On one level, I almost feel bad for them. With the Brownback-era budget cuts gutting state finances, they almost have to keep up the charade to stay funded. But I think Kansans also ought to ask for a better accounting of where the money they do receive goes, and how. I’ve seen way too much useless or unhuntable WIHA, and this year was no different. BTW, Colorado did the same thing when I was stationed there—they would rather sell high-priced elk tags to rich Texans than give residents an opportunity to hunt. It seems like the whole wildlife conservation funding model is just broken.
New Mexico in my short experience is the same way -- Through a connection I got back in 2016 a rancher friend had an in with another rancher in NE New Mexico -- the landowner was allotted so many tags based on what seemed to be pretty sound management and when you bought the tag the landowner gave you some sort of code - that tied the tag to their land ONLY and you paid the state - then paid whatever fee to the rancher - I wasnt able to go until 2018 but my other buddy went every year since 2017 or so including this year -- this year I just tagged along - 2018 you couldnt look on any horizon and not see antelope on the ranch we were on or the neighboring lands -- this year I can barely count on both hands the antelope we saw. My buddy that had been every year relayed to me that it has went down the toilet since they opened pandoras box in 2019 -- I'll go back as it's a cool area and tag along - but no way I'm paying to hunt that place ever again - their lack of management ruined it which is similar to what Mike Hayden started in the 1990s here which led to other things declining.
Guess what changed in - in 2019 the Texas hillbillies got NM to change their regs -- unlimited tags in the region over the counter and no longer tying you to someones land - You just buy your tag from the state - then go find whatever rancher will let you hunt for a fee and go to town - the rancher could let 100 people hunt their 5k acres for all the state cared --- well now the result in that same area is there isn't squat for animals.
The neighbors have maybe a 20-50k acre ranch - I cant remember how big - some big Texas rich ranching family that has a hunting business - I'd guess their outfitter wiped most of the antelope out over a couple years.
New Mexico at least has going for it that most of the state is public land and their upland birds rely on ranchers not overgrazing and the weather. KS most of it is in the land owners and governments control -- that's not a good combination in most cases, used to be when people had principles.
I have told my wife no way in hell I'd ever live in Texas.