Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

[quest]

Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Will Wyoming follow Idaho with price increases for 2014? I really feel sorry for this state. Like my brother said, "Its the last frontier." Will the cost increase keep hunters from hunting this great state? You can find the break down of the proposed fee adjustments in the Wyoming forum....check it out

quest

 

[Daxter]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Double the price and they will double their income right???

Too bad econ 101 isn't required for wildlife majors. How can WY not see how sky high non-resident prices have hurt ID and OR? This is not the answer! WY WILL loose money if they do this.

Dax

There is no such thing as a sure thing in trophy mule deer hunting.

 

[lundellhunting7]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Actually there is a Econ Class you have to take for Wildlife majors. ha

 

[idelkslayer]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

I really don't think that Idaho is overpriced when compared to other states. But I do agree that the latest price raise was unnecessary and soesn't solve anything.

 

[TwoFingers]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

They double the price, and sell half as many licenses and make the same money and give the residents better hunting? Seems really bad for everyone yeah right.

Since we don't know the actual demand for Wyoming licenses its hard to figure if this is a good move or bad move for them, though I'm guessing they are going to sell all the limited licenses in good areas still.

I find it funny that people that don't live in Wyoming get so mad about this, it could be the best thing for the states residents, they get better hunting. I mean I used to live in Wyoming and there wasn't anything to do other than hunt and fish the people that rough it out in that state deserve to have at least one thing better for themselves!

 

[bern]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

if you want to play u gotta pay,still way cheaper to do diy hunts,than also pay a outfitter plus the proposed rate increase.

 

[Triple_BB]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

You guys talking about Idaho must be referring to over the counter tags and non residents? Because the draw odds for the limited quota areas I'm applying for still suck. The real reason non rezi's quit applying in Idaho is they don't have a pref point system. If they did, there'd be a lot more non rezi's applying. Don't kid yerselves, Wyoming's non rezi demand will still exceed supply in most limited quota areas. If there are left over tags, you'll have plenty of guys who won't hesitate to put those areas down as a second or third choice so they can still get an opportunity to go hunting and keep their points...

 

[elks96]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

>They double the price, and sell
>half as many licenses and
>make the same money and
>give the residents better hunting?
>Seems really bad for everyone
>yeah right.
>
>Since we don't know the actual
>demand for Wyoming licenses its
>hard to figure if this
>is a good move or
>bad move for them, though
>I'm guessing they are going
>to sell all the limited
>licenses in good areas still.
>
>
>I find it funny that people
>that don't live in Wyoming
>get so mad about this,
>it could be the best
>thing for the states residents,
>they get better hunting. I
>mean I used to live
>in Wyoming and there wasn't
>anything to do other than
>hunt and fish the people
>that rough it out in
>that state deserve to have
>at least one thing better
>for themselves!

Actually you are wrong there are many residents that are concerned. See without NR money you do not have a Game and Fish Department with money to properly manage the states resources. Will this hurt WY? Yes they are bumping the prices up. Add into the fact that to build points takes a ton money as well.

They are concerned about the direction and what will happen and the potential fall out from this... Look in WY thread there are over 80 post!

To see prices nearly double is unreal. In a few years they will then say they do not have enough money and double again.

The worse part is the price are increasing but the quality of game in WY is at all time lows. Especially deer and antelope. While there are still good hunts there are many places that have went from good to poor...

Ultimately it will make it to where I no longer hunter there every year with my resident friends and instead may go like once every 4-5 years.

They are increases prices to increase profits, so the system will fail if by your math they double the price and sell 1/2 as much... Many people are already looking at how to dump points and get out of the Wyoming system, my self included... When this happens it will hurt WY...

 

[2_Point]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

They will still sell them. Then in 5 years they will raise fees again and still sell them. They will just have less people applying and less buying points. Their decision will push the lower income guys out of the equation. Low income means lots of different things. Until they get a hold on their benefits packages, it will continue to get worse, but that can be said for most states.

More guided hunters will draw and the hotels, restaurants, etc will see less cash flowing into their businesses.

 

[BrowningRage]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

It doesn't look like I'll be hunting in WY like I had hoped to start doing next year... Maybe I'll go get an antelope one of these years... But I can't afford that price to hunt regularly...

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24

 

[tailchasers]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Price increase and reduced hunter numbers will hurt more than just the Fish and Game. State tourism dollars will fall as will retail and lodging sales. You wanna hurt an already struggling economy this is just one more nail in the coffin. If the fees are adopted you'll see the animal quality increase in the more general units just due to fewer hunter numbers. I am wondering though if the Wyoming is using this as a means of improving the states wildlife quality but reducing hunter numbers since non res. out number residents in license sales? Dunno...

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."

 

[elks96]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

> It doesn't look like I'll
>be hunting in WY like
>I had hoped to start
>doing next year... Maybe I'll
>go get an antelope one
>of these years... But I
>can't afford that price to
>hunt regularly...
>
>"Therefore, wo be unto him that
>is at ease in Zion!"
>2 Ne. 28: 24


You could still go nest year, price increases will take effect for the 2014 season. I already know several people who do not hunt in WY anymore due to the PP system... They used to only go for Lopes in thier favorite spot where they had hunted for over 20 years. Now they can't get drawn at all...

 

[Daxter]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

When Idaho significantly raised their non-resident prices a couple years back the net result was an annual loss of millions of dollars.

Sure it will still be hard to draw a tag for 102 etc, but overall I predict that WY WILL loose money net/net. WY, unlike ID does have a point system for NR's, but they don't have that many quality limited quota units. I have max deer points and wish I could get my money back for them. There isn't a unit I want to use them on. I wish I hadnt bought them. The point system will offset the losses to a degree, but it won't be enough.

Lots of non-resident guys that hunt easier to draw deer, antelope and general elk unit will quit coming to WY. The limited quota units aren't the money makers, it is the quantity units not the quality units that generate operating revenue for the department.

This isn't a win for WY residents. In a shortsighted tunnel vision sort of way it might seem like it, but if you take a step back and think about the big picture of wildlife management in you state it is a bad thing. It is hard for some resident hunters to appreciate what NR hunters do financially for game management in their states. Sad deal.

Dax

There is no such thing as a sure thing in trophy mule deer hunting.

 

[Founder]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

I just looked at the proposed fee's.....WOW! Very costly. That's a big jump.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com

 

[nontypical]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Wy G&F hired a consulting firm(can't remember who)to study the impacts of the proposed fee increases for residents.Don't know if they did the same for nonres.There is a tipping point for residents where they figured they would actually begin losing money(I believe this was somewhere around $66 for a res deer tag).I don't know why they settled for $58 for a res deer tag.If they are needing the money as bad as they are crying about,sure seems to me like they could use that extra $8 per tag.
Kinda ironic that G&F decided to hammer the nonres that pay the bulk of the revenue.Makes one wonder if they even did a study on the effects of tag increases for nonres.

In my opinion,the product is not worthy of the price increase for nonres.As a resident,I wouldn't mind it if they actually raised our fees even more than they are proposing.

 

[ishootaRUM300]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Does somebody have a link I did a quick google search and didn't find it.

 

[6x7]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Once they find out they are not going to make as much off the non residents as they thought they will have to increase the resident price again to make up the difference.
I have been building points for antelope as a nonresident for when my boy turns 12 so we could draw and go together, looks like next year will be our only year we will get to hunt.I will not put in again after the price increase.

 

[TOPGUN]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

I can't blame you, as that's my feelings on shooting a little old antelope for less than 40# of meat at a $400 price tag! IMHO that price increase will cause a lot of people not looking for a trophy to shoot only does on those cheap tags (both goats and deer)and forget about the expensive buck tags.

 

[brdhuntr]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Where's the link.

 

[NYM_1]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Here's the link....Holy S***!!!!

http://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/Departments/WGFD/pdfs/WGFDFUNDING_FEECHART0002941.pdf

 

[frogman43]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

That's a very hefty increase. Maybe I should try to use both my max Deer points and Elk points next year and be done with Wyoming hunting after that.



"Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way!"

 

[Crusher23]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

What Wyoming seems to miss is the "hidden money" associated with Non resident hunters. Gas, Food, Beer, Soda, Ice, etc. They have priced the fishing licences the same way and now they have a mandatory Invasive Species sticker for boats and they don't have mandatory boat inspections. If they find you without a sticker they will give you a ticket but there are very few signs at boat launches and they only have inspection stations open until 3:00 or 4:00pm. I gave up buying an annual nonresident fishing license a couple years ago along with 5 other family members. We now fish in more in Colorado and Nebraska. Know what? I don't miss fishing Wyoming at all but I bet they miss the money we all used to spend there on our trips.

The same thing will happen with hunting. They won't understand how they raised prices and they are still broke.


My .02
The Crusher

 

[tailchasers]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

With the outfitter requirements I am curious to know why not much is being said or heard from these people. Seems there is a strong likelihood of them be impacted, even those who don't outfit in the wilderness areas. Be interesting to see how this plays out over the next few years since from my house alone they will loose a couple grand over all.

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."

 

[elks96]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Anyone else note how they raised to price of grizzly bear tags.. That will surely have a great effect on the budget. LOL!!!

Hate to say it but maybe a tag for NR to hunt coyotes could help? WY is a destination in the growing field of predator hunting and just think how many guys go there for the competitions... Even a $20 annual tag would add pretty fast...

 

[mmwb]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Any increase in fees, resident or non resident, will loose hunters. It is a matter of whether the income lost from lost hunters will be made up and the significant additional amount by those willing to pay higher fees. If Wyoming does not find other ways to pay for the cost of wildlife management it will simply equate to a net loss on the number of people going in the field to hunt.

 

[SMOKESTICK]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

mmwb,

An additional question that few are considering is the long term cost of reducing hunter/angler numbers & the subsequent results of that reduction. The G&F has openly stated that hunters/anglers are no longer capable of sustaining them via the purchase of licenses. If their actions turn hunters/anglers away that will mean another reduction in our numbers. How many more can we afford to loose? What would happen should they obtain their goal of securing non-traditional dollars to fund wildlife management?

tailchasers,

Wyoming Outfitter & Guides Association only recently was able to meet and discuss this issue as most of them have been hunting. They have came out in support of the proposed license fee increases as they know that their clientel will continue to absorb the cost of the license. They also know that more of the "average Joes and Janes" will quit coming and further increase the chances for their clients to obtain licenses. Furthermore, I would be willing to bet that you will see them asking for an increased allocation of licenses to 20% of the elk licenses or that the G&F will offer it to them for supporting this increase. I can also see this emboldening them to start pushing for a statewide quota on mule deer. Same reasoning, increased fees will reduce the number of applicants and average hunters coming here, leaving more licenses available for them and their clients. Look for those which are making a living via cable hunting shows to also endorse this action as well, right BigFin?

 

[LIK2HNT]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Would be nice if they gave hunters a free wolf tag with a deer or elk tag (or any big game tag). The odds of getting a wolf are slim for a NR DIY hunter, but it would be nice to take advantage of the opportunity if you saw one. This will probably make a lot of hunters feel that they need to shoot something to make it worth the cost. Therefore more hunters might start shooting meat bucks the last few days of the hunt which in the long run will not help the herd.

Bill

 

[TOPGUN]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Smokestick stated: "Furthermore, I would be willing to bet that you will see them asking for an increased allocation of licenses to 20% of the elk licenses or that the G&F will offer it to them for supporting this increase."

What do you mean by asking for an increased allocation to 20% of the elk licenses when all Wyoming tags are presently in draws with no outfitter allocation or set asides for their clients? Do you know of something in the works where the G&F would try to do what Montana just got rid of a couple years ago?

 

[sageadvice]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Quest asked, "Will the cost increase keep hunters from hunting this great state?"

Yes!! I have a couple points each in lopes and muleys. Not sure if i'll be able to make either hunt even if i can afford the application expenses due, for myself, in at the very worst time of year. I see a end to these hunts for me and a couple others i know in the very near future. The cost has already been, continues to get worse, just outa hand!!

Joey


"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

 

[HONEYBADGER]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

$1330 for a special elk tag lol. Will be interesting to see what happens to draw odds.

 

[ibow4it2]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Looks like the only reason I will only be going to Wyoming for in the future will be to purchase Fireworks....ridiculous tag fees for the N/R....I'll take my $$ to Montana and get the combo tag for about the same price and have a better chance at a quality animal

 

[Craig]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

$660 for a special Lope tag. WOW

 

[ColoradoOak]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Currently non-residents get 16% of limited quota elk tags available. He is probably suggesting they will ask for an increase in the non-res allocation.

>Smokestick stated: "Furthermore, I would be
>willing to bet that you
>will see them asking for
>an increased allocation of licenses
>to 20% of the elk
>licenses or that the G&F
>will offer it to them
>for supporting this increase."
>
>What do you mean by asking
>for an increased allocation to
>20% of the elk licenses
>when all Wyoming tags are
>presently in draws with no
>outfitter allocation or set asides
>for their clients? Do you
>know of something in the
>works where the G&F would
>try to do what Montana
>just got rid of a
>couple years ago?

 

[elkantlers]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

So if Idaho is losing millions because of tag increases, Why haven't they adjusted them back down? Just wondering.

 

[nvguy2]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Here's my take. Pretty simple. My friend in Utah talked me into a bonus point for antelope this year. I will apply next year and if prices double after that, I will be done with the state of Wyoming. So, the question about them losing money on the deal. I would have to say yes because they will lose mine. These states are getting greedy and honestly, I think it's a bunch of bullshit.

 

[mmwb]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Smokestick, I agree we will continue to see a decrease in hunters and anglers overall. The nonresident fees are just unreasonable. While the resident fees are still reasonable for many of us, there is a population of hunters out there in economic situations that can't afford many tags now, if any. Some suggest it is a matter of priorities, but for a college student or unemployed individual with a couple of kids or maybe a family member with some medical problems, milk and bread become the priorities. So some sit out a few years until they can afford to hunt again. After a few years off, some of them will not return to hunting. Their kids, and their kids likely will not hunt either. Regardless of your income, there comes a point when anything can become to expensive. That point will just be based on your income.

In the end, there has to be some significant funding in addition to license fees. Some good suggestions have been posted already.

 

[BLooDTRaCKeR]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

C'mon guys, we all know "times are tough" out there and everyone NEEDS more money. They should just auction all their tags off with a minimum bid of 1,000 dollars to make sure the recipiants eat and sleep well this next year.

Personally, I look forward to paying more for gas, food, property tax's, tax's in general, hunting permits, and everything else in life that has the potential to go up.

My pay check sure doesn't reflect the inflation in all these different areas! But as long as everyone else gets their increase, I'll be happy for them and continue to do my part to make sure the money pigs remain satisfied with their asking prices. I don't mind being poor, I don't need to eat or take care of a family.....But Wyomings proposed tag hikes will keep that state on the bottom of my bucket list!

 

[Triple_BB]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Was at a work Christmas party last night. Got to talking with a group of guys about these fee increases. All five of us were supportive of the NR fee increase if it meant better draw odds and/or less hunting pressure. I suggested they raise the resident fee's even more to make up any difference in loss of non rezi revenue. That got some positive head nods. I've only drawn five elk tags since 1989. I'd gladly pay a $1000 or better for a resident elk tag if my odds were significantly improved. Spent more than that this season on gas archery hunting and scouting.

 

[BuzzH]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Non-resident hunting is not a right, the sooner people realize that the sooner they can heal their sore spots about the price associated with the privilege.

Smokestick will continue to feed on this issue, telling everyone that fewer people are hunting or are quiting because of the fees.

Not true...here are the facts.

2011 National Overview Facts: ?91.1 million U.S. residents fished, hunted, or wildlife watched in 2011 and they spent $145 billion on their activities.

?13.7 million people hunted in 2011. They spent $34.0 billion on trips, equipment, licenses, and other items, an average of $2,484 per hunter.

?More than 33 million people fished in 2011, spending $41.8 billion on trips, equipment, licenses, and other items, an average of $1,262 per angler.

?More than 71 million people engaged in wildlife watching in 2011, spending $55.0 billion on their activities.

?11 percent more people fished in 2011 than in 2006, 9 percent more people hunted, and 2 percent more people wildlife watched.

?In 2011, U.S. residents in 48,627 households were chosen for interviews conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the National Survey.

?In 2011, the number of people who hunted and fished increased by 10 percent over 2006. This increase comes after declines in almost all hunting and fishing participation numbers from 1991(the high point of wildlife-related recreation) to 2006.

?38 percent of all Americans, ages 16 and older participated in wildlife-related recreation in 2011 ? that is an increase of 2.6 million participants from the previous survey in 2006.

?31.1 million participants averaged 17 days of fishing in 2011.

?13.7 million participants averaged 21 days of hunters in 2011.

 

[TOPGUN]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

LAST EDITED ON Dec-15-12 AT 03:24PM (MST)[p]"All five of us were supportive of the NR fee increase if it meant better draw odds and/or less hunting pressure"

As Gomer used to say: "Surprise, surprise, surprise!" It is nice to see that you're supportive of even higher fee increases for you residents because it may come to that with the probable loss in revenue if Wyoming goes as Montana and Idaho did when they raised their fees way up in one year. Also interesting to hear of your poor luck at drawing elk tags. Are you trying for the hardest unit(s) in the state to draw every time? The reason I ask is that my buddy in Sheridan draws an LQ tag about 75% of the time and gets a good bull every year. He also feels all the resident tags are priced way too low.

 

[SMOKESTICK]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Once again BuzzH, you fall victim to your own arrogance.

The following is an excerpt from the WY G&F 2012 Mule Deer Hunter Attitude Survey. It is found on page viii and states the following: Paying more than the current license fee?Opinion is split on willingness to pay more
than the current fee for a mule deer license given that it would mean the possibility of
encountering fewer hunters in the field. While a majority of mule deer hunters say that
they are willing (60%), compared to 38% who are not at all willing, the ?willing? group
are not strongly opinionated: the most common answer is just somewhat willing (40%).
Indeed, the percentage who would be not at all willing (38%) is double the percentage
who describe themselves as very willing (19%).

Notice, I did not simply choose or cherry pick the information which supports my position but included the entire paragraph as it is very telling.

While the numbers of hunters/anglers finally show an increase after years of decline, I ask if it is worth this risk to increase license fees and risk stifling or flat out killing this recovery? This sure seems to be tracking a similar trend to our economy.

Triple_BB,

Yes, I have also spoken with a few hunters that are looking at it in the same manner. We can definitely price people out of hunting/fishing but what will that ultimately cost us as sportsmen? Many of those which frequent this site are willing to pay a lot more - if the quality improves; however, if things stay the same - at what time do too many decide to do somewthing else and the whole thing collapses? Then what? Do we turn to general funding for our state wildlife management? Do you think that will allow hunters/anglers more or less voice in how the priorities for the G&F are created and implemented?

This is much bigger than simply a license fee increase. Look at how many states are struggling to sell their licenses, especially non-resident licenses.

Do we totally abandon the average hunter/angler and sell them out for the rich? Are we not furthering the division of classes among all americans by taking such actions?

What happens if Wyoming allows these license fee increases to happen and states like Idaho & Montana correct their problems by reducing their license fees?

 

[Rambo]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

I am a Wyoming Resident that grew up in Utah. Haven't hunted Utah since a year before I moved, because of the price, if I wanted to go back and hunt Utah as a nonresident I would have to buy a $65 hunting license just to apply. What a joke.(my money is lost if I don't draw.)
Non-residents can buy a Wyoming Preference point each season for $40. I don't know if that is changing with the increases or not. Utah General Tags are $263. Hunting license+tag=$328. The Limited entry tags cost $463.Now 463+65 is $528.
Now in my opion wyomings general areas are better than most(notice I said most) of Utahs limited entry areas. Obviously some limited entery units in utah are better than the wyoming general regional tags but they should be. Now Utah premium Limited entry lol what a joke $563 just for the tag. Now that being sad boo-hoo. I would love to hunt Utah but I am not willing to donate $65 a year just to apply. If you don't like the cost, hunt the state you live in.


"Relax and squeeze the trigger, They can't
get away", quoted from the best hunter I
know

 

[Rambo]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Does anyone hunt Utah as a non-resident? Yes, well you are in luck with the price increase you can hunt Wyoming for about the same price as Utah.

"Relax and squeeze the trigger, They can't
get away", quoted from the best hunter I
know

 

[txhunter58]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

LAST EDITED ON Dec-16-12 AT 02:04PM (MST)[p]



I haven't hunted in Wyoming in 20 years and have no points or plans in the future to do so, so I don't have a dog in the hunt.

It goes without saying that the price increases will decrease the number of apps. The real question is whether they will lose enough to not sell all their limited tags, like Montana did. I don't know facts and figures to make even a guess about that.

As far as quoting NATIONAL hunting statistics and extrapolating those to a state who is about to raise prices drastically, you can't make that leap. Ask Montana. They are placing full page ads in magazines such as RMEF begging people to come buy their unsold tags.

I am sorry, but I don't agree that just because it is government, if they lose funds, they have to maintain their current expendatures and just raise prices. That is not the way it works in my business or home finances and I am fed up with the govt feeling entitiled.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

 

[Triple_BB]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Smoke, since yer asking, here's my thoughts

"We can definitely price people out of hunting/fishing but what will that ultimately cost us as sportsmen?"

Price out who? The proposed fee's for Wyoming residents are more than reasonable. I pay more for a couple of tanks of gas than what's proposed for some of these tag fee's. I say let's cut the number of limited quota non rezi tags for any higher demand area to say 5% and 0% for the really high demand areas. Then have Wyoming hunters pay the difference on the 15% - 20% or so of those NR's tags. Residents could apply for these tags in a completely separate draw by paying the new higher non rezi price. If you as a resident draw one of those higher priced tags, great. If you don't then you get to reapply in the resident regular draw. The regular current resident tag allocations remain unchanged. Prices remain low for residents, the G&F still get's their cash, and those of us who are willing to pay more to get improved odds, will do so.

"This is much bigger than simply a license fee increase. Look at how many states are struggling to sell their licenses, especially non-resident licenses."

My idea above will significantly improve the G&F's funding issues without hurting the average resident hunter that you claim to represent, even though you don't.

"Do we totally abandon the average hunter/angler and sell them out for the rich? Are we not furthering the division of classes among all americans by taking such actions?"

If yer talking rezi vs non rezi's, wildlife management is a states right issue. No state owes any non resident a hunting opportunity.

And if yer talking about helping non rezi's, then yer talking out both sides of yer backside. I remember your posts about wanting license set asides and you claiming they would come from the non rezi allocation. Guess the average NR isn't a concern when its to SFW's benefit.

"What happens if Wyoming allows these license fee increases to happen and states like Idaho & Montana correct their problems by reducing their license fees?"

Comparing Idaho and Montana to Wyoming is apples and oranges and you know it. If those states implemented a fair NR pref points system, revenues would increase significantly.

Top,

I've applied for areas all over the state most with odds anywhere from 15% to 35%. I've applied 10 - 12 times in 87 & 89 deer over the years and have never drawn. The last couple years I've applied for 90. Figure if I'm not going to draw a deer license, it might as well be in a really high demand area...

 

[TOPGUN]

RE: Oh....Wyoming, What Are You Doing?

Triple_BB---Do you then buy a general tag when you strike out in the LQ units you apply for? From what BuzzH says and the elk he takes on those general tags, it looks like you would still have it pretty good with a chance to take a big one every year on one of them.