JR wrote:

It *is* interesting. Western states get a lot of income these days from
out-of-state hunters, fishermen and other outdoor recreationalists, who
are attracted by the sporting opportunities on public lands in those
states.....

It's a gross oversimplification to lump all "Western" states together in
their regard for out-of-state sportsmen's dollars. For example, compared
to Idaho, Montana seems like a beacon of progress. They have a popular
Democratic governor who actively courts the sportsman's vote. It seems
like Montana "gets it" that their economic growth depends more on
tourism than on traditional extractive industries, like mining, oil an
gas, forestry, and ranching. They have far better services for
out-of-state hunters and fishermen.

****, you can't even buy a fishing or hunting license online in Idaho
(last time I looked, anyway), and their licensing contractor is totally
****ed up. The past two years running, the system was broken for days
during the first day of trout season and the first day to apply for
controlled hunts -- the busiest days of the year. Their system's
terminals look like they belong in a computer museum.

The anti-government "property rights" movement is very powerful in
Idaho. Many people believe fervently in it, or at least they believe
fervently in it until someone from out of state buys property and then
tries to do something they don't like.

--
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