Proposed initiative concerns hunting outfitters in Montana

The sponsor of a possible state initiative wants nonresident licenses to be available to more people instead of having outfitters enjoying an inside track. Kurt Kephart, the initiative’s sponsor, explains I-161 would open hunting up to more nonresident hunters. Proponents say the problem is current law provides hunting outfitters approximately 5,500 “nonresident outfitter-sponsored big game combination licenses” each year. There is no drawing for outfitter clients. All who apply automatically receive the license. The remaining 11,500 nonresident big game combination licenses are put into a drawing, giving those who apply a 60 percent chance for success. Kephart asks, “Why should outfitter clients be given a 100 percent guaranteed license while all other nonresidents only receive a 60 percent chance to draw?” Opponents of a possible initiative that would eliminate guaranteed hunting licenses used by outfitters say rural Montana would suffer if the system were changed...read more