So if you are really in favor of freelancing NR waterfowl hunters allowed to hunt in ND (in limited numbers) then listen to my screams about NR deer hunters as a legislative precedent. :******:
Hunter pressure model would have sold 22,000 licenses for 2002. NDG&F just hit the 22,000 mark on 9-19. Of this amount what will the legislature give to NR land owners and/or guides. Look at the last session and how the guides were attempting to get there cut off the top.
Right now NR land owners can get a gratis deer hunting license. Not only does this count against the 1% of the licenses available to NRs, it competes directly with residents since these licenses are subtracted off before the lottery. Now 5 or 10 NR gratis licenses in a zone may sound like a small number, but if the zone is overbid and some residents are forced to take a second choice .....
If the NR gratis land owner is a retired farmer - good for him. If it is a guy who just bought 320 acres in ND to by-pass the system shame on ND.
Right now guides can take one-half of the 1% NR licenses in a deer zone and sell them to a NR deer hunter for what they want. Most net sites show cost of a ND deer hunt at about $2500 per five day hunt. More then double what they get on a waterfowl hunter.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO:
Get down to Bismarck next winter and make sure that if 22,000 NR waterfowl licenses are issued in fall of 2003 that :
1)
Hunters with guides DO NOT GET A LICENSE FIRST . An automatic license through the outfitter will not be tolerated. All NR hunters should get their license just like the freelancing hunter. By chance, first to call, lottery, etc...
2) NR land owners do not get gratis or priority either. If they do, the out-of-state land buyers will swarm into ND. I guess if I was a small town realtor I know what I would call my local senator on.
3) Finally, every year since I have been old enough to watch bills move through the ND legislature, a NO Tresspass Bill has been entered. Do not let this sneak through.
Good luck Fetch.
Maybe Chris can start a lobbiest fund to pay your hotel bills and someone is Bismarck can take you fishing on the MO river system after a hard days work. :beer: