CO tags changes

[WItoTX]

Originally Posted by Texans42

I lived in CO when it went to vote on Spring hunting and hounds for Bears. Hunters specifically didnt advocate against the legislation, infact there was hunters on TV advocating against hounds and spring bear. the Old CO BHA chapter president is one of them.

the current Resident hunters are the ones advocating for the closure of all OTC tags, and 90/10 or less spilts. With the explosion of predators in CO now and future plans the tag allocation for the entire state will shrink, Resident answer is less NR tags allocation

I hear you. I understand where they are coming from in that case. I don't agree, but I understand. After years and years of no issues getting tags, now they are having issues getting tags. What is the easy solution for them? Kick out the outsiders. It's easy to get folks on their side for that one.

What was the BHA presidents position? Why did he support the ban?

Unrelated, BHA started ramping up here in Houston maybe 5 years ago. I went to just about every monthly meet up, and did the cleanup events, and was pretty active. But it became clear that BHA was taking Texas money to support initiatives in western states. I brought up a local issue BHA should have loved to dive head first in. BHA said they "didn't want to burn political capital" on that issue. Needless to say, I stopped supporting them after that.

[Texans42]

Originally Posted by CrownKiller14

Tag allocation is going to be the least of our worries if the population slope keeps declining. I believe they're studying the effects of non hunter use of public lands, but I can't find it at the moment.

All of the hunters in the woods in archery season defiantly do have some effect on breeding, but recreational uses are in the wood in calving season.(Spring/Summer) What's worse?

I wish Co would do like some others states that require a permit or hunting license to access BLM & stateland. Federal land should be open to the public, but closing high (wildlife) use areas in the spring might be beneficial.

stateland (outside state park or WMA) in CO is straight lease, no access if leasee doesnt grant it. few of the WMA do require a Hunting or Fishing license to access like Bosque Del Oso State WMA.

Ive never had to have a BLM permit to hunt or access BLM in any state.

[WItoTX]

Originally Posted by CrownKiller14

Tag allocation is going to be the least of our worries if the population slope keeps declining. I believe they're studying the effects of non hunter use of public lands, but I can't find it at the moment.

All of the hunters in the woods in archery season defiantly do have some effect on breeding, but recreational uses are in the wood in calving season.(Spring/Summer) What's worse?

I wish Co would do like some others states that require a permit or hunting license to access BLM & stateland. Federal land should be open to the public, but closing high (wildlife) use areas in the spring might be beneficial.

Hikers, bikers, joggers, nature walkers, bird watchers, fourwheelers, snowmobilers, skiers,...literally anyone who uses public land should have to pay to use it. This means paying taxes on the products they use, like hunters already do. Hunters have been footing the bill for decades for these people.

[ORIONTHEHUNTER]

Originally Posted by CrownKiller14

Tag allocation is going to be the least of our worries if the population slope keeps declining. I believe they're studying the effects of non hunter use of public lands, but I can't find it at the moment.

All of the hunters in the woods in archery season defiantly do have some effect on breeding, but recreational uses are in the wood in calving season.(Spring/Summer) What's worse?

I wish Co would do like some others states that require a permit or hunting license to access BLM & stateland. Federal land should be open to the public, but closing high (wildlife) use areas in the spring might be beneficial.

A lot of our wildlife and winter areas are closed December 1 to May 1st. Also the forest service gates are also locked during that time period.

[CrownKiller14]

Originally Posted by ORIONTHEHUNTER

A lot of our wildlife and winter areas are closed December 1 to May 1st. Also the forest service gates are also locked during that time period.

Is that state wide or in your region b/c of snow? That's good to know.

[ORIONTHEHUNTER]

They do it down here every year regardless of snow levels. I'm not sure about other parts of the state

[flywise]

If they don’t want NR then my tax money shouldn’t be used for any part of their management plans. I know it’s an old argument and some simpletons can’t figure it out but, federal lands are managed by federal funds so all federal lands with hunting should be equal opportunity for all tax paying residents of the United States. They can do what ever that want with their state lands. Now, I live in reality so I know that won’t happen.

[WItoTX]

Originally Posted by flywise

If they don’t want NR then my tax money shouldn’t be used for any part of their management plans. I know it’s an old argument and some simpletons can’t figure it out but, federal lands are managed by federal funds so all federal lands with hunting should be equal opportunity for all tax paying residents of the United States. They can do what ever that want with their state lands. Now, I live in reality so I know that won’t happen.

You are paying federal taxes to manage federal lands. The animals on those lands belong to the state. The tag you buy comes from the state. Also, you have to buy a small game license to get an elk tag (or deer, etc...), which means you can go hunt any time you want during small game season.

