Non-Resident Land Owner Hunting Fees

tarbe · #1 07/10/11, 10:20 PM

Didn't want to hijack the "right to hunt" thread.

I "own" 80 acres in MO.

I'd like to have a couple friends out to deer hunt on it this fall....guys who don't own any land of their own and could use a safe place to hunt.

Trouble is, MO wants $225 for a non-resident license. I would even have to pay this amount to be legal. To hunt on my own land. Truth is, I would want to be out there, but have no real intention of shooting a deer.

If it is really all about the state owning the deer, then why don't I pay them IF I kill a deer...as opposed to paying them to just walk my property with a gun in my hand???

I was on my property this past week with a centerfire rifle. I could not legally walk on my land with that same rifle, during the rifle deer season, without this $225 license. Something seems terribly wrong with that.

Or am I just all wet in my understanding?

Tim

arabian knight · #2 07/10/11, 10:32 PM

NBot IF you have set up residency in another State does not matter how much Land you own in MO. You LIVE and ARE a Out of State Resident pure and simple.
Make it 6 months in Each State and you can get around that law. I believe that is how things can be made a go around.
But stay over that long in the "other State, and bingo you are not a resident of MO. No Matter How Much "land" you own.

Pops2 · #3 07/10/11, 11:27 PM

check other states you might be better off selling what you have & buying somewhere else. couple of south eastern states doesn't matter if you're not a resident as the landowner you get to hunt free, no license and the big game tags are free.

Oldcountryboy · #4 07/11/11, 01:16 AM

Not sure how Mo. laws are, but in Oklahoma you can hunt without a license on your own land. But whatever you kill has to be eaten on that land. You cannot load up a deer you killed on your land and take off driving down the road to somewhere else, unless you have a license for that deer.

Pops2 · #5 07/11/11, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldcountryboy

Not sure how Mo. laws are, but in Oklahoma you can hunt without a license on your own land. But whatever you kill has to be eaten on that land. You cannot load up a deer you killed on your land and take off driving down the road to somewhere else, unless you have a license for that deer.

check w/ your WMA, in NC & VA they have free deer tags for land owners. you can get them at wal-mart, you just have to know what the item number is. in fact in NC kids could hunt off my adult licenses and i could get them their own free deer tags.

plowjockey · #6 07/11/11, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarbe

Didn't want to hijack the "right to hunt" thread.

I "own" 80 acres in MO.

I'd like to have a couple friends out to deer hunt on it this fall....guys who don't own any land of their own and could use a safe place to hunt.

Trouble is, MO wants $225 for a non-resident license. I would even have to pay this amount to be legal. To hunt on my own land. Truth is, I would want to be out there, but have no real intention of shooting a deer.

If it is really all about the state owning the deer, then why don't I pay them IF I kill a deer...as opposed to paying them to just walk my property with a gun in my hand???

I was on my property this past week with a centerfire rifle. I could not legally walk on my land with that same rifle, during the rifle deer season, without this $225 license. Something seems terribly wrong with that.

Or am I just all wet in my understanding?

Tim

The idea that the Government "owns" the deer, is no more valid, that saying they "own" the highways, IMO. They are just functions and "assets" that they regulate.

They put themselves in charge of hunting and wildlife management, in the exact same way as they are in charge of the highways and nearly everything else.

Do you have the right to hunt your own out-of-state property, for the regular fee (or no fee at all) and use whatever gun you want?

If you berleive that you do, then go for it.

They will likely think otherwise.

Wikldlife management makes a TON of money off of hunting, etc. They pay-if-you kill, business model would not work anyway, since a lot of harvested game is not checkeed in, and the revenues would be much lower, snice not every hunter gets a deer. The would hurt the sport financially anyway, since tag fees support wildlife managment.

kirkmcquest · #7 07/11/11, 02:47 PM

Are you sure you can't walk your property with a gun during hunting season? That sounds extreme...seems like they should have some proof that your intention is to hunt. What if you are target shooting?

I don't know the laws in MO. In NY a nonresident permit is about $140 and its about $30 for resident. What do you need to prove residency in MO?

SteveD(TX) · #8 07/11/11, 03:13 PM

Hunting laws can be pretty strange.

I had a local game warden tell me once that even to shoot a nuisance animal such as a snake or coyote on their own land, one must first have a hunting license, unless it was endangering them or their livestock.

Not being to walk your own land with a gun in hand, sounds mighty fishy.

Batt · #9 07/11/11, 05:21 PM

In Missouri, if you are walking anywhere, carrying a high power rifle, during deer season, you are hunting. You can carry a handgun, a .22 or a shotgun with not larger than #6 shot (may be #8, don't remember). Them's the rules. Don't like it move in and start voting, or get over it. The non-resident license fees are part of the reason I quit going to Texas in the winter to fish...But I pretty much got over it by staying home.

Gregg Alexander · #10 07/11/11, 05:32 PM

I here in Alabama you would still have to buy a hunting permit even if you own the land. You would have to set up a permanent resident , driver license, mail address ect to not have to buy an out of state permit. You can carry a weapon anytime while on your property

big rockpile · #11 07/11/11, 06:45 PM

I think the problem was too many was coming from out of state buying 5 acres of land and getting Free Permits.

