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Non-Resident Antlerless Tags and Land Access

OneCam

Well-Known Member
Iowa compared to its neighboring states is relatively easy to gain hunting access to private grounds. Iowa Sportsman and women have shown they want to keep it this way by taking a strong stance within the legislative front by stifling all efforts to increase non-resident tags – specifically either sex tags.

Land access is still slowly shrinking with the ever-increasing demand on land and leasing. Laws and regulations are the only means for slowing this trend to reasonable levels. Simply put the more non-resident tags made available the more demand thus the more land acquisition and leasing. Currently non-residents are hesitant to purchase or lease land in Iowa because tags are not readily available on a yearly basis. If non-residents can be guaranteed tags each year demand for land will increase tremendously thus further eliminating overall land access.

During the 2004-2005 hunting season the IDNR sold 8,479 non-resident deer licenses – 6,000 either sex tags and 2,479 antlerless tags. The either sex tags of course are the most sought after by allowing those that possess one to harvest a potential Iowa trophy buck. Antlerless tags are becoming increasingly more popular each year even at the cost of $150 plus $80 license and an $8 habitat fee.

Antlerless tags are sought after by the following groups;

* The first group is one that I believe we all can fully support. They are family members hunting during the special Holiday season which tags are purchased at a low rate of $50. Yet this group makes up the least tag purchases of my grouping.

* Individuals with special interest in Iowa and Iowa’s land will purchase these tags as they may either own or lease ground in Iowa.

* Party hunters. Did you know a Non Resident hunting during the first or Second shotgun season can purchase a cheaper antlerless tag and legally shoot a buck. In fact that individual can shoot as many bucks as they have individuals possessing either sex tags hunting with them.

* The final group is in my opinion purchasing “temptation tags†with some coming to Iowa with every intention on shooting a buck.

So antlerless tags that at first seem to create a harmless void are in effect allowing non-resident hunters a means to hunt the state for bucks each and every year. One could even make the argument that individuals that purchase antlerless tags displace more hunters than the average individual that purchases an occasional either sex tag.

Many are aware of the recent Senate bill, which is for the most part a very positive. Topics addressed in this bill cover landowner certification, depredation tags, harvest reporting, special hunts and allocating an additional antlerless tag with each successful either sex tag drawn. The one area of concern for Iowa hunters should be the proposed removal of the 2,500 cap on non-resident antlerless tags.

Senator Black and others will state that the removal of the cap on NR antlerless tags will allow the DNR to reduce the number of as they see fit. Stating the DNR will set the number of tags sold based on Biological standards. Yet the DNR has already stated that non-residents are not a factor in the overall population control strategy. At the same time the DNR has repeatedly asked for increased numbers of both either-sex and antlerless tags. Increased revenue is on the agenda and you should be very concerned that the total sales of antlerless tags will be increased substantially.

Still don’t see why these tags will displace hunters – let me paint a picture … New Iowa Outfitter dialog with a non-resident hunter that was unsuccessful drawing a “buck†tag, “Don’t worry about drawing a tag, you can still come hunt with us and when you shoot your trophy buck my cousin will tag it and it’s perfectly legal … oh and by the way I just leased 3,000 more acres so tell your buddiesâ€.

Now is the time to act – contact your Legislators and your Conservation group leaders. Be polite and tell them your stance on the proposal to remove the cap on antlerless tags.
 
Very well said!
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I totally agree with OneCam.

The future of deer hunting in Iowa is at a crossroads.

What you as members do in contacting your state representatives may very well shape the future of deer hunting for many years to come.

Please contact your state reps ASAP.
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I have already sent a couple dozen emails, and have personally called 6 Senators and Reps, including Mary Lou Freeman, Joe Bolkcom, Mike May and Hubert Houser. For the most part, these people seem receptive to staying the course by not increasing the number of non-resident tags, however, I found that Mary Lou Freeman (Chair person of the House Standing Committee on Natural Resources) seemed to be tilting her ear to the insurance lobbyists rather than listening to her constituents...

Bottomline these people all need to hear from us! Please remember to at all times be polite and courteous, but do not be afraid to voice your opinions and concerns! If we stand idle, decisions will be made by lobbyists that will adversely impact the quality of our deer hunting for generations to come.
 
I dont think there will ever be a way to police the "Party Hunting" anywhere. I think the landowner tag situation really needs to be investigated. In 2004 there were 66,648 FREE landowner tags issued. Landowner tags have doubled in three years. This is where I would start cleaning house. I guess I look at it this way, I would rather see more antlerless tags issued to keep things the way they are now, than have the court system decide that for us. I dont think it would be pretty. As far as access, I have personally been shun out of a few places this past year due to the simple fact of leasing and purchasing. I hope to never see the outfitters and guides get together or be officially recongized in Iowa. I heard from the Iowa Attorney Generals office that if that does happen, they will sue the state for more NR Anysex tags, and win hands down! Look at what is happening in our neighboring state and out west. I guess we are going to have to give a little to save a lot. I want to ensure that my grandkids are going to have a place to hunt in Iowa without having to pay! Just my personal honest opinions!
 
