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Non resident land owners hunt for free?

Sgt Fury

Sgt. Spellchecker
Wow!! Just read an article in the Ohio outdoor news that said the republicans inserted 2 provisions in the operating budget that says non residents who own land in Ohio can hunt on their own land without buying a hunting license, deer
Tag and turkey tag.....and can buy a resident license if they want to hunt anywhere else in the state! They are also raising the cost of a non resident license and tag for those who don't own land....no proposed increase for residents.
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,060
223
Ohio
Yea. You're a few weeks behind. I don't really like it, but I don't really see it being a huge issue. I wish they would have implemented a minimum acreage stipulation to that legislation.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I like it. I do agree that a minimum amount/type of land should be added. No reason I can own an apartment building and not have to pay NR fee.
 

MK111

"Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky"
Supporting Member
6,551
66
SW Ohio
I like it. I do agree that a minimum amount/type of land should be added. No reason I can own an apartment building and not have to pay NR fee.

If I'm not mistaken you would only be able to hunt on your property-apartment house. Not many deer most of the time.
 

MK111

"Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky"
Supporting Member
6,551
66
SW Ohio
They would pay resident fee though for any other land, not nonresident. Not a big deal, I just don't like it.

I didn't catch that. Don't like it. A resident is someone who lives in the state for 6 months.
Doesn't make much sense to raise NR fees then give away the NR fee for the whole state hunting. Can't disagree too much for a NR hunting on there own property free but not the whole state as a resident hunter a a reduced resident fee.
 

Sgt Fury

Sgt. Spellchecker
I'm all for a license increase if the money is used for purchasing land,stocking fish and hiring more wardens. Most sportsmen...resident AND non resident are for it, yet the ODNR is against it...then the politicians go to the other end of the spectrum and are trying to pass this! I have know idea how this is going to play out but the ODNR needs money, and it has to come from somewhere.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I'm all for a license increase if the money is used for purchasing land,stocking fish and hiring more wardens. Most sportsmen...resident AND non resident are for it, yet the ODNR is against it...then the politicians go to the other end of the spectrum and are trying to pass this! I have know idea how this is going to play out but the ODNR needs money, and it has to come from somewhere.

They could start by managing the money they do have...[emoji23]

Generally when I need money, I look at my finances first. Then work from that, I don't go begging people for more money. It's not like they are going out and buying up land and need more money to take care of more. Hell, they won't even sell the timber for funds.
 
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jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,060
223
Ohio
They could start by managing the money they do have...[emoji23]

Generally when I need money, I look at my finances first. Then work from that, I don't go begging people for more money. It's not like they are going out and buying up land and need more money to take care of more. Hell, they won't even sell the timber for funds.

They actually manage their money pretty well from what I've seen. They've combined countless wildlife area work units and done more with less over and over again for the last 15 years or so. More acreage with less bodies to manage it. 2 week furlow periods and no raises up until very recently. Yet, they're doing well enough that the ODNR wants to combine the DOW with other divisions in order to suck from their revenue stream. The leadership changes in the past week have made that more than obvious.

I've actually heard that the AEP land deal is also progressing again. That would be huge.

The timber harvest issues pertain to a completely different Division altogether by the way.
 

Milo

Tatonka guide.
8,184
157
They could start by managing the money they do have...[emoji23]

Generally when I need money, I look at my finances first. Then work from that, I don't go begging people for more money. It's not like they are going out and buying up land and need more money to take care of more. Hell, they won't even sell the timber for funds.
Just curious but have you looked at their checkbook?
 

Curran

Senior Member
Supporting Member
7,971
172
Central Ohio
If you enjoy hunting, fishing and trapping in Ohio you better start paying attention to what our elected officials are doing. Do you want people with political interests or wildlife interests managing your division of wildlife? Not just the Cheif, that's always an appointed position, but those civil servant positions who have your shared interests in mind.

http://www.sportsmensalliance.org/news/odnr-decimates-leadership-wildlife-division/
 

Bigcountry40

Member
4,555
127
What does Illinois and Iowa do? My opinion, if a person can afford to buy hunting land in another state, they can afford to pay for a non resident tag each year and help fund ODNR. I hate the the idea of resident land owners hunting for free on their own land, the freaking money is to continue the little tradition we have left before its completely gone! I know this sort of a socialist idea and it screws over land owners, really goes against a lot my own political ideas.
 
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Curran

Senior Member
Supporting Member
7,971
172
Central Ohio
Don't get distracted by such a little piece of a much bigger picture.

Here's a detailed description of what is happening. GET INVOLVED!!!

Copied & pasted from the Facebook page Save the Ohio Division of Wildlife:

I've posted on this page to try and bring awareness of an effort to dismantle and centralize the ODOW into a one size fits all agency under the ODNR by Governor Kasich and the Department of Natural Resource's top brass. I'm just a small spoke in the wheel of concerned insiders trying to prevent that and our message has been met with skepticism and apathy. It has even been called fake news. If you didn't care before, you need to pay attention to what is happening right now. The agenda to destroy the Division of Wildlife financially then use that to sell the idea of dismantling self funded DOW and combining it with other agencies within the ODNR to the legislature is happening right under our noses.

I think a quick lesson on the difference of ODNR and ODOW is in order. The ODNR is a large department that includes divisions of Wildlife, Parks & Watercraft (those 2 have already been combined so right now boat registration fees we pay to fund enforcement, safety programs, etc are being shared with Parks), Forestry, Water, Minerals and Oil, and a few more. Only Watercraft and Wildlife were self funded through license/permit sales and fines. The rest were mostly general fund supported. There is a director of ODNR James Zehringer who has assistants Fred Shimp and Gary Obermiller. Each division has chiefs. Director Zehringer reports directly to the Governor. He and his top people have targeted the DOW and it's revenue we sportsmen generate in the form of user fees...license and permits....to share that money with the non revenue generating divisions within the ODNR.