This change was made couple years ago when they wanted to do away with alot of Resident Landowner Tags and there was such a stink about it.

big rockpile

tarbe · #12 07/11/11, 07:18 PM

I don't really have a problem paying for a non-resident license if I am going to try to kill a deer. I have done it many times in Wisconsin...even though I was born and raised there. I understand that you can only be a resident in one state, for the purpose in question.

Not being able to walk my land with a rifle during the season without a $225 license is what is rubbing me the wrong way. Seems mighty heavy-handed.

reluctantpatriot · #13 07/11/11, 10:44 PM

You have every right to be on your own land with any firearm during hunting season if you are patrolling your property. You cannot do that on land you do not own unless you have a hunting permit.

If you are hunting, that is one thing, but patrolling your land is another.

The part about having to use a shotgun with a certain shot size or a .22 rimfire is for those who are out on land that is not theirs during deer season.

I am originally from Missouri and I had the MDC clarify that for me via email.

tarbe · #14 07/14/11, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reluctantpatriot

You have every right to be on your own land with any firearm during hunting season if you are patrolling your property. You cannot do that on land you do not own unless you have a hunting permit.

If you are hunting, that is one thing, but patrolling your land is another.

The part about having to use a shotgun with a certain shot size or a .22 rimfire is for those who are out on land that is not theirs during deer season.

I am originally from Missouri and I had the MDC clarify that for me via email.

I asked the MDC about this over on Missouri Whitetails:

License Needed?

I am a non-resident landowner - 80 acres in Ozark County.

I do not intend to hunt deer on my property, but I do want to continue to patrol my property to deter trespassers from hunting deer on my land. I was on the property this past week, and was armed with a rifle larger than 22 rimfire. I do not have any sort of MO hunting license, as I have never hunted in MO.

Am I required to buy the $225 deer hunting license just to be able to legally carry a centerfire rifle on my land during the deer season, even though I am not hunting and have no intention of shooting a deer?

thanks!

MDC Deer
MDC

posted on 7-14-2011 at 07:56 AM

There is nothing that says you have to have a permit to carry a gun on your own property...However, you will have a difficult time convincing a conservation agent that you are not hunting if you are roaming your property with firearm in hand during deer season.

__________________________________________________ _____________

Very interesting. Sounds like you are automatically guilty of breaking a law that does not exist, and you cannot prove yourself innocent.

I may just have to make a point of being on my property with rifle in hand during the deer season. Not that anyone is likely to show up on my remote acreage.

Ken Scharabok · #15 07/14/11, 09:31 PM

Call me naive, but I really think DWM has the best interest of overall hunting within their state in mind. Right now in TN they are trying to grow bucks go to mountable size. Seasons though. I probably don't have them right: Juvilile, B&A, muzzle loaded, shotgun and then rifle.

If you are a farmer you can get an out-of-season permit to take X number of deer off of your crop field for your own use. Hiring someone to come out, acting in your behallf, is another permit.

I'm told most spotlighting of deer is bored county deputies. Look, but don't shoot.

Alice In TX/MO · #16 07/14/11, 10:30 PM

I'm a Missouri resident six months of the year and Texas six months. You have ONE legal residence, where you vote and have your drivers license. You can't have it both ways.

Ray · #17 07/15/11, 07:52 AM

Spotlighting Deer in MO is illegal even if no one has a gun. It is considered Harassing wildlife,and can harbor great fines. However like any other brotherhood I know the wildlife agents turn their heads when its the sheriffs boys because they do it themselves, and its fine as long as it one of the brethren, just not a civilian! Law enforcers!!, Not helpful policeman

gideonprime · #18 07/15/11, 03:11 PM

In theory that law is illegal under interstate commerce laws. It could be considered a hindereance to those trying to get hunters to come from other states to stay at there lodge etc.

Like in NY wineries used to be able to sell their wine and not go through a distributer but that was found un-fair to out of state wineries so the law had to be changed.

(Sorry just took an intro to contract law so this is fresh in my mind).

Not that a single cintizen complaining would be anough but if you have hunting lodges in the state see if they have an issue with out of staters being charged so much for HLs.

Pops2 · #19 07/15/11, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gideonprime

In theory that law is illegal under interstate commerce laws. It could be considered a hindereance to those trying to get hunters to come from other states to stay at there lodge etc.

Like in NY wineries used to be able to sell their wine and not go through a distributer but that was found un-fair to out of state wineries so the law had to be changed.

(Sorry just took an intro to contract law so this is fresh in my mind).

Not that a single cintizen complaining would be anough but if you have hunting lodges in the state see if they have an issue with out of staters being charged so much for HLs.

you are somewhat mistaken, courts have consistantly ruled that states may charge significantly more for nonresident hunting licenses, permits & tags. which is why EVERY state does it & some states even require nonresidents to use guides when hunting (not just AK).
i would have thought the best challenge would have been because of unequal treatment in violation of the constitutional protection of equal treatment before the law.