You know, I guess I would be interested in seeing the ruling on these supposed landmark cases involving outfitters suing XYZ state(s) in order to garner more tags... I just can't imagine a sound argument being made to twist the arm of the DNR and State Legislature into issuing more tags to non-residents, when the wildlife is considered the property of the state???
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Outfitters DO NOT have the right to start a business, whose bottomline depends solely on the natural resources that belong to the state... how can anyone even conceive of any argument like that as being valid? But, I guess it's often the case that the man with the richest attorney often wins, regardless of sanity.
 
The key here is to not confuse the issues. Please understand that when it comes to creating demand for Iowa hunting grounds there is very little difference between NR either sex tags and antlerless tags.

Sportsman have fought so hard to stop the increase of NR either sex tags "to keep things the way they are", now we need to do the same with antlerless tags as well.

If we think we can prevent or avoid a would be lawsuit by giving out more antlerless tags we are kidding ourselfs. Now we do need to cover the negative implications of a few other bills in another post.
 
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If we think we can prevent or avoid a would be lawsuit by giving out more antlerless tags we are kidding ourselves.

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Chris, Exactly, THANK YOU!

We have a fight on our hands and it has little to do with small concessions...a lot of little jabs come before the haymaker knocks you out. Kansas is a perfect example of what little concessions can do. If anything that would be an example to dig in a fight now so we aren't choosing what zone we will be hunting. What precedent do they have to reference? If they are trying to point to the New Mexico case, I've got a story about an emperor for them.
 
To give some of you an idea of whats out there....and not out of the realm of possibilities for iowa. You better stay on top of these issues or something like this USO BS will be aimed at Iowa!

Pulled form bowsite.com
Read this crap from US Outfitters. They are positively "crowing" that they took down Arizona and Nevada. Notice how they are bragging how Montana is ripe for the fleecing. Kansas and Wyoming is next. Idaho soon.

You people better wake the F up. Your rights to your resident tags are on the block to highest bidder.

****UNITED STATES OUTFITTERS, INC. Are you ready for a Great Year? 2005 is looking to be an awesome year for a lot ofyou...the reason? Due to your lawsuit you no longer have to face the discrimination of being a nonresident hunter in some States.

First, the good news! Arizona nonresident quotas have been abolished. Arizona is now attempting to make changes to discourage nonresidents from applying, such as discontinuing their internet applications, raising tag fees, requiring full tag fees sent when applying and/or requiring you to purchase the nonresident license to apply. Any of these things will surely reduce the number of nonresidents applying, but should not affect your portfolios as usa fronts your tag fees and does the applications for you. A few of you who have not bought bonus points in the past may of course be forced to do so. However, you should buy bonus points now that you are on equal footing with the residents for drawing a tag. In fact, this is an opportunity to increase your applications to all four species in Arizona. This way you get four bonus points for the price of one.

Nevada nonresident quotas are also gone. They are also looking for changes to discourage nonresidents from applying and we will follow their development. Any attempt to reinstitute quotas will be met with further litigation.

As a side note, Montana and the other Ninth circuit states have not made changes to stop the discrimination of nonresidents and are opening themselves up to litigation as well as large damage claims. The longer they wait, the costlier the claims will be. If any of you want to be a litigant on these claims, please advise us and we will put you in contact with our legal team.

We are still waiting on the Tenth Circuit Court in Denver to rule on our case (Shutz vs Wyoming) presented to the court last March. This is a similar type case that was won in the Ninth Circuit (Montoya v Manning) and has laid the groundwork to stop nonresident discrimination.

Now the bad news! Even though the courts have rightfully ruled to stop the discrimination against nonresidents, the Game and Fish Departments are trying to go around the courts and attempt to pass legislation in the U. S. Congress to exempt wildlife issues from the commerce clause. This would mean that states could exclude you from hunting and fishing in any State completely. It shows how misguided and determined these Game and Fish Agencies are at discriminating against you. We will still need your help in fighting this through your donations and contacting your congressman. Enclosed are excerpts from an article published in "The Conservation Force January Bulletin" written by John Jackson.

