This week, we discuss how the Arizona Game and Fish Commission just voted to cancel its auction permits, which had previously raised millions of dollars for conservation.
In addition to that, we touch on a few headlines and legislative updates.
In Montana, a bill from the last legislative session is still in the air. SB442 is in headlines again, as the mail-out ballots are being sent out to determine whether the Governor’s veto can be overridden.
The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership recently published some highlights and disappointments of recent congressional appropriations from the perspective of hunters and anglers.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Boone and Crocket Club’s respective CEOs, Kyle Weaver and Tony Schoonen, recently wrote a joint op-ed in which they discussed their frustrations with environmental groups blocking forest management.
Montana Legislature
https://leg.mt.gov/legislator-information/?session_select=120
Link to Letter signed by members of MT Senate
https://dailymontanan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Supreme-Court-Veto-Override-Letter.pdf
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Good conversation. Whats up with these bots in the comments?
(Arizona Native here). Several years ago Arizona sold a “Governor's tag” (elk) to a very wealthy man from out of state. There is a YouTuber who documented it. It was positively the most pornographic form of “hunting” I have ever seen. Made me ashamed to call myself a hunter. There are people who talk about ‘conservation’ but use lead core bullets. Personally I don’t understand it. The science about the negative consequences are very strong. I haven’t seen an Arizona Game and Fish officer in 30 years while hunting in the south along the border, by the way.
There for a while Marcus was going 90 to nothing…geez. Hiking in altitude helped him until Randy could join in. Curious how many words were spoken in that time frame…good job guys, thx.
Didn't Utah turn down a conservation organization that offered to do their expo raffle for free?
$500,000 / $20 ticket = 25000 tickets. Seems attainable if marketed properly. It will take 150,000 raffle tickets to raise $3M. That's a lot of pie.
No more Jimmy John’s riding down in his horse killing record elk. 😢
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf0JXZqzsyE
This video over the first few minutes should explain to everyone of us not so rich hunters why Governor tag auctions are a poor idea and unfair to all the "on your own" hunters on public land. These auctioned tags do not pass the test of fair chase nor the NA model of game management. That FF Jimmy John should not be lauded for his kill!
Damned glad that Arizona will be no longer providing tags to the wealthy. Arizona residents deserve the tags.
I'm for getting rid of all the "Rich Man Only" hunting period. It is pornographic in it's nature!
Instead of worrying about replacing the lost revenue, why not be held accountable for how the money the G&F has?
I disagree that wildlife is going to suffer drastically overall because the choice of managing the "people's resource" was improved by the decision.
It doesnt bother me that a person with more money than I writes a check for a hunt. That hunt will have no negative impact on the balance of us. Word to all, access is all about money.
Bonus points
Licenses
Fees
Equipment
No different than a rancher; oil company; miner; outfitter buying access.
Shaming wealth is based in envy… Starts there ends there.
Accountability for the funds is not the bidders issue. Thats a GOVT. Issue…
I think this is the best and only way to it, raffles make it so i can have a chance vs no chance do to financially in an auction. Buying a raffle ticket every year also is as good or better than a point system. I hate auctions where only the wealthy can get it. One or even a few tags for raffle makes a huge difference to your average hunter.
As an AZ resident I participate in the raffle and actually won one of the monthly draws this year. I put the money back into the raffle. Not a fan of the auction tags, but AZ does do a great job of using the funds toward the specie. Would like to see something to make up the loss for the species. I'm not opposed to AZ raising the nonresident rates as they are low compared to other western states and even paying an extra few dollars on the resident side. $158 for an elk tag is cheap in todays world.
I am in favor of the raffle style over the auction for raising funds, but do us a favor Arizona, and don't let Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife anywhere near the raffle system. They use a modified system that is severely swayed to benefit their leadership and major donors. Proof is in their "draw" history, and it is provable using statistical analysis.
one of each is the smart move for all states.
enough said… call Ed
Props to the gentlemen and groups that worked hard in the 80’s til now get these auction tags set aside years ago and all the money it has helped raise for AZ wildlife over the years.
