'08 Wyo. Fee$$

PleaseDear

Long Time Member
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Looks like January is gonna be a very tight $$$ month....new 18% increase in non-res fees.....

Non-resident Regular elk - $641; Special elk - $1,141.

Non-resident Regular deer - $366; Special deer - $606.

Non-resident regular antelope - $366; Special antelope - $556.

Non-resident moose - $1,416.

Non-resident Bighorn sheep - $2,266.

Robb
 
Hopefully they won't make us purchase an out of state license to go along with these fees. It look like the going trend out west!!!!! Save it and send it, it will come! Hopefully?
 
Holy Frick!! I was planning on hunting Antelope in WY this year...I might