To fight this legislation and continue with the efforts in your behalf, we are asking for a donation to the Nonresident Legal Fund of$100 from each of our applicants. As you have seen, no one but YOU, usa, Conservation Force, Dallas Safari Club, and African Safari Club have had the guts to try and stop the discrimination against you, the nonresident hunter. No other licensing service, hunting consultants, or outfitters have stood up to be financially counted in this effort. In the past you have seen what a small amount of donation from each of you has produced.. ... RESULTS LET'S NOT STOP NOW!

ForUnitedStatesOutfittersandProfessionalLicensingService,2004was a banner year. Along with your winning of the Arizona Lawsuit, we had good moisture and a cool fall, all the ingredients for many trophies being harvested by our clients. We had 400+ point elk and 200+ point whitetail harvested along with hundreds of other trophies including sheep, moose, antelope, bears, oryx, mountain goats, and mule deer. No other outfitter can produce the quality for the price that usa provides. We are very proud of this, but we are appreciative of you, our clients, because of your trust in USO.

For 2005, changes will abound. Arizona and Nevada are dealing with having to treat resident and nonresidents alike, more litigation may be needed if discrimination is reinstated. New Mexico changes include moving up their main deadline to April 9th, looking at starting a bonus point system, point restriction in some areas, allowing guides for Oryx hunts and allowing crossbows for mobility impaired archers. New Mexico deadline for Oryx is Feb. 5th,for those of you that missed out last year need to get Oryx added to your portfolio. Any of you wanting private land elk hunts with guaranteed tags for 2005 should contact our office for availability.

Kansas, once again, has boundary changes for both draw tags and landowner tags. Those of you wanting Kansas landowner tags need to call to get a tag held for you in 2005. We are booking these hunts this year rather than just a waiting list as the demand greatly exceeds the amount of tags we receive.

Other states are increasing some of their license, tag and application fees. Several states have yet to formalize these changes, so we will keep you informed through our "SCREAMERS" on changes that affect your current applications and opportunities for new applications.

Price changes are in the works for our hunts also, but only for the Licensing Hunts for this year. Mainly because of the cost of fuel, we have increased the cost of these hunts from $200 to $300. usa is still fronting your tag fees for Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and Kansas. As in the past, we will continue to provide only guided hunts in these States, also included in the guided hunts are the Wyoming elk hunts. If your financial status has changed where you cannot afford to go guided, we need to remove or place your portfolio on hold. In States such as Montana, Idaho, Alaska, Oregon, Washington and California, we apply for unguided hunts for sheep, moose, and goats.

Please look at your portfolios now, as we are contracted to apply these applications for you each year and our first deadlines are Utah and Wyoming which is the end of January. If you believe you cannot hunt this year, for any reason, let us know before we start'applying. We can apply for "bonus only" or "hold" in order to fit your need otherwise we will apply to draw. It is foolish to apply and draw a special and valuable tag you cannot use simply because you forgot to notify us of your needs. To add insult to injury, you are still responsible to pay for the tag and it will be wasted as no one else can use this tag. So, review your portfolio and mail or fax your invoice back to us. If you have any questions or changes, notify us so we can do the best job for you.

Because of the legal changes that are coming about, you are in front of the line for many ofthese quality tags in the coming years. Thanks again for allowing usa to handle your applications. As always, your support, trust, and your business are greatly appreciated. 1-800-845-9929 . Off: 505-758-9774 . Fax: 505-758-1744****

Call this mercenary piece of $h!T and tell him thanks for turning our sport into the playground for the rich. Welfare outfitter

Do not use his "application services". USO wants control of your states elk permits for "his" clients. Not you. fill it out yourself and good luck
 
I don't think anyone is turning a blind eye to the fact that there could be a law suit. Lifting the antlerless cap is doing nothing to stop it, if anything it is a preview of things to come. Most of the ruling of the USO, from what I understand, was due to the fact that hunting was taking place on federally funded ground. Not saying it couldn't happen just would be a lot harder to build a case.
 
Limb, I know you are aware of the issues out west, but i bet others are not! Just wanted to add some perspective here. A gentle reminder to not let your gaurd down.
 
Its good to see that Realtree, Primos, Knight, Crooked Horn Outfitters, Barnes and Swarovski dropped all sponsorship of USO's tv show.
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I guess I did not explain myself well enough in the above post. I personally do not support any increases of any tags. I would support a increase in tag prices to help support the HUSH program and to get more CO's on the job. The bills that are in the legislature now are going to be picked apart, added to, items deleted, etc. With them lumping everything into one bill who knows what is going to happen, or when. I talk to my legislators every other day via phone or email. He is very good at keeping me informed, it is very important to do this. As far as access goes, I think it is getting worse and worse to try and find a place to hunt. I do not know specifics on other states status of land availability. Just going by what I hear and experience. Keep contacting your legislators and local sportsman groups and let them know how you feel!
 
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