Aldeer.com

If you really believe that nonsense your spouting, read the Bud Meadows thread in the serious forum and how he was treated last week. I can assure you he wasnt treated better than an AL resident.

I've hunted in IL, GA, TX, LA, KS, MS, KY, and the great state of duck hunting Arkansas. Never been treated any different as a non-resident than I have been as a resident by any govt employee, game check station employee or agency. Locals are a different story. I can tell you with 100% certainty that the locals over in Arkansas dont like the boys from surrounding states hunting their ducks. GW's, shops, check stations etc all treated me with the same respect that i would get and expect from someone at home. As long as you're where you're supposed to be and have the proper licenses and paperwork, it's no different in my experience.

So do other states that deny/limit hunting opportunities for non-residents (e.g., Tennessee and elk, Florida and public land Osceola draw hunts) not use federal dollars to support their elk/turkey hunting endeavors? I know that some areas in Illinois limit the number of non-residents that can hunt on certain public land tracts, but place no similar restrictions on residents during the same time period.

Should non-residents be eligible to hunt, sure, should limits and/or preferences be given to residents ... maybe.

It they pay for a license they can hunt just like a resident IMO. Same for me in another state. I have no issues with it. Also would not have an issue with residents getting better odds in a draw, as other states often do. Since this is the first year for the SOA, I wouldn't be surprised to see it tweaked a little the next few years

Exactly!!

There is NOTHING condescending in Marianne�s response. She stated facts and y�all don�t like it so you blame it on something other than your hurt feelings. If it wasn�t for OOS license sales the state would have to cut a lot of what it does. They contribute to conservation in this state no different than a resident, who don�t even have to pay to hunt their own land if you need a reminder. They�re taking the same resource and the OOS hunter contributes MORE than a resident. You�d better be glad we have people willing to spend their money to hunt here.

X2 what Matt said.

I read the email before I read any post. My initial thoughts after reading it was 1). DAYUM, I can't believe he actually got a response. I don't know how common or rare that is with DCNR, but in the corporate world its as rare as hens teeth. 2). The woman came off professional and knowledgeable. 3). I didn't care personally before, I see both sides, and it really doesn't bother me now.

I do have one question though. When the license exempt are mentioned publicaly why is the active military and handicapped people never mentioned with the group?? If you're going after them for a license, be an adult and say we want active military and handicapped pulling their own weight in Alabama, no special perks, or just stay away from Alabama. We don't want your kind if you don't pay.

Out of state veterans and Elderly get a high license fee too. I recently paid $130 something for three freaking days. Here I get hunting and fishing annual for $5. Everything!

Annual Resident Handicap license for hunting, fishing and Saltwater fishing combined is $12.50. Best deal of my life. But I have paid full price for all for approximately 36 years prior. Thats still not exempt but it does help.

Logic arguement is that it should be weighted towards Residents just like the majority of nationwide draws.

Here's the math based on 2005 license numbers at today's prices of $306 for an out of state and $26 for an in state license.

Out of state licenses sold in 2005 - 44,002 = $13,464,612 revenue to AL

In state licenses sold in 2005 - 255,022 = $6,630,572 revenue to AL

These numbers aren't close to being exact and assume everyone buys an all-game license but they definitely prove exactly what Matt is saying. Without the out of state hunters $$$, the Bama residents would have a lot less hunting opportunities.

I will add this to the conversation. Mississippi has a 3500 acre public land draw area called �canemount� that is open to RESIDENTS only.

Can you elaborate on that statement? Out of state hunting license is $306.25 per year, and a resident is $26.60, so how is a nonresident "equal to, or above" a resident?

I hunted Canemount before it became a WMA and any resident here would love to hunt that place, promise.

Canemount is similar to President's Island in Memphis, right? Resident only, draw or SOA type deal?

Funny story about Canemount for those familiar with it. Had a buddy that hunted it before the state bought it when it was a guided hunt place. Anyhow, he killed a nice 146" 9 point on his last morning there. He threw it in the back of his truck and started back to Natchez. He decided to stop at the country store there in Lorman to get a drink and snack for the short 45 minute drive home. While he was in the store (what we assume was) couple of locals pulled up and stole his deer.

He never saw the deer again and all the fellas standing around outside the store said, "we ain't seen nothin" when they were questioned.

It wasn't funny back then, but now I chuckle every time I think about it.

My understanding is it's a draw and then you have to pay $300 to hunt it if you are drawn. And yes, resident only.

As an out of state hunter who got drawn for an SOA hunt this year, I appreciated it.

I also got a hotel room, ate at local restaurants, bought fuel. It seems like common sense that they bring in more $$ from out of state hunters.

It would be like saying all Florida beaches are closed to non-residents, Gulf, etc.

OP, if you don't mind telling what was the reason/question you asked to get that response?

After reading response from dcnr and reply's to post, some observations
1. thought it was spot
2. replies really got me to thinking if the answer was spot on
3. is a follow up in the making with idea's, suggestions, etc., with tweaking the SOA hunts, leaning a little to in state hunters, maybe an area/hunt for in state only, similar to hunts that go on in other states?

Very good point. All of those huge condos and attractions werent paid for by the locals. It was paid for by the tourists. Im glad that some OOS hunters still think Bama has good enough hunting to pay $300+/year to hunt here.