Your Opinion

[joey46]

Yes "the logistics are not my concern" but at the very least realize that many no longer will accept the status quo when federally owned land is in play.  There are many options available to insert fairness into the federal system but few accept them depending on who's ox is being gored.  I am now a Florida resident that lives within 90 minutes of the Big Cypress NATIONAL Preserve.  It is a non-resident circus during March and some sections are now in a quota system.  These quotas are available equally to ALL.  I get no special edge on an application.  Since this is federal property I should not.  A simple concept.  I can't even imagine the screaming if Florida decided to reserve the first two weeks of the spring season in Big Cypress to residents' only. I once shared a camping area at BC with a couple from Washington State who flew in for that once in lifetime Osceola. They were thrilled with the opportunity.
By necessity more and more areas of federal land will require quota hunts (even for residents) to level the pressure and harvest numbers.  A state that tries to reserve "their" National Forest for only their residents' is asking for trouble.  As I've said before it will only take one federal judge to throw this into a real scramble for control.  BTW - if God gives me another few weeks I'll turn 78 so most of my long range trips may be over.  I'll hope to continue to hunt Florida and one other state as a non-resident.  I have hunted the big birds since the late 1970s but do not have the coveted slam.  Still short that Rio.  Oh well.
No you aren't arguing for the sake of arguing but as we will soon see you will display the last word syndrome.  I'm most likely done on this subject but please reread post #50 that details how quota hunts on federal land should be done.  I lived within sight of this area for nine years and only drew an early quota twice.     

[PalmettoRon]

I personally prefer allowing government closest to the people they serve to be making most decisions.

The last time I checked, it is state wildlife agencies that monitor and manage wildlife on federal lands such as USFS and BLM land, not the US Fish and Wildlife Service. State wildlife agencies are funded by the citizens of that state, not citizens of the US at large.

Since those state agencies are managing wildlife on federal land, I'm fine with those same state agencies deciding what are the best policies for managing wildlife and that includes hunter access, both resident and nonresident.

Much of the west is owned by the federal government and western residents have less access to private land than many of us back east.Those citizens are funding their wildlife agencies and I feel should have an advantage over nonresidents.

I say all of this as one who loves hunting out west on public land. In a lot of the western states it's hard for even the locals to draw big game tags.
I drew an AZ elk tag years ago and had a great hunt. I may not live long enough to draw another tag, but I'm cool with that if some AZ young man gets drawn over me.

As far as turkey hunting goes, most states are still accessible for NR hunters, but rather than turning wildlife management over to the feds and licensing to the feds, I would prefer to leave things up to each state as they know far better what is best rather than some DC bureaucrat.

[arkrem870]

I wonder what influenced so many non resident hunters to converge on big cypress all of the sudden.

[joey46]

I wonder what influenced so many non resident hunters to converge on big cypress all of the sudden.

Gee I don't know.  The WA couple I met at BC was in about 2006.  THP was still in short pants.  Meateater was still a concept.  Nobody even heard of YouTube.  I was the only one at the Bear Island camp with a Florida tag on my truck.   LOL at the "all of a sudden".

[Prospector]

Mississippi is a prime example of the squeaky wheel gets the grease. We have a whole bunch of that here for sure.
Mississippi and Florida residents I think have more dog in this than most other states- at least in regard to turkeys anyway. Oh well, guess I'll just be content with my poor MS easterns and give up dreams of expierancing other states... just be sure yall return the favor🙄

[deerhunt1988]

I am now a Florida resident that lives within 90 minutes of the Big Cypress NATIONAL Preserve.  It is a non-resident circus during March and some sections are now in a quota system.  These quotas are available equally to ALL.  I get no special edge on an application.  Since this is federal property I should not.  A simple concept.  I can't even imagine the screaming if Florida decided to reserve the first two weeks of the spring season in Big Cypress to residents' only.

Funny you mention this, because this could be changing soon to the benefit of residents. Then you'll be living in a commie state that restricts NR access to federal lands.