Arizona has 10 big game species, they currently offer 2 auction tags and one raffle tag per species. The AZGF commissioners voted to change it to only 1 auction tag per species in 2025, then to make all three tags raffle tags starting in 2026. Last year, they only had 1 mule deer tag and it sold for $725K.
It came down to “Values vs Money” concerning the North American model you mentioned. 48% of the AZ auction tags the last few years have gone to the same 7 hunters. I personally spoke to a guy who has purchased 10 of these tags over the last couple of years. Although I appreciate the money that these hunters help donate to the state, like Randy said if there wasn’t a tag attached to it, would they still contribute that much money? I believe this single loop hole allowing deep pocket hunters to continually purchase these tags each year is what lead to AZ’s decision.
Years ago my eyes were “pried open” on one of these auction tags. As an “average Joe” hunter, this was my first time really hearing about and getting to see what these big money auction tags are about. I personally believe that just as much money can be raised through these raffles, if the AZ hunters work together collectively to help contribute. Billy Bob can still throw in his $300K – $700K in the raffle, but the average Joe with his 5 raffle tickets still has a “chance” to win that raffle tag. It’s certainly possible that the deep pocket ticket purchasers end up winning quite a few raffles, but they weren’t “guaranteed” tags just because they could write the biggest check.
I don’t think AZ does a great job of promoting or even advertising the raffle tags. A group needs to step up to lead and AZ hunters need to work together to help AZ wildlife and help these raffles become successful over the next few years. Put your money where your mouth is I would say. As an AZ hunter, or guide, or outfitter in the state, how much are you willing to donate or contribute to help AZ wildlife moving forward?
Personally I have never had an intrest in these high price hunts. Is it really hunting or just going for a kill. If done correctly the raffle system would generate more money and offer better opportunities for the average hunter. I'm neither rich or poor and I can sometimes afford a out of state hunt, but hundreds of thousands of dollars for a tag puts it beyound dreaming of a hunt.
Every time one of these videos come out from Randy. I think about the time that Arizona Game and Fish used Fresh Tracks to invite a bunch of hunting "influencers" to hunt cous deer OTC and how that has now become a draw hunt.
Weird how Arizona is such a great state. I wonder where that opinion comes from.
Is there a reason they can't do 2 raffle tags and 2 auction tags? The number of tags will vary on species, but why not both?
You guys need to do a survey monkey that see the avg as hunter supports auction another wise your speculating and based on my speculation the avg as does support it.
Also it’s hard to take your guys opinion into account on this when AZGFD paid you to hunt AZ.
One Price Tags, the non-res tag fee for All.
imagine states going from 100% revenue to 500% !? 5X!
Great discussion. These "Auction " tags sometimes are just plain Killings. Unfortunately, I watched one one time where they had about 20 people looking for a certain Elk bull. The person with the tag was not a hunter. Just appeared to be a killer that could brag about something he did not earn. Yes he did bring money to the State and that small guide service. But I wonder how many people Quit hunting or thought what's the use when these people can just buy their bragging rights. My personal opinion ; just another slob hunter but instead of Keystone, he was drinking hundred dollar jugs of whiskey. To me it smacks of royalty only can hunt. Just one person's opinion. It is not a sour grapes attitude . Very proud of all the DIY hunts myself and our sons have done.
The raffle is fair to everyone. The auctions serve only the super wealthy and is in the realm of European aristocracy, like the African hunts back in the early 1900's. I salute Arizona for eliminating the auction, and believe all other states need to follow suit. Crooked money is never an option for anything. Yes, I said crooked.
Hot topic. I think that any state that takes public resource for auction or raffle should allow a individual that draws a great tag to do the same. I will 242 years old before I draw with the odds. I will be to old to hunt so why not be able to raffle it off and retire better or give to others that need help.
Quote of the year so far…."Ding the NR"….How about raise the price for the residents $20? Long overdue….in many states, not just Western.
I have a friend here in Az who was a Raffle Winner for an elk tag buying one ticket in '22!