Appears Missouri is looking to join other states with non-resident restrictions. The proposal is to allow residents only for the first week of season. Any updates on this proposal?
I can't find anything on it. Here is a list of proposals currently open for public comment:
https://mdc.mo.gov/about-regulations/wildlife-code-missouri/proposed-regulation-changes
Man that's crazy to hear they are considering that.
I typically make it there towards the latter half of the first week.
Maybe on public land only?
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I seen that pop up somewhere too a while back, that it was discussed but then after I searched for it I never could find the article again.
I'm sure it's floating around, I've been hunting the opener there for a while pretty regularly and it's getting to be a zoo also.
Hashtags are killing this sport
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My understanding is that it was public land and it died without any fanfare.
No skin in the game here... But curious as to the thoughts of others on the forums??? It does NOT sound like a terrible idea or regulation to me...
It's terrible because we are rapidly losing opportunities out there since people wanted to monetize it and pimp out the resource
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Always wanted to hunt MO but the season dates have always been a conflict for me.
Maybe some day.
If it can be proven non resident hunters are threatening turkey population and poult recruitment then it's time for change. Unfortunately that's not the case here. Turkey hunting has went viral and I believe over the next ten years we will see a decline in the chasing 49/social media attention whores. Unfortunately knee jerk reactions to ban non residents are becoming acceptable. Non residents have no representation and are picked on and for good reason at the moment. I hate to lose the opportunity and my families / friends tradition. I've been seething mad to miss three years in a row hunting Mississippi early and missing the youth hunt as a result. All that said we need to really think about these bans because they do nothing but create a tit for tat domino effect. And in the end it's bad for all hunters
Missouri just sent out a survey on non residents regulation. It was in my email this morning in the 6 o'clock hour. Please take the time to oppose non resident regulations. This war on non residents must stop.
I'll say this, the turkey hunting pressure is non existent compared to the archery deer hunt!
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And the deer gun hunt, WHOA!!!!! I see why they require you to wear an orange cap too. :TooFunny:
One of my best friends in the world lives in Arkansas (within a mile of the MO. border), he also bought ~50 acres that borders a big tract of Public Land in Missouri. He's a non-resident who would absoultely be screwed to hunt his own land that he bought specifically for hunting if that idea ever became law.
I can see where non-resident licenses raise bonus dollars for the state wildlife agency, though if more out of state hunter's success rates are negatively impacting the flocks survival rates, maybe OOS license numbers should be restricted?
We have a draw system for some of the public gamelands here in North Carolina. I apply to hunt the local gamelands (less than 8 miles from me) every year. There is so much competiition from in-state and out-of-state hunters for the 40 slots per week, that I have never been drawn to hunt there. It sucks, but random drawings work that way. The turkey population on that public land is sustained because the pressure is regulated. I'm sure those who own private land bordering the gamelands reap the benefits of having abundant restricted habitat to pull from.
Jim
Can someone share a screenshot of the e-mail. I didn't receive, I assume because I haven't bought a turkey license there in 3 years.
I don't know how to post a picture. Its from Caleb O'Brien
Social Science Program Supervisor
Missouri Department of Conservation
Here is a link to the MDC announcement:
https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-wants-public-comments-resident-nonresident-hunting?fbclid=IwY2xjawI74hRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSqR1-qgr1lNuIhDDUR7QVu8DybCuBOxWAgObv69la05KP0zs6WcebMeAA_aem_bcQMnmQkSZveA94fvmEkcQ
I submitted my public comment. Very concerning proposals mentioned including:
-Only allowing residents to hunt on state owned or leased lands
-Limiting non-residents to only certain portions of the season (not allowing them opening week)
-Only allowing non-residents access to public land during certain portions of the season (I assume allow them on private land opening week but not public. Can't disappoint the turkey outfitters!)
Given Florida's recent changes, I imagine something will pass. One step close to the European model of hunting.
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Thanks for posting the link deerhunt1988. As someone who has never been to missouri I strongly opposed their proposals. I think about the neighboring states like iowa with a one bird limit. I'm sure alot of iowa residents get their one bird then head to missouri to have an extended season and feel a bit more fulfilled. If I was in that situation these regs would be a major bummer. Including scenarios like above where the fella owns property on the Stateline. Losing access and oppurtunity by the minute it seems.