Step by step the process is in motion right now.

Step 1- Modest license and permit increases for both residents and non-residents in the recently approved bi-annual budget bill would have allowed the DOW to remain self funded and continue to serve sportsmen and women in Ohio. 41 conservation groups pushed for it but were hand cuffed by a direct gag order from ODNR brass to the DOW. Do not discuss license increases or get fired. Meanwhile the director and his people lobbied hard against increases while the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance took the lead and tried to enlist sportsmen and women of Ohio to press their legislators to support it. In the end, the resident increase was removed and the budget was passed with license fee increases for non-residents only to be will be "phased in" over a 3 year period which further delays revenue. Simply put....the people behind this agenda stacked the deck, worked hard, and won. They've openly said more than once "sportsmen don't care enough to stop us". Sadly they were right. Now the door has open to raid the coffers we sportsmen pay into for licenses and permits and share it with other divisions.

Step 2- Last Friday Director Zehringer fired the highly dedicated and tireless DOW Chief Ray Petering, who like the rest of the top DOW brass is a biologist that worked his way through the ranks to become a highly effective visionary. No reason given, just terminated. Zehringer couldn't even communicate the action accurately in his memo to the ODNR staff, his voice mail to me or other Wildlife Council members, or his press release. His message was "Ray has returned to retirement". He is replaced by a former Watercraft Enforcement officer Mike Miller who will likely do exactly what he's told.

Step 3- Mike Miller replaced all but 2 top administrators in the DOW with political appointees. The biologists who worked their way through the ranks for decades to reach those positions have been replaced by political appointments. Neither the new chief or either assistant chiefs have a biology background. 2 are enforcement and one was with the Department of Aging before coming to the ODNR. All the former administrators were offered positions in....guess where???? Yep. The recently combined Division of Parks and Watercraft. Attached is a link to yesterday's press release from U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance.

http://www.sportsmensalliance.org/news/odnr-decimates-leadership-wildlife-division/

This reeks of a pending merger.

Step 4- Terms of 2 members of the Ohio Wildlife Council expired last January. Charlie Franks, who's not missed a single meeting in 31 years of service, and Larry Mixon who's served 16 years, have not been replaced or re-appointed. Most insiders believe this is a move to start the process of eliminating the Council. This has to be done legislatively but this group has shown it's ability to lobby.

We are now headed down the dangerous road of several other states that have allowed their fish and wildlife to be managed through politics rather than science. Ohio will soon be subject to the same disasters those states are experiencing because this group firmly believes the sportsmen and women of Ohio don't care enough to stop them. I am not giving up yet and I sincerely hope the rest of the passionate sportsmen in Ohio stop turning a blind eye to this. Get involved. Support the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance. They are fighting right now for us but they need a loud voice from all of us to send the message that we want Ohios fish and game managed by biologists in a stand alone, self funded Division of Wildlife.

Eric Hirzel
Vice Chairman, Ohio Wildlife Council
 

Milo

Tatonka guide.
8,184
157
I was so glad Eric posted that. Maybe now some folks will actually see what's really happening.

I think people should stick to facts about their opinions... I have been equally quilty if this offense but if someone has a question on how and where their public dollars go, ask them and I'm almost 100% sure they will be more than welcome to show you because guess what.... it's their money too.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I think people should stick to facts about their opinions... I have been equally quilty if this offense but if someone has a question on how and where their public dollars go, ask them and I'm almost 100% sure they will be more than welcome to show you because guess what.... it's their money too.

I sent an email this morning after I read your post. I will respond further when/if I get a reply. Answer is no for now. You put my foot in my mouth.
 

Milo

Tatonka guide.
8,184
157
I sent an email this morning after I read your post. I will respond further when/if I get a reply. Answer is no for now. You put my foot in my mouth.
Awesome you did that! I bet you to pick up the phone and call them also. Be specific so they can get you the information your looking for. These people care and take pride in their jobs and responsibilities. Give them a fair shot. Be the person that thinks about the best in people, not the worst. It will change your life
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Awesome you did that! I bet you to pick up the phone and call them also. Be specific so they can get you the information your looking for. These people care and take pride in their jobs and responsibilities. Give them a fair shot. Be the person that thinks about the best in people, not the worst. It will change your life

Honestly, I did it because I don't know what to believe at this point. Everyone seems to be pointing the finger at the other people. Doesn't matter what side you are on. Time for me to go to the source. I asked for a link or breakdown of how funds from hunting fees were distributed.
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,060
223
Ohio
Honestly, I did it because I don't know what to believe at this point. Everyone seems to be pointing the finger at the other people. Doesn't matter what side you are on. Time for me to go to the source. I asked for a link or breakdown of how funds from hunting fees were distributed.
From what I understand, the majority of license and permit fees go towards law enforcement, wildlife research, information and education (outreach), administrative tasks, and acquisitions, among other things, keeping the lights on, etc. Obviously anything left over is saved. The majority of costs pertaining to actual management of the public lands and habitat are covered by Federal Aid Reimbursements, that is, money from Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson funds, grants, and other partnerships. But in order to fully utilize that Federal Aid, the state has to be able to MATCH it with their own money. Without a match, no fed aid dollars. So if permit and license fee revenue decreases, so does the federal aid reimbursement, as does accessable land and habitat quality.

Here's an article that talks a bit more about P-R and D-J money...
http://www.vindy.com/news/2017/jun/24/conservation-funding-explained/?mobile