[joey46]

Hmm?  The spring 2025 Big Cypress regs already posted on the FWC site.  Must have missed any major changes.  Florida loves the non-residents cash.  They won't be restricted to any real degree and a resident won't get one extra second of hunting time over a non-residents. Bet ya.

[deerhunt1988]

Hmm?  The spring 2025 Big Cypress regs already posted on the FWC site.  Must have missed any major changes.  Florida loves the non-residents cash.  They won't be restricted to any real degree and a resident won't get one extra second of hunting time over a non-residents. Bet ya.

Maybe not in spring 2025, but its being considered for future seasons. Bet ya.

[joey46]

The entire quota system needs a tweak. Screwing with non-resident money won't be a big part. Too much money involved.

[deerhunt1988]

The entire quota system needs a tweak. Screwing with non-resident money won't be a big part. Too much money involved.

As a NR who has been playing the quota game there since 2007, I whole heartedly agree. NR need to be limited to 10-20% of the available quotas. There was motion in the past year to make NR buy a turkey permit before even applying, but I guess that fell through?

[arkrem870]

I wonder what influenced so many non resident hunters to converge on big cypress all of the sudden.

Gee I don't know.  The WA couple I met at BC was in about 2006.  THP was still in short pants.  Meateater was still a concept.  Nobody even heard of YouTube.  I was the only one at the Bear Island camp with a Florida tag on my truck.  LOL at the "all of a sudden".

I'd laugh but it's not funny. Enjoy your quota hunts. I'm out

[WV Flopper]

LOL

[dah]

  I cant wait till the states say camping , hiking , driving roads , boating , bird watching , sightseeing , entering , leaving , climbing , taking pictures on federal lands is regulated and restricted  to you differently because your house is on the other side of the line . Even though they used the resources from your house side of the line in the federal land for camping , hiking , driving roads , boating , bird watching , sightseeing , entering , leaving , climbing and taking pictures . They already have a name for me , called non resident , proud to be a citizen , I still have that. 

[PalmettoRon]

I cant wait till the states say camping , hiking , driving roads , boating , bird watching , sightseeing , entering , leaving , climbing , taking pictures on federal lands is regulated and restricted  to you differently because your house is on the other side of the line . Even though they used the resources from your house side of the line in the federal land for camping , hiking , driving roads , boating , bird watching , sightseeing , entering , leaving , climbing and taking pictures . They already have a name for me , called non resident , proud to be a citizen , I still have that.

States have been regulating wildlife on federal lands for many years. The scenarios you propose represent a strawman argument. It is not a new phenomenon for state wildlife agencies to regulate and restrict NR hunting on federal lands.

Everyone is paying taxes for the upkeep on federal lands, so no one's access for non hunting or non fishing activities will be restricted. No one is paying the freight to maintain non migratory wildlife in a state other than their own whether on private or federal land.

[GobbleNut]

I cant wait till the states say camping , hiking , driving roads , boating , bird watching , sightseeing , entering , leaving , climbing , taking pictures on federal lands is regulated and restricted  to you differently because your house is on the other side of the line . Even though they used the resources from your house side of the line in the federal land for camping , hiking , driving roads , boating , bird watching , sightseeing , entering , leaving , climbing and taking pictures . They already have a name for me , called non resident , proud to be a citizen , I still have that.

For any of those things mentioned, restrictions are increasingly being put in place in a lot of places. The common thread in almost all of those instances is that there are too many people doing too many things that are negatively impacting the landscape and resources to a degree that managers have no choice but to put those dreaded restrictions in place. That is not just related to federal lands, but also to any public lands, federal or state, that need protection. It is also not restricted just to nonresidents. Most of those types of restrictions apply to everybody. 

Regarding equal hunting access to all on federal lands, that issue is waaayyy more complicated than many seem to believe it is.  ...And it also opens a waaayy bigger "can of worms" than any of us might think it will. Again, be careful what you wish for...