Once again... No skin in this game.
But were I a Missouri resident hunter, I would probably support regulations with restricted access to residents only on opening weekend (maybe all week) for public areas, as well as increased license fees for non-residents...
I would not restrict on private property...
The residents paying the majority of state taxes on the lands being hunted should have first crack at the public lands..
Looking at it from a Missouri resident hunter, what advantage would there be to not having such restrictions, and why would they vote against it? Hotel owners, restaurant owners, shop owners and any other tourist business might have a differing opinion though.
I suppose the bottom line is how much revenue does out-of-state hunting create on opening weekend, and how much does the increased pressure from out-of-staters negatively impact hunting and hunting opportunities for resident hunters?
Here is the thing fellas mdc has already made up its mind what its plan of action is and this little survey is just so they can justify it to the public. I knew about the changes coming to Missouri for a year now. 2026 will have changes in nonresident hunting along with costs. I will give you a hint 1 bird limit 2 week season higher tag price.
So non-residents only accounted for 10% of turkey hunters in Missouri last year and took 12% of the harvest. Such drastic measures don't appear to be warranted going by the data. A lot of other states are much higher than this. Between 2016 and 2024 only 8% of permits went to non-residents. Further restricting non-residents and jacking prices up is turning turkey into what elk and mule deer hunting are out west now.
My vote: go to a draw, drop non-resident hunter numbers back to the long term average. That'd actually be LESS than 10% of total turkey hunter numbers in MO.
If MO takes some of the drastic measures listed, a lot of their residents aren't going to lack it when other states respond accordingly. My prediction is Kentucky will be the next domino to fall. Their commission first discussed limiting non-residents in 2021. If MO eliminates opening week hunting, some of those hunters that normally go there then will migrate elsewhere and that is going to cause more NR hunters to hunt KY.
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on March 10, 2025, 12:09:15 PMHere is a link to the MDC announcement:
https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-wants-public-comments-resident-nonresident-hunting?fbclid=IwY2xjawI74hRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSqR1-qgr1lNuIhDDUR7QVu8DybCuBOxWAgObv69la05KP0zs6WcebMeAA_aem_bcQMnmQkSZveA94fvmEkcQ
Thank you. I commented and shared with others.
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on March 11, 2025, 06:55:29 AMSo non-residents only accounted for 10% of turkey hunters in Missouri last year and took 12% of the harvest. Such drastic measures don't appear to be warranted going by the data. A lot of other states are much higher than this. Between 2016 and 2024 only 8% of permits went to non-residents. Further restricting non-residents and jacking prices up is turning turkey into what elk and mule deer hunting are out west now.
My vote: go to a draw, drop non-resident hunter numbers back to the long term average. That'd actually be LESS than 10% of total turkey hunter numbers in MO.
If MO takes some of the drastic measures listed, a lot of their residents aren't going to lack it when other states respond accordingly. My prediction is Kentucky will be the next domino to fall. Their commission first discussed limiting non-residents in 2021. If MO eliminates opening week hunting, some of those hunters that normally go there then will migrate elsewhere and that is going to cause more NR hunters to hunt KY.
Mdc is just responding to what other states have done around it.
Quote from: Hook hanger on March 11, 2025, 03:06:51 AMHere is the thing fellas mdc has already made up its mind what its plan of action is and this little survey is just so they can justify it to the public. I knew about the changes coming to Missouri for a year now. 2026 will have changes in nonresident hunting along with costs. I will give you a hint 1 bird limit 2 week season higher tag price.
One thing special about Missouri is that its one of the most well funded conservation agencies in the nation thanks to its "conservation" tax. One-eighth-of-one-percent sales tax goes to Missouri Dept of Conservation. This amounts to nearly $160 mill/yr. Every state conservation agency can use every dime they can get, but jacking up the NR turkey permit price to "outprice" non-residents is the wrong way to go about it since the "extra" money is insignificant for them. They won't even notice it.
Quote from: Hook hanger on March 11, 2025, 09:00:28 AMQuote from: deerhunt1988 on March 11, 2025, 06:55:29 AMSo non-residents only accounted for 10% of turkey hunters in Missouri last year and took 12% of the harvest. Such drastic measures don't appear to be warranted going by the data. A lot of other states are much higher than this. Between 2016 and 2024 only 8% of permits went to non-residents. Further restricting non-residents and jacking prices up is turning turkey into what elk and mule deer hunting are out west now.
