Ballot Measure 161

[Double D]

Initiative 161, which would ban outfitter-sponsored hunting licenses and raise fees for nonresident hunters, is passing 78,336 to 55,430, or 59 percent to 41 percent.

I wonder what it really means.  I heard the rhetoric, but what will really happen.

[saddlebum]

I'm no expert, but I have to say I'm a little surprised. When they tried that in Wyoming the outfitters pitched a fit and used some leverage to get it stuck down. They also have alot of control over what they consider THEIR territory. The outfitters must not have the stroke that they do in Wy. I don't know what the rules are concerning the mandated use of a licensed outfitter are for out of staters. That would make it harder for them to attract business if they don't sell the licenses. If out of staters don't have to go through an outfitter then they can do the hunt on their own leaving the outfitters out of the loop and short on business. I was curious so I looked it up. This explains it better than my ramblings.



http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20101024/NEWS01/101024006/Is-I-161-good-for-the-future-of-hunting-or-just-bad-for-business-

Something to keep in mind when reading this, if I'm not misstaken, 70% of Mt. is privately owned. Helps put it in perspective.

[Cottonwood]

I support and voted yes on I-161  These Outfitters charge above and beyond for a trophy bull elk.  Most of us Montanan's can't shell out $10,000.00 plus for a trophy animal.  The land owners if getting federal dollars for anything regarding their land, must allow public access to their land if they want to keep recieving that $$ or loose it for over 20 years.

Another reason there is Block Management.

Now the high dollar out of staters can put in for a draw tag like everyone else does, and us residents have better oportunity for those tags that were a given for the Outfitters.

Just my .02 on the matter.

[Double D]

I guess I might support the deal If i was guaranteed tag if I paid big dollars also. 

My dad who lives in Oregon, just buys a B tag when he comes up.  He would like to try a draw for just a buck tag, nothing else, not those everything tags for stuff he doesn't hunt.

[Mt_Sourdough]

I voted yes.  I hate watching private planes land, people go from private plane to luxury SUV, to ranch, to choose trophy bull, to pull the trigger, to photo opp and then back to private plane and gone while us Montanans watch from the other side of the fence.  Us Montanans knowing that the person paid 10 g's for that Photo, knowing that the big money ties up game wardens who seem to have a job in protecting our wild game like they were the kings game. 

[dpe.ahoy]

My cabin is n Area 410 and only 300 either sex and 55 cow tags (rifle) for elk in that area.  Last weekend I was up there and over half of the vehicals were wearing out of state tags.  Elk on my land I can't hunt without a permit, but these people can pay the $ and come get one.  My land is posted, but looked like a highway going past my cabin and around the winter wheat field, first time in 3 years I didn't see any deer for 2 days.  DP

[Double D]

My dad lives in  Oregon.  He would like to put in for an A tag for deer, no bear, no fishing, no birds, no elk, just an A tag, an any deer tag just for hunting deer.  For now he justs buys a Whitetail B tag.

I got invited to a Hutterite colony to hunt.  I went over to scout the colony and I saw some signs that say the colony is closed to public hunting as the ground is leased to an outfitter.  I ask the Colony elders about the signs.  They tell me that they did lease the property but the Out fitter only came out once a few years earlier and killed one elk.  The Elders said they have elk and deer in their grain and they want them killed.

I contacted the outfitter in Kalsipell and he told me that the only hunt the property when a good bull or buck are spotted on the place once every three or four years.  They wouldn't even consider me paying them a tresspass fee.

[Cottonwood]

Double D your lucky, the wolves over here are ruthless and we couldn't even find any elk tracks down the Swan Ranger Distict this last weekend.