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Hunters and Outfitters Fear I-161 Will Hurt Montana Tourism

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Nov 5, 2010 at 5:42 PM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 5, 2010 at 6:33 PM MDT

Election night has come and gone but Tuesday’s results and the changes they will bring are still on the minds of many across the state and out-of-state. Initiative 161 passed by almost 54% - yet local hunters and outfitters fear that it will hurt tourism in our state.

“Montana voters are smart people, but some of these issues are complex enough that those of us intimately involved understood it backwards and forwards, the casual voter, this wasn’t on their radar screen,” says Montana Outfitters and Guides Association Mac Minard.

But for outdoor enthusiasts, Initiative 161 is definitely on their radar as the future of hunting in Montana is on the line.

“The mystique of coming to Montana and enjoying the same things we do as residents every day, are the things that invite people here,” adds Minard.

With the passage of I-161, some hunters and outfitters fear that fear that the Treasure State is now uninviting to out-of-state hunters. Hunter Mike Dalsoglio, of Helena, says “I got a couple brothers that live out of state, they’ve been here hunting. Now the tags are going to be about $900 bucks plus, they probably won’t come back.”

The ballot initiative abolishes and 18 year-old outfitter sponsored license category, raises fees on all non-residential hunters and removes controls placed on the outfitting industry.

“Nonresidents are faced with a 43% increase on an elk license and a 61% increase on a deer license with no companion change on residential hunting licenses, they’re going to feel as if they’ve been isolated, singled out and essentially told, we don’t want you here,” says Minard.

Proponents of I-161 say over the next four years, the initiative will annually create $700,000 dollars for hunting access and $1.5 million for habitat preservation and restoration (assuming all nonresident licenses are sold,) but some local hunters are skeptical.

“The average Joe is just like you and I, working for a living, we’re not loaded. It’s not a rich man’s sport,” says Dalsoglio.

Yet with any ballot issue and with every election there’s always a differing in opinions.

“Out-of-state hunters should pay more for their licenses. I feel the game that’s in Montana belongs to Montanans and if out-of-staters’ want to come and hunt, they are more than welcome to hunt, I just think they should pay for it,” says Denny Gemmell, who voted for the initiative.

Those who oppose I-161 say that the initiative's language was 16 pages long and contained 5,000 words, which was hard to condense in the space allotted on the ballot, which added to voters not fully understanding the initiative.



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