My vote: go to a draw, drop non-resident hunter numbers back to the long term average. That'd actually be LESS than 10% of total turkey hunter numbers in MO.
If MO takes some of the drastic measures listed, a lot of their residents aren't going to lack it when other states respond accordingly. My prediction is Kentucky will be the next domino to fall. Their commission first discussed limiting non-residents in 2021. If MO eliminates opening week hunting, some of those hunters that normally go there then will migrate elsewhere and that is going to cause more NR hunters to hunt KY.
Mdc is just responding to what other states have done around it.
Understandable, BUT:
Non-residents in Nebraska were killing over the half the turkey harvested in Nebraska.
Non-residents in Kansas were 39% of active turkey hunters last year even AFTER their new quota.
There is just no reasonable comparison when you look at the data. But a lot of states have been guilty of making changes without looking at the science the past several years.
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on March 10, 2025, 12:09:15 PMOne step close to the European model of hunting.
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Truer words have never been typed. It's unfortunate how far we have fallen in the last decade. Loose lips and pimping out the resource continues to take away access and opportunity from the average joe turkey hunter. Many of us screamed this from the top of the mountain a decade ago, but were ignored and dismissed by so many.
I have hunted Missouri 9 out of the last 10 years and several other years long ago when tags were $75.
They have had a slight increase in the past few years cost wise.
The way the season is structured with only a single bird allowed the first week is already a limiting factor for many non residents.
No way they limit non residents on private, too many non res land owners and hunters using outfitters.
I haven't seen an increase in pressure recently, basically the same in the areas I hunt.
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IMO most of these changes everywhere are as much due to resident whining as anything scientific. When they get the non-resident tags, licenses etc up in the $500 range things will settle down. Another IMO - any state worrying about turkey numbers that still allows a three bird resident limit is almost funny.
I'm still waiting on someone to explain how YouTube is responsible for the significant drop in poult survival since 1980.
Quote from: joey46 on March 11, 2025, 09:40:11 AMIMO most of these changes everywhere are as much due to resident whining as anything scientific. When they get the non-resident tags, licenses etc up in the $500 range things will settle down. Another IMO - any state worrying about turkey numbers that still allows a three bird resident limit is almost funny.
Gobbler limits are a very small factor in turkeys management and production. Much smaller than people think. It more about decreasing pressure for other hunters to have a better hunting experience vs the survival of the wild turkey.
I am pissed at Mississippi for shutting me out every year on the draw. And then not allowing my kids to youth hunt National Forest because there dad didn't draw than the 3 gobbler limit.
Quote from: CALLM2U on March 11, 2025, 10:07:04 AMI'm still waiting on someone to explain how YouTube is responsible for the significant drop in poult survival since 1980.
This isn't about the turkeys as much as you'd think. Restricting non residents is for the resident hunters improved hunting experience. YouTubers /social media undoubtedly influenced turkey hunter numbers and specifically traveling turkey hunters. This data has been provided over and over again. These draws/restriction are a direct response. Newtons 3rd law applies.
Quote from: CALLM2U on March 11, 2025, 10:07:04 AMI'm still waiting on someone to explain how YouTube is responsible for the significant drop in poult survival since 1980.
Poult survival is understood by the minority of turkey hunters these days. Don't confuse modern day "look at me" turkey hunters with conservationists who think long term and have the best interest of the resource in mind. For the last decade, numerous short sighted YouTube influencers have continued to breed and promote the "grip and grin" hunter during a very volatile time period for wild turkeys. This is just another hindrance and setback for an already strained resource. Killing a higher percentage of existing male birds with known poor recruitment is not sustainable, and not understood by most. I'm still waiting on someone to explain to me how YouTube is responsible for any conservation minded actions that have benefited the wild turkey and wild turkey hunting experience.
Quote from: Andy S. on March 11, 2025, 10:30:57 AMQuote from: CALLM2U on March 11, 2025, 10:07:04 AMI'm still waiting on someone to explain how YouTube is responsible for the significant drop in poult survival since 1980.
