Utah License Fee Increase Approved!!!

[Wapiti]

The legislature approved a hike in permit fees efective 2005 as follows:
..............................2004.......2005
Res Gen Deer............$35.........$40
Res Gen Elk..............$60.........$65
Res L.E. Bull Elk.........$180.......$280
Res Turkey...............$30.........$40
Nonres Gen Deer.......$208........$263
Nonres Gen Elk..........$333.......$388
Nonres L.E. Bull Elk....$483........$795
Nonres Turkey..........$55.........$100

What does eveyone think?
Is there any other state that charges that kind of $$$ for a resident L.E. Elk permit?

 

[Daydreamer]

The thing that scares me is; when I started hunting big game at age 16 (I'll be 32 this year), the fee for a L.E. Bull Elk tag was $50. Starting in 2005 it will be $280. 16 or so years from now what will be the price???? I'm affraid to even speculate.

 

[Bambistew]

Looks to me like Utah has put the price of a big bull right out of the general pesants price range. They don't want the average person to be able to draw a bull tag on the "rich" What a load of crap.

 

[Gator]

Resident L.E tag is still cheaper than a NR L.E Tag. As a resident you will have to start paying the freight or they will all be sold to NR for the money that they bring in. Heck I think 280 is still a good deal, but then $20,000 for a 4x4 truck use to be a good deal how long do you think that will last wait that all ready gone, so is under $2.00 for a gal of gas. Have you seen steel prices lately up 30% just this year. $280 is like 6 tanks full of gas if that price is too much don't buy a tag I'm sure some-one else will get it.

 

[Blanding_Boy]

LAST EDITED ON Mar-05-04 AT 01:52PM (MST)[p]Additionally, they (the legislatures) passed a 'premimum limited entry' bull elk as well. The fees for this will be over nearly 500.00 for resident (sorry I forgot the exact number) and 1500.00 for non resident. This would include some CWMUs as well. This 'premimum limited entry' bull elk has yet to be defined in rule and would have to go through the RAC/Board process, but if it does, that is a real kicker in the wallet.

Todd

 

[2_Point]

As a Resident of Utah, I don't mind the tag increases. I just wish NonRes had to pay more, like Nevada's $1200 for an elk tag. Utah's LTD elk tags are like a once-in-a-lifetime gig anyway so I don't have a problem charging $280 for that experience. Most anyone can come up with $280 for the tag if they really want to, it is only a one time cost. I've put in for 16 years so I would only have to save $17 a year to buy the tag (assuming that I even draw this year).

BB- I haven't heard that one. That would be a bad deal, I think. Those Premium units such as the San Juan, Pahvant, SW Des, and Deeps are a joke anyway with their high age plan. We leave a lot of elk on the table so they can have a 7-8 yr classification.

 

[Blanding_Boy]

LAST EDITED ON Mar-05-04 AT 02:15PM (MST)[p]I think it would be fine as well and still quite fair for the quality of animals on those 7-8 year old units. It will be interesting to see how a PLE unit for elk is defined.

It will be interesting to see if the UDWR even proposes it or tries to push it through and then to see all the bitcXing and moaning that most will do.

Todd

 

[PleaseDear]

It isn't a big deal to me to pay the 280.00 for what the quality is in our LE Elk units. Maybe draw it twice to three times over a lifetime of waiting periods and the years to draw.
I don't see a problem with the P-LE price structure either. If someone doesn't want to pay that much then they could select a different/cheaper (sic) unit.
I think alot more folks would be bitching and moaning if they would pleased get rid of the Credit Card appl. option and do away with the point code only. Alot of guys say they can't afford it and that it is cheaper??? with the Credit Card but how can 18-21% be cheaper than sending in the check??? Maybe it is because they feel they won't draw and don't want the check money wrapped up for the stinking 4-5 months before refund checks get sent out???

All non-res. states fees are ridiculous and pure greed, ours, theres and them over that-a-way too....

 

[CATMAN]

With the credit card...your only charged for the license if you draw a tag ( you are charged a $5.00 application fee ) with sending a check..the DWR holds your money for 5-6 months which I must say is a good investment for them ( They collect intrest on that money I'm sure ). I don't mind paying a decent price for a LE bull permit, BUT if prices go up...I want to see more DWR officials taking care of these units. Been alot of poaching going on on LE units around here, and the DWR claims they just don't have the man-power to cover them....funny thing is though you can sure see plenty of DWR officials taking care of the cutthroat trout in Strawberry...which I don't have a problem with only with the fish we can raise them in a hatchery by the tens of thousands each year and with elk and deer it takes alot of years to bring a herd and its genetics back once they get depleted. LOL if I ever draw a LE elk tag I'll be dang glad to come up with the cash......been tryin for alot of years now.

