiary of the court's ruling as they know AZ residents will continue to apply for tags, no matter what percentage we are allowed to draw, and that we will do it at a higher cost for licenses and tags right along with the nonresident applicants, who now have just as much "right" to an AZ tag as a resident does.
I don't know that residents of other western states should be all too excited about this ruling. Oh sure, you're way more likely to draw in AZ, especially if you've been playing the game by purchasing bonus points, but for how long will you be able to protect your states' ability to issue tags in the manner your game department sees fit? I'll bet not for long.
