Lv2hnt
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This thread isn't directed at everyone, and I doubt I'm alone in my thinking. With the posting on-line of Arizona's new hunt regs comes expected agitation. Many of you have met me --- I trust my past posts will temper what follows ...
This whole mess brought about by Taulman and his cronies has not been good for ANY of us, resident nor non-resident! Regardless of how legal matters were handled recently by Arizona G&F, our state has worked HARD over the years at maintaining QUALITY hunting in a state with VERY harsh conditions overall (magnified even more greatly with the current DECADE-LONG drought!). No surprise then that USO only applies their clients for Arizona hunt units known for "trophy" animals.
Arizona's human population has exploded, yet there aren't any more animals to hunt than in years past (and WAY less deer and antelope!). Arizona hunters have "bitten the bullet" so we might enjoy the best hunting experience possible --- we've had to live with a lottery drawing system since 1971 (FYI, the ONLY firearm OTC tags available are for mountain lion and Fall bear)!
I can't see how any of you would deny you want residents given preference for hunting in your own home state. It's no different here! Am I against non-residents hunting here in Arizona? N-O! In fact, I've shared camp and gone out of my way assisting several non-residents hunting big game here in our state, even when I've blanked on drawing that same tag (just as I know a lot of you have done in yours!). Just thank God this whole snafu didn't happen in your back yard.
It's common knowledge that Arizona's license/tag fees have been SUBSTANTIALLY below that of neighboring and other western states. It's truly unfortunate that the timing for "catching up" coincides with the USO fiasco. But so be it. It is ONE of the steps many AZ. hunters requested our G&F take to help Az. resident hunting opportunity and off-set USO's warped suit (and I imagine having to fork up tag fees at the time of application is here to stay).
I'm just an average Joe (wishing I was better off financially), and am actively involved in wildlife conservation. I cherish America's hunting heritage and especially embrace our fraternity that loves, and lives, to hunt western big game.
All that being said, let me finally get to my main point: to those of you non-Arizonans who MUST gripe and whine about what's transpired with Arizona's new hunting regulations --- feel free to stay home.
To those of you non-residents who see the big picture here, I'm sorry we're all having to endure this. I hope you pull the Arizona tag you've been itching for.
And a special "good luck" to you parents with young hunters at home (feed that fire in their hearts)...!
Lv2hnt
This whole mess brought about by Taulman and his cronies has not been good for ANY of us, resident nor non-resident! Regardless of how legal matters were handled recently by Arizona G&F, our state has worked HARD over the years at maintaining QUALITY hunting in a state with VERY harsh conditions overall (magnified even more greatly with the current DECADE-LONG drought!). No surprise then that USO only applies their clients for Arizona hunt units known for "trophy" animals.
Arizona's human population has exploded, yet there aren't any more animals to hunt than in years past (and WAY less deer and antelope!). Arizona hunters have "bitten the bullet" so we might enjoy the best hunting experience possible --- we've had to live with a lottery drawing system since 1971 (FYI, the ONLY firearm OTC tags available are for mountain lion and Fall bear)!
I can't see how any of you would deny you want residents given preference for hunting in your own home state. It's no different here! Am I against non-residents hunting here in Arizona? N-O! In fact, I've shared camp and gone out of my way assisting several non-residents hunting big game here in our state, even when I've blanked on drawing that same tag (just as I know a lot of you have done in yours!). Just thank God this whole snafu didn't happen in your back yard.
It's common knowledge that Arizona's license/tag fees have been SUBSTANTIALLY below that of neighboring and other western states. It's truly unfortunate that the timing for "catching up" coincides with the USO fiasco. But so be it. It is ONE of the steps many AZ. hunters requested our G&F take to help Az. resident hunting opportunity and off-set USO's warped suit (and I imagine having to fork up tag fees at the time of application is here to stay).
I'm just an average Joe (wishing I was better off financially), and am actively involved in wildlife conservation. I cherish America's hunting heritage and especially embrace our fraternity that loves, and lives, to hunt western big game.
All that being said, let me finally get to my main point: to those of you non-Arizonans who MUST gripe and whine about what's transpired with Arizona's new hunting regulations --- feel free to stay home.
To those of you non-residents who see the big picture here, I'm sorry we're all having to endure this. I hope you pull the Arizona tag you've been itching for.
And a special "good luck" to you parents with young hunters at home (feed that fire in their hearts)...!
Lv2hnt