 

[2_Point]

First The Utah DWR can NOT collect intrest off the monies that are sent in for the draw. This was passed as a law after a bunch of whiners complained that the DWR was collecting intrest. That is one of the things that got us this lousy Credit Card option. No incentive for the DWR to collect money if they couldn't collect intrest. I wish they'd just charge to card when the people apply, or use Debit CArds so they can maintain thier "Internet Commerce". Pay to play. Prices wouldn't break many people's bank.

I still don't like the Premium Tag. It would push lots of applicants into the fringe units, which acutally produce as good or better bulls.

 

[CATMAN]

Well 2-point maybe I was wrong in my assumption that the DWR collected intrest off the money. Guess I should have done some research before I said anything. I myself do not mind the credit card option. Makes it possible for guys like me without alot of cash to be able to put me & my kids in for a quality hunt. I use to do it where you had to send the cash, and still would if thats what it came down to. I guess what your saying is if they do away with the credit card option it would keep alot of people from putting in? Your probably right, but I hate to think that everything is coming down to only people with alot of money being able to have a quality type hunt. I guess I've always been for the under dog. I'm sure that before long it will come to that, but I like to see the average guy or gal have a chance while they can. And I guess if that reduces my chances on drawing....so be it. Just my .02 worth.
Catman

 

[4x6]

i e-mailed the dwr and told them what i thought! as everybody knows i dont care for the dwr and what they are doing but that is just my opionion! hell they dont have enough deer here but they will sell 97,000 tags so why not sell elephant tags? aint no elephants but that has not stoped them from selling deer tags has it?

 

[Cass]

I knew this was coming sooner or later. Nevada uped it to 1000 a couple years back and I had an idea that Utah would do the same in the not so distant future.


-Cass

 

[j0hnj0hn]

I wouldn't have a problem paying if the quailty of hunting was better. The mule deer hunting up north is horrible. Turkey hunting is a joke here, and more hunting land is being gobbled up my CWMU's. (I wouldn't be surprised if most of Utah not federally owned goes to CWMU soon). The problem is not the lack of money it is the lack of hunters. Hunting has been on the decline for years in this state, and now there will be even less hunters as they continue to jack up the rates. I don't care about surrounding states rates, I don't live there and evidently they have a better pool of hunters to draw from. A better solution would be to lower the cost of tags for a person who hasn't hunted for three years or so to entice them back, improve the quality of hunting by allowing more cougars to be harvested, and take a more aggressive approach to deer hunting (like point restrictions, waiting periods, etc). I am so close to petitioning for whitetails to be actively planted and encourage the state to bring them to into the state. They are more hearty than mulies and we could hunt again. For you who claim $280 isn't bad, maybe you could loan it to those of us who will have to stuggle to make it up.

Katghoti

 

[tallbuck1]

Well I am sick of not being able to draw out for anything in utah. I have just decided to buy spike tags in utah just to fill the cooler, then go to Idaho to hunt the units that I can have the chance to take something bigger. I think that we as Hunters in utah get takin to the cleaners all the time with different increases they pawn off on us. Look at how the Public habitat is shirinking.

 

[2_Point]

JohnJohn- Hey it only costs you $5 to apply. The chances of drawing are so slim that you most likely won't have to pay for the tag. The $280 is a cheap once-in-a-lifetime experience. Tell you what, when you do draw, I'll hook you up with a part-time job in evenings or weekends where you can make $280 in a couple weeks.

To put tags in perspective, a 1 day pass in Disneyland costs $90. Then another $90 if you want to go into California Adventures. Lagoon runs around $45 for a day. A day on the Slopes runs $50. A Jazz game will cost around $35 for the cheapest ticket or $250 for a better one. A round of golf runs $10-45. All these activities have a short time limit and are over after a few hours, with the patron getting nothing tangible in return.

To go on a deer hunt runs $40 and you can hunt for 9 days and actually bring something home (and yes you still have to find one). That is cheap compared to the above.