Poult survival is understood by the minority of turkey hunters these days. Don't confuse modern day "look at me" turkey hunters with conservationists who think long term and have the best interest of the resource in mind. For the last decade, numerous short sighted YouTube influencers have continued to breed and promote the "grip and grin" hunter during a very volatile time period for wild turkeys. This is just another hindrance and setback for an already strained resource. Killing a higher percentage of existing male birds with known poor recruitment is not sustainable, and not understood by most. I'm still waiting on someone to explain to me how YouTube is responsible for any conservation minded actions that have benefited the wild turkey and wild turkey hunting experience.
So it sounds like you agree, YouTube isn't the root cause. I'm not saying it's helping, but it's laughable how people-many on this site promote YT as the primary reason for the decline.
Folks even want to say that the YouTubers are sharing pins hurting the population and ignore that OnX (and other mapping products) provides the ability to share said pins.
My point, YouTube and even OnX isn't the root cause. But many stand on that soapbox.
Quote from: CALLM2U on March 11, 2025, 10:39:41 AMQuote from: Andy S. on March 11, 2025, 10:30:57 AMQuote from: CALLM2U on March 11, 2025, 10:07:04 AMI'm still waiting on someone to explain how YouTube is responsible for the significant drop in poult survival since 1980.
Poult survival is understood by the minority of turkey hunters these days. Don't confuse modern day "look at me" turkey hunters with conservationists who think long term and have the best interest of the resource in mind. For the last decade, numerous short sighted YouTube influencers have continued to breed and promote the "grip and grin" hunter during a very volatile time period for wild turkeys. This is just another hindrance and setback for an already strained resource. Killing a higher percentage of existing male birds with known poor recruitment is not sustainable, and not understood by most. I'm still waiting on someone to explain to me how YouTube is responsible for any conservation minded actions that have benefited the wild turkey and wild turkey hunting experience.
So it sounds like you agree, YouTube isn't the root cause. I'm not saying it's helping, but it's laughable how people-many on this site promote YT as the primary reason for the decline.
Folks even want to say that the YouTubers are sharing pins hurting the population and ignore that OnX (and other mapping products) provides the ability to share said pins.
My point, YouTube and even OnX isn't the root cause. But many stand on that soapbox.
Whats laughable is the FACT that what we said was gonna happen.....is happening. We are losing Hunter opportunity through draws, closures , and non resident specific regulation. Only prob is it makes me want to cry instead of laugh. You can't influence thousands of people to hit the road turkey hunting and not expect consequences.
Quote from: arkrem870 on March 11, 2025, 11:13:44 AMQuote from: CALLM2U on March 11, 2025, 10:39:41 AMQuote from: Andy S. on March 11, 2025, 10:30:57 AMQuote from: CALLM2U on March 11, 2025, 10:07:04 AMI'm still waiting on someone to explain how YouTube is responsible for the significant drop in poult survival since 1980.
Poult survival is understood by the minority of turkey hunters these days. Don't confuse modern day "look at me" turkey hunters with conservationists who think long term and have the best interest of the resource in mind. For the last decade, numerous short sighted YouTube influencers have continued to breed and promote the "grip and grin" hunter during a very volatile time period for wild turkeys. This is just another hindrance and setback for an already strained resource. Killing a higher percentage of existing male birds with known poor recruitment is not sustainable, and not understood by most. I'm still waiting on someone to explain to me how YouTube is responsible for any conservation minded actions that have benefited the wild turkey and wild turkey hunting experience.
So it sounds like you agree, YouTube isn't the root cause. I'm not saying it's helping, but it's laughable how people-many on this site promote YT as the primary reason for the decline.
Folks even want to say that the YouTubers are sharing pins hurting the population and ignore that OnX (and other mapping products) provides the ability to share said pins.
My point, YouTube and even OnX isn't the root cause. But many stand on that soapbox.
Whats laughable is the FACT that what we said was gonna happen.....is happening. We are losing Hunter opportunity through draws, closures , and non resident specific regulation. Only prob is it makes me want to cry instead of laugh. You can't influence thousands of people to hit the road turkey hunting and not expect consequences.
Started calling all this ~5 years ago. But I missed the ball majorly on HOW FAST it would all come crumbling down around us. Now i'm afraid I underestimated how ugly it really is gonna get. My kid and future generations will never have a fraction of the turkey hunting opportunities we had just 5 years ago.
