LAST EDITED ON Mar-19-15 AT 01:13PM (MST)[p]>Mt,
>Other states are funded differently.
>Utah's DWR is not granted
>money from the general fund.
> This why the auction
>tags started to begin with,
>to provide the dollars need
>for the DWR. Other
>states are funded from the
>general fund. Different dynamics.
> Utahs population density is
>also different than Montana.
>Less people more area to
>spread out and hunt.
>If you allowed open over
>the counter tags in Utah
>during the rut you would
>devastate the deer herd in
>one single year. Montana
>has shown they can handle
>that kind of pressure.
>Different dynamic, different approach to
>managing all the way around.
>
Whoa there pardner! UDWR does indeed get general/taxpayer funds. Even more than some of the surrounding states.
Per UDWR's FY2014 budget report:
$6,104,718 (7.88%) from general funds.
$33,531,786 (43.31%) from licenses, permits, COR's, and fines.
$23,371,319 (30.19%) from Federal funds.
$14,415,047 (18.62%) from contributions and operations.
Total-$77,422,870
I don't have all other state's latest figures, but:
California Department of Fish and Wildlife: FY2013-14:
$62.7M (17%) general funds
$110.1M (30%) licenses, permits
$62.0M (17%) Federal funds
$29.5M (8%) Oil Spill Prevention funds
$102.0M (28%) Various other funds which are hard to break down.
Total-$366.3 Million
Colorado Parks and Wildlife FY2011-12185:
$28,657,416 (15%) Federal and State Grants/funds
$96,888,669 (52%) Licenses, Permits, Passes & Fees
$36,005,547 (19%) Lottery and Great Outdoors Colorado
$23,801,653 (14%) various other funds which are hard to break down.
Total-$185,353,285
Idaho Bureau of Wildlife FY2012:
$8,807,282 (42.3%) Licenses
$9,107,386 (43.8%) Federal
$2,895,145 (13.9%) Other (including state funds I presume)
Total-$20,809,813
Nevada FY2015:
$494,770 (1.3%) general funds
$14,825,807 (40.4%) licenses, permits, fees, stamps
$14,687,999 (40.0%) federal funds
$1,718,927 (4.7%) transferred from other state agencies
$4,805,661 (13.1%) cost allocations (whatever that is!)
$149,052 (0.4%) misc.
Total-$36,682,216
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife FY1013-15:
$17,157,413 (5%) general funds
$103,851,923 (29%) licenses, permits, fees
$131,933,605 (36%) federal funds
$7,921,936 (2%) commercial fish funds
$60,003,124 (17%) obligated funds (whatever that is!)
$4,879,929 (1%) lottery
$35,454,200 (10%) beginning balance
Total-$361.2 Million
Wyoming Game and Fish FY2011: (The FY2014 budget report I found is too complicated to sort out.)
$3.75M (6%) general funds
$36.25M (58%) licenses, preference points, fees, stamps
$11.88M (19%) federal funds
$2.50M (4%) interest
$8.13M (13%) other: grants, boating registration, etc.
Total-$62.5M
I don't have time right now to check all the others, but it seems that the other states are as financially sound as is Utah, even if they don't have those auction or Expo tags. And the vast majority of those funds still come from the "average" sportsmen whether directly with licenses, permits and fees or indirectly with Pittman-Robertson or Dingell-Johnson funds.