I do wish the LTD entry hunts were cheap enough to not be a hardship, as some feel. Problem is it cost $$$ to raise the animals and I don't see any Non-Hunters/Animal Watchers paying a dime in license fees.

 

[PleaseDear]

2-point, and thats per person per day/game, throw in a couple days a year of games a year and your way over the $280.00 plus if a tag holder gets off the ole buttski and hunt you can have a memory on the wall for life. I
It is all about priorities for how ya spend your recreation $$$ over the year. If the problem is having to get permision from the wife to spend that kind of money IF DRAWN maybe one should buy a new vacuum instead of appling for a hunt tag.
The same people who complain about never drawing are the same ones that say they need the credit card option to make it 'Cheaper'. I would rather pay up front and have alot better odds of drawning than have it be cheaper going in and not draw for years and years and then having to pay more because of yet another fee increase! Get rid of the point codes only application option.....
One thing for sure, they will never git rid of the credit card option nor the point code option only and we will turn this LE elk into a Once in a Lifetime draw anyways.

 

[Martin]

The non resident LE elk price is not an increase, its a robbery. We are not talking about a gradual step up to keep up with inflation. What is the criteria used to justify such a large increase?
I am for increasing fees so we can finance these game departments, within reasonable means. And I am not one to determine the cost of an elk tag or the experience that goes with it. With the CC you can avoid upfront fees and since you will not draw in umpteen years, the once in a lifetime hit will not be that obvious.
The hunting public is being taken advantage of. They know that hunting is a drug and we will do what ever it takes to satisfy our cravings for it. They actually use our passion against us.

 

[4x6]

you are exactley right! i e-mailed the dwr and got a reply ( that shocked the hell out of me) you ought to read it you will get a kick out of it how they talk about the tags and the prices and that they did not want to charge that much! YA RIGHT! i saved it if anybody would like to read it e-mail me and i would be glad to forward to anybody!!! [email protected]

 

[threelemonbob]

I heard that it had something to do with an orginization called sportsman for wildlife and i dont know about the rest of you guys but a increase from 180 to 280$ is quite a bit it isant so bad now but what happens when next year they are at 380 then 480. It might not be bad now but it will get worse before it gets better. if they are going to up the cost of tags then hopefully they'll use the money to benifit the wildlife here in utah but i doubt it.

 

[ELKMASTER101]

first of all what, the dif. between a nonres gen. elk tag and a Nonres L.E. Bull Elk.
you know all it takes is for the non, res. to agree not to hunt that state. just one year would put them in to such a spin,
heads would roll.
i think with the right addvertising it could be acomplished.
then piont at another state.
i think they would get their act together real quick.
here in iowa thay put a big dollar price on there deer.
for non-res. and should i hit one with my car, its my insurance that has to cover it not the states, who's deer it was just seconds befor i hit it.....
there nothing but a bunch of gready sons of b*&^%$##s.
I say the next time we have an opertunity to sloter deer or elk we kill them all..
and drag their carcases up to the governers house and place them on the front pourch.
Mine will be the deboned one, "I want the meat".

 

[Wapiti]

For all people that have no problem with paying $280 for a tag, 10 years from now when the price is raised to $480, $580, or maybe even as high as $680, are you still going to be so willing to fork over that kind of cash, especially when our neighboring states are still charging their residents sensible fees.

My big problem is the reasons given that DWR has given for raising prices; prolonged slow economy, continued drought, increased number of forest fires etc... WHY are our permit fees going to fund forest fires? Especially ones started by the Forest service that they cannot control. Our permit fees should be going to promote an increase in hunting opportunity in the state or at the very least maintaining what we have, not putting out fires. Doesn?t the state receive funding from the Federal government for fire control. From what I see our money is not being spent where it should be and the have the nerve to bleed our pockets even more.

So if our economy rebounds, the drought conditions cease, thus greatly reducing fires, is the DWR going to return the permit fees to their former level. YA RIGHT!!

 

[hedges]

Fire prevention and the drought is the number one reason for how horrible the habitat is in Utah. Lake of fires has let the PJ get out of control and forests to become to dense. If you ever wondered why the fires the past couple years have been so intense and big is because they aggresively put them out. Yellowstone was the first fire to make them change their view on fire prevention.

Besides the obvious budget short fall, they are raising costs to be competitive with other states. In the last couple years alone it seems like the states are in a race to see how much money they can bleed out of us.