So what happens when you and your friends go hunting, driver gets stuck with the gas bill?

At least in Nevada its not guiding if its within normal practice, splitting gas , buying lunch or drinks. If i draw a tag and friends go with me ,I pay for the trip ,food , gas , beer.

Best as I understand it here in Montana, you can come here and we go hunting or fishing. As long as you don't pay me any money it's fine. I have done that with folks in the past, I have been given gifts, maple syrup, country smoked ham, things like that. Don't involve strangers and be careful about gifts too, can be considered payment maybe. If I could still get around like I did I might consider such a thing, I'm not much of a guide now a days

If you have a tag for where you want to go and whoever has a tag for MN, there’s nothing illegal. Pretty cut and dry. Not that complicated.

I traded hunts with a couple in MT. I went and hunted with them in MT(elk, mule deer) and WY(antelope). They came here and hunted turkeys a few times. We were/are friends so it was just they bought the tags here and I bought there and we went. They new the conservation agent well (and I met him). In both states they were strict/concerned with zero money/paying for something occurring. Originally I was wanting to trade turkey access for turkey access. They said no non-resident turkey tags in their area but I could come out and elk and mule deer hunt. Even better. Got one of each plus got an antelope in WY. All public land they just had good spots.

Is this a serious question???

If they got the land and u swapped hunts how could it be illegal? Swamp Wolf and Clay suit all the time

My guess is that in some states where you have to have a guide license someone could: Full on guide the person, not get licensed for one reason or another, hunter pays money under the table for said guide, then if caught say they're just friends

Good point.
But those two should probably be thrown in jail anyway. You know they've done something to deserve it....

In Alaska, if there is any consideration exchanged it is illegal. You can have a guest hunter help with gas, groceries, etc., but you should keep the receipts proving he paid.
Trading for a hunt might be considered "consideration". If it is a one-off event, you shouldn't have too much to worry about, just keep it very clean.
If dealing with Alaska, you could call the Alaska Big Game Commercial Services Board and see how to conduct it without getting into trouble.
I imagine any other State (as well as your own) that you might have a guest coming from may have laws addressing this subject.

Sounds to me like all you want to do is hunt someone's property in another state in exchange for them to come and hunt your property. Long as all permits are bought legally for both parties it would be legal.

^^^^
In most western States most of the hunting land is public, so merely trading realestate to hunt on would not apply.
In this case the host might be considered guiding the guest hunter if they aren't careful.
In Alaska it is considered "guiding" if consideration is exchanged and the host directs, or in any way assists the hunter when taking big game.

Exactly, In Alaska somebody can house you, feed you, and rent you transportation for money, and that is not guiding.

I did it many times in N.D. As long as there is no money changing hands it is legal. I traded Pheasant and Waterfowl and Predator hunts for hunts or vacation spots. And we all had good trades.

When trading you do not need a Guide/Outfitters license. I was trading hunts for hunts or Vacation spots for years before I started Guiding/ Outfitting.

Yes in MN. I have donated a number of bear hunts in MN to charity causes. CableJohn on this forum took one.

When I started this I checked with the DNR and was told as long as no financial gratuity was exchanged it would not be considered guiding to which I would have had to license up again.

Hunt away, it’s your land.

Osky

.[/quote]

So what happens when you and your friends go hunting, driver gets stuck with the gas bill?

At least in Nevada its not guiding if its within normal practice, splitting gas , buying lunch or drinks. If i draw a tag and friends go with me ,I pay for the trip ,food , gas , beer.[/quote]
If you're a resident nobody cares (technically the rules are the same for residents or nonresidents, but nobody questions residents hunting together). If you're a nonresident, yes, or you drive your own rig.

Its one of those intentionally vague laws, so they can interpret it however they want. If the warden wants he can say splitting gas is normal practice and you aren't getting paid. But if he wants he can also say you are getting compensation and are therefore Guiding. And make it stick in court.

I could only see that being a problem if money changes hands. Which I understand to a point, but it also complicates things that it shouldn’t. For example: I have a nice 26 foot boat, so naturally I get asked to take people fishing all the time. I can do that, but the second I let them put fuel in my boat or buy me lunch, now I’m a guide according to the state. Which is kind of stupid, since my boat doesn’t run on “thank you”. So now if I want to take a friend fishing, I have to eat all the costs otherwise I’m technically their guide for the day, and I need to register as a guide, register my boat as a charter, and have at least a 6 pack captains license (which I have, but it’s a lot of BS to take a buddy halibut fishing is the point)

I think you are misinterpreting the law. I always split expenses. I am not making any money by spending less.

Our local trooper warned me about it once, so I got my 6 pack license after that and registered as a guide. But now that I did all that, I don’t take friends fishing anymore. Why take my friend in exchange for a case of beer when I have tourists who will give me $500 a person for a half day fishing trip?