I really despise generalizations about certain groups of hunters because more times than not they are not accurate. I was out in Colorado one year a resident Hunter pulled a gun on another CO Hunter saying he stole his sons elk. The fact is the kid shot the bull then could not relocate it in the mean time these guys had gotten another elk away from the kids. But first guy and son sees these guys dragging out this elk accuses them of stealing the kids and pulls the gun to make his point. We found the kids elk a few days later bloated up. So even though both these guys were resident Colorado hunters it would foolish for me to generalize and say all Resident hunters are the reason hunting sucks. In this case the individual who drew the gun is a moron period nd of story.
Colorado has allot of private land prices are exhorbanant and out of reach there allot of huge bulls in Colorado on private huge ranches. Tax free land. land that belongs to tax payers but no access because money land locks it from Hunter access. Nope all sorts of issues in Colorado the least of which is non-resident hunters. I might also mention the total dollars that non-resident hunters contribute to the conservation of elk is very high compared to the amount resident hunters pay with regards to license and contribution to the local economies. Most non residents have a small window compared to resident guys specially with archery. So yea they may not have the high standards you do. Not unusual for a non resident to pay a trespass fee of 2-5K that's a pile of cash for dang ole elk.
So please keep the generalizations to yourself because they are founded in emotion and folklore.
Show me where I said "ALL", and I'll gladly appologize. Until then, I stand by what I said. And nobody is making anyone come here. They do it all on their own. Out of state fees here have been among the lowest in the nation for years until just a few years ago. Residents here actually fought the idea of raising out of state license fees, but it was put in place anyway. That's the gripe with the DOW here-- they do things for money a lot of times, rather than for the conservation of critters. Not saying I agree or disagree with that, but that is the gripe heard most often. Gregg is a guide, I'm sure he's heard it a million times.
Absolutely there are bad hunters here in Colorado. They drive me nuts too. Your state has them too, as does every other state in this great Nation. I'd be willing to bet most of the poaching in your state is done by out of state guys as well. I don't have proof of your state, but in Colorado, I can pretty much show ya proof. Talk to any game warden here on the western slope, or call the DPW in Denver, and they'll tell ya the exact same thing. Ask them if most of the illegal critters are taken by resident, or non resident, and see what your answer is.
I don't mind anyone taking a legal, 4 point bull. I have done it myself. I don't pass on legal animals. Ya can't eat antlers, and I'm looking to fill a freezer. But I do it LEGALLY. That's all anyone should do, in state or out of state. Those are the "high standards" I have that you speak of. I never said anything about letting bulls grow up to be huge trophies before shooting them. If that is what you assumed I meant, that's not my problem.