[Dave_]

Originally Posted by flywise

If they don’t want NR then my tax money shouldn’t be used for any part of their management plans. I know it’s an old argument and some simpletons can’t figure it out but, federal lands are managed by federal funds so all federal lands with hunting should be equal opportunity for all tax paying residents of the United States. They can do what ever that want with their state lands. Now, I live in reality so I know that won’t happen.

I second what WItoTX said. You can go on federal lands and do just about anything else. You can camp, fish, small game hunt, pan for gold, pick shrooms, take a dump, get firewood, guide hunts.

There is just too much demand for everyone to get big game permits. States hold wildlife in public trust and manage as they see fit for the residents of the state. In most cases that's opportunity for residents and basic supply/demand or pay to play for NR. Your basic TX resident license is like $25 and you can shoot like 6-7 big game animals + turkey if you want. TX NR is like $315. We do it too and have a fraction of the public.

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[Drycreek3189]

Originally Posted by wytex

Hunters aren't giving up anything, voters are taking it from them.

That’s because CO is a blue state and getting more blue each year. The majority of residents like wolves more than hunters. It’s on a downhill slide and gaining momentum.

[Texans42]

Originally Posted by Dave_

I second what WItoTX said. You can go on federal lands and do just about anything else. You can camp, fish, small game hunt, pan for gold, pick shrooms, take a dump, get firewood, guide hunts.

There is just too much demand for everyone to get big game permits. States hold wildlife in public trust and manage as they see fit for the residents of the state. In most cases that's opportunity for residents and basic supply/demand or pay to play for NR. Your basic TX resident license is like $25 and you can shoot like 6-7 big game animals + turkey if you want. TX NR is like $315. We do it too and have a fraction of the public.

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no we dont.

Texas has no preference in resident status for draw tags or OTC public hunting opportunity. There are no NR caps for anything. There are no upfront license fees for ANY draw. There are no Non resident excluded tag opportunities.

Texas is about the fairest state in the union to NR.

[Texans42]

Originally Posted by ORIONTHEHUNTER

They do it down here every year regardless of snow levels. I'm not sure about other parts of the state

they do it across the state, they arent all closed, big chunk are just closed to wheel’ed vehicles, but open to snow mobiling.

They essentially do it for a couple reason, keep from tearing trails up and causing erosion and safety.

[Dave_]

Originally Posted by Texans42

no we dont.



Texas has no preference in resident status for draw tags or OTC public hunting opportunity. There are no NR caps for anything. There are no upfront license fees for ANY draw. There are no Non resident excluded tag opportunities.



Texas is about the fairest state in the union to NR.

I'm just talking about price difference. We're ~97 private. Lots of states NR can still buy an otc private land or landowner voucher with out drawing. Texas draw hunts a are joke for the most part and extremely limited availability compared to most western states. The federal refuge hunts are probably some of the best. They all have an orientation you have to go to, a bunch are in parks where they just tell you where to sit or park. And you still have a better shot at drawing a top tier NM elk or deer tag than most of the TX draw hunts. I'll prob draw a mountain goat tag in CO before I draw a public mule deer or pronghorn tag in TX.

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[Dave_]

But agreed we are very generous. But we also have ample wildlife resoures with a very healthy whitetail population and tons of exotics. Very different than migratory elk or mule deer that face more population challenges

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[CEO]

Originally Posted by WItoTX

You are paying federal taxes to manage federal lands. The animals on those lands belong to the state. The tag you buy comes from the state. Also, you have to buy a small game license to get an elk tag (or deer, etc...), which means you can go hunt any time you want during small game season.

Most western diy hunts are glorified camping trips that never harass, much less kill, a state owned animal. Maybe don't charge us that huge amount for taking a state resource unless we actually do.

Yes, I know that would never happen

[WItoTX]

Originally Posted by CEO

Most western diy hunts are glorified camping trips that never harass, much less kill, a state owned animal. Maybe don't charge us that huge amount for taking a state resource unless we actually do.

Yes, I know that would never happen

I've made a similar argument before. NR's should get a bulk of the tags. A) we pay more, B) we don't live there, so chances of us scouting and finding elk pre- season are basically 0, C) "we" collectively pay for hotels, restaurants, fuel, snacks, the local hardware store where we buy all the stuff we forgot to pack because we left in a hurry on our 18 hour drive, and D) with our lower likelihood of getting an animal, populations of elk would soar and there is less wear and tear on FS roads/parks. Us NR's are usually hunting 1, maybe 2 weeks of a year, where as residents are hunting every weekend until something is on the ground, if not multiple weeks.

Residents should thank us and be willing to give half their tags to us.