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The changes in North Dakota are likely permanent. I understand the plight of the average city person and their fight to find good hunting land. I grew up in eastern ND. Traveling to central or western ND always resulted in better hunting.
Once the guides and outfitters take hold they will likely not be removed. In Montana the outfitters control the majority of nonresident deer licenses. Even in ND about one-half of all nonresident deer licenses are sold to ND outfitters. These people can then sell the license over the internet as a package hunt. Packages run about $1500 to $2500 for a five day whitetail buck hunt.
In the past legislative session - the bill establishing NR license caps would have allowed the outfitters to take 10% of the licenses. If there are 25,000 NR licenses, the guides get 2500 licenses. Some economics:
If an outfitter takes eight hunters for 5 days each and operates for 35 days in the season, they need 56 licenses. This means 2500 licenses could cover about 50 medium sized outfitters in ND.
If they charge $250/day, they net over $70,000 / fall season. They pay a couple of grand to two or three guides. They then take $10,000 to lease land - easily lease 3,000 - 10,000 acres in ND ( @ $1 - $3/acre).
This means 50 outfitters could easily lease 500,000 acres of prime waterfowl land - probably more.
Add another 5 grand for expenses and the outfitter still nets $50,000 for a 35 day period. Add a couple of deer hunters in November and they earn even more money.
The money is there. I guess spending thousands of dollars to lobby government officials is a good investment when the money flows in like this.
Limit the number of nonresidents coming into ND and the value of the guiding operation increases. People who used to freelance now book with outfitters to keep coming to ND. The rates are raised per day, more land is leased ….. on and on and on.
Once the guides and outfitters take hold they will likely not be removed. In Montana the outfitters control the majority of nonresident deer licenses. Even in ND about one-half of all nonresident deer licenses are sold to ND outfitters. These people can then sell the license over the internet as a package hunt. Packages run about $1500 to $2500 for a five day whitetail buck hunt.
In the past legislative session - the bill establishing NR license caps would have allowed the outfitters to take 10% of the licenses. If there are 25,000 NR licenses, the guides get 2500 licenses. Some economics:
If an outfitter takes eight hunters for 5 days each and operates for 35 days in the season, they need 56 licenses. This means 2500 licenses could cover about 50 medium sized outfitters in ND.
If they charge $250/day, they net over $70,000 / fall season. They pay a couple of grand to two or three guides. They then take $10,000 to lease land - easily lease 3,000 - 10,000 acres in ND ( @ $1 - $3/acre).
This means 50 outfitters could easily lease 500,000 acres of prime waterfowl land - probably more.
Add another 5 grand for expenses and the outfitter still nets $50,000 for a 35 day period. Add a couple of deer hunters in November and they earn even more money.
The money is there. I guess spending thousands of dollars to lobby government officials is a good investment when the money flows in like this.
Limit the number of nonresidents coming into ND and the value of the guiding operation increases. People who used to freelance now book with outfitters to keep coming to ND. The rates are raised per day, more land is leased ….. on and on and on.
