Episode 777: The Money Game with Non-Residents

What this episode covers

We’ve seen it in most Western states by now.  Substantial fee increases on non-resident tags, licenses and even the application process seem to be the norm these days. Oklahoma, however, doesn’t have the traditional western species to offer hunters and yet they keep sticking it to out of staters at every turn. What they do have is abundant waterfowl and great whitetail hunting. But if non-residents end up paying more for a deer tag than they would an elk tag out west, well then you will see hunters stop traveling to the Sooner State. As if the 2024 fee increases weren’t substantial enough (up over 40% from the previous year), Oklahoma lawmakers just passed a bill that will require non-residents to pay $100 and go through a lottery system to hunt on state owned public land. Oklahoma resident John Mikolajcik (aka The Public Land Advocate) joins us this week to discuss some of the issues he has with the way Oklahoma is conducting business these days. What about landowners who enjoy the revenue non-resident deer hunters generate through leasing fees? Other highlights include: * HB 448 and SB 338 * Oklahoma’s version of MLD deer management * Why doesn’t Oklahoma get Pittman Robertson dollars? * Kansas tag system compared to Oklahoma * Montana and Wyoming * Thoughts on BHA * Suppressor regulation * Policing ourselves on social media