Quote from: arkrem870 on March 11, 2025, 11:13:44 AMWhats laughable is the FACT that what we said was gonna happen.....is happening. We are losing Hunter opportunity through draws, closures , and non resident specific regulation. Only prob is it makes me want to cry instead of laugh. You can't influence thousands of people to hit the road turkey hunting and not expect consequences.
Say it louder for those in the back of the room. Many of us predicted this a decade ago as the "look at me" influencers hit the scene to cash in on the resource, with little to no regard for long term consequences. IMO, one must not be able to think past their nose to have not seen this coming.
Quote from: arkrem870 on March 11, 2025, 10:17:27 AMQuote from: CALLM2U on March 11, 2025, 10:07:04 AMI'm still waiting on someone to explain how YouTube is responsible for the significant drop in poult survival since 1980.
This isn't about the turkeys as much as you'd think. Restricting non residents is for the resident hunters improved hunting experience. YouTubers /social media undoubtedly influenced turkey hunter numbers and specifically traveling turkey hunters. This data has been provided over and over again. These draws/restriction are a direct response. Newtons 3rd law applies.
What about the person that owns land in Missouri but is not a resident, now they can not even hunt on their own land but yet they pay taxes on the land. But the resident that does not own land can hunt sounds like a heck of a deal.
Just found the survey email in my trash, it had someone's name as the heading so I deleted it, found it in the trash and responded.
I think deer is going to see some changes, turkey? Likely on public lands and not private, I hate to see opportunity go away but what I saw deer hunting there last fall was borderline insanity!
I hunt turkey there every year, stay with a friend and mostly hunt public but a little private as well, would hate to see much if any change but something is likely to happen.
When I lived in Illinois I hunted the opener often, but since moving out west I typically do not make it until several days after.
Guys this is a turkey survey they added deer and duck to it because of how crowded those are on public land here. They really don't care what you say in your answers. Changes are already made and they are proofreading them right now so the new booklets for 2026 year are ready to print early.
I'm sure some here remember it, but before Oklahoma went to a 1 bird state and a late season start date, they sent out a similar survey asking for public input. In the survey, they asked for opposition/support in Oklahoma going to a 2 bird state, as well as some other questions. When the results came out and changes were announced, they announced they were going to a 1 bird state and other things that were not in the survey or different from what they were asking. As far as ODWC is concerned, I really dont think they care about public input. Maybe MDC is different.
Hook hanger so what are the new changes?
Quote from: 3bailey3 on March 12, 2025, 04:58:03 PMHook hanger so what are the new changes?
Great question. I'm wondering the same thing.
Quote from: Andy S. on March 11, 2025, 10:30:57 AMQuote from: CALLM2U on March 11, 2025, 10:07:04 AMI'm still waiting on someone to explain how YouTube is responsible for the significant drop in poult survival since 1980.
Poult survival is understood by the minority of turkey hunters these days. Don't confuse modern day "look at me" turkey hunters with conservationists who think long term and have the best interest of the resource in mind. For the last decade, numerous short sighted YouTube influencers have continued to breed and promote the "grip and grin" hunter during a very volatile time period for wild turkeys. This is just another hindrance and setback for an already strained resource. Killing a higher percentage of existing male birds with known poor recruitment is not sustainable, and not understood by most. I'm still waiting on someone to explain to me how YouTube is responsible for any conservation minded actions that have benefited the wild turkey and wild turkey hunting experience.
Well, by your own admission it has recruited more hunters which means more revenue. It has also spurred an interest and research. Further, people who have been inspired to travel, are indeed, having a good time.
I have always wanted to Turkey Hunt in Missouri.
Quote from: Andy S. on March 11, 2025, 10:30:57 AMKilling a higher percentage of existing male birds with known poor recruitment is not sustainable
Bingo! Until the recruitment/reproduction problem is solved (where it exists), wildlife managers (if they are acting responsibly) will continue to implement more restrictive harvest strategies (season lengths, bag limits, hunter restrictions [quotas, drawing, nonresident restrictions. etc.]). Your point here is right on target (and applies to ANY wildlife population): without sustained population recruitment over time, hunting will eventually be curtailed (and possibly eliminated altogether).
It is a pretty simple theory of wildlife management...and no amount of complaining about how things were in the "old days" is going to change it. :icon_thumright:
I live in Missouri, lifetime resident, almost 50 years of turkey hunting here. I hadn't heard anything about this, probably have an email on my PC which I don't check regularly.
