Mississippi
New Member
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Please explain to me how it is OK for the state of AZ to limit non-resident hunters to 10% of the best Elk and Deer tags in the country.
Please consider the following:
1. The AZ hunting license I have purchased for the past 7 years (in order to get a bonus point) costs me five times as much as a resident pays for the same license. Arizona hunting license revenue from NR license sales is $2,070,000 vs revenue from resident license sales $1,390,000 (2003 annual report of AZGFD).
2. If I get drawn I will pay five times as much as a resident pays for the tag.
3. 99% of the land that the elk and deer inhabit is owned and managed by the federal government.
I could keep going with more valid reasons, but what is the point??.
Thousands NR hunters travel each year to my home state, Mississippi, for some of the best waterfowl and whitetail deer hunting in the country. The NR hunters cause the price of private land leases to increase as well as crowding up the public hunting areas. You don't hear me complaining about that.
Lets face it. Arizona has the best elk herd and one of the best mule deer herds in the country because the AZGFD manages the resource properly. They do not allow over-hunting. Arizona also has one of the smallest elk herds with one of the largest human populations in the western US. Hence more hunters applying for a small number of tags.
So please, quit winning when the playing field is made level.
FYI, I apply for big game tags in 7 western states each year. When I am able to draw a tag, I hunt unguided. Scout hard, hunt hard, do it yourself, and be a hunter not a shooter.
If you are too old, too out of shape, or too stupid to have a successful hunt on your own then stay home (exception for persons with physical disabilities).
My opinion of U.S. Outfitters is that they have made a business out of a public resource. I believe that professional guides should have to pay a substantial FEDERAL tax to guide hunters on federal land.
My 2 cents. If you disagree, let me know why!
Please consider the following:
1. The AZ hunting license I have purchased for the past 7 years (in order to get a bonus point) costs me five times as much as a resident pays for the same license. Arizona hunting license revenue from NR license sales is $2,070,000 vs revenue from resident license sales $1,390,000 (2003 annual report of AZGFD).
2. If I get drawn I will pay five times as much as a resident pays for the tag.
3. 99% of the land that the elk and deer inhabit is owned and managed by the federal government.
I could keep going with more valid reasons, but what is the point??.
Thousands NR hunters travel each year to my home state, Mississippi, for some of the best waterfowl and whitetail deer hunting in the country. The NR hunters cause the price of private land leases to increase as well as crowding up the public hunting areas. You don't hear me complaining about that.
Lets face it. Arizona has the best elk herd and one of the best mule deer herds in the country because the AZGFD manages the resource properly. They do not allow over-hunting. Arizona also has one of the smallest elk herds with one of the largest human populations in the western US. Hence more hunters applying for a small number of tags.
So please, quit winning when the playing field is made level.
FYI, I apply for big game tags in 7 western states each year. When I am able to draw a tag, I hunt unguided. Scout hard, hunt hard, do it yourself, and be a hunter not a shooter.
If you are too old, too out of shape, or too stupid to have a successful hunt on your own then stay home (exception for persons with physical disabilities).
My opinion of U.S. Outfitters is that they have made a business out of a public resource. I believe that professional guides should have to pay a substantial FEDERAL tax to guide hunters on federal land.
My 2 cents. If you disagree, let me know why!