I could go on for hours about the subject, but for now, will limit this response. I want to point out something which seems to be ignored regarding Missouri. Our regulations for the Spring seasons have had only miniscule changes since 1977 when I started hunting. The limit was 2 bearded birds. Forty-eight years later, still 2 birds.
Then it was a 2 week season, one bird per week. Eventually that changed to 1 bird the 1st week, allowing a hunter to take 2 birds the second week if you didn't score week one. I've never been a fan of that regulation, because that meant every nonresident that lived any distance shows up to hunt Saturday or Sunday of the first weekend (we always open on Monday), so as to be able to hunt again Monday if you got lucky.
In the late 90's an additional week was added, retaining the one bird the first 7 days regulation. Last year, all day hunting was allowed, only on private land, for the first time.
My point, although far from perfect, is that the MDC is different. Regulations have, in my opinion, been skewed in the favor of the resource more than the constituent hunter. I think the fact we still have decent turkey hunting even on public land is a testament to that. Kansas, our neighbor to the west and one of my favorite places to hunt back in the day, has had to go to a one bird limit and a nonresident draw, all the while allowing all day hunting for almost 7 weeks every spring. Notice a difference?
As for the subject at hand, I am not in favor of penalizing nonresidents at this point. My opinion could change in the future, but for now I respect others who obey the law and enjoy chasing turkey as much as I do.
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You are spot on Neil- I have hunted Missouri nearly all my turkey hunting career and it hasn't wavered hardly any besides licensing price- steady season and steady results and led the nation for most of those years - I live in Arkansas and we now have the identical set of regulations- it's been painful watching seasons drop back later and then have to sit in detention a week if you kill one early - we really don't have to worry about nonresident turkey hunters here we are not a destination state but Arkansas has upped the ante of the waterfowl nonresidents so I guess our game and fish is guilty of limiting nonresidents in a way - kinda like the tariff wars going on right now in America except its states raising the ante to what the last state raised to— the traveling turkey hunting is getting tougher by the day!!
A lot of crowding issues would be fixed if multiple states opened on the same day!
There, I said it again.
There's got to be enough breeding date correlations based on distance from the equator to have seasons/regions aligned.
Then you wouldn't need to have states limiting people so much creating the current madness. People would limit/restrict themselves due to not being able to run around hunting all sorts of "openers"
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Its a typical cycle ,
First step is blaming non residents, then because let's face it .. politicians and bureaucracy are in no fear on non residents because they don't have to answer to them ...non residents get the boot
Phase 2 ...the non residents go to other nearby states , and those states feel the pressure at the same time they get wind raising non resident fees and blocking access is politically appealing to their constituency...
With Florida ...several of the neighboring states moved seasons back a few weeks ...guess what ..drive to Florida and "slam" WMAS ....it didn't take too long Florida has started to block non residents on public on a good number of WMA's
Trust me the whole state will off limits to no residents thevfirst 2 weekends on public in 3 years time...you'll see
The anti hunters are loving this
Who's to say the anti hunters and some of the wildlife management aren't one and the same?
Quote from: Neill_Prater on March 16, 2025, 12:38:20 PMI could go on for hours about the subject, but for now, will limit this response. I want to point out something which seems to be ignored regarding Missouri. Our regulations for the Spring seasons have had only miniscule changes since 1977 when I started hunting. The limit was 2 bearded birds. Forty-eight years later, still 2 birds.
Neill makes some great points. It wasn't until 1967 that Missouri lengthened the season to 7 days. Prior to then it was limited to residents only, with a limited number of counties open to hunting. In those days turkey hunting was more of a "niche" thing for a handful of hard core types (I kind of miss it!) It was a huge deal when the limit was increased to two turkeys in 1973, and, although the season is longer now, as Neill points out that aspect hasn't changed to the present day. I seems the department tends to err on the conservative side of regulation changes which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Personally, these proposed changes would not directly impact me since these days I have good private land to hunt and don't travel out of state to turkey hunt. I wonder, though, if a better solution might be to go in the opposite direction and offer daily or two-day non-resident permits? If visitors are required to purchase a high-dollar full-season permit, it's only human nature to want to "get your money's worth" which could lead to even more pressure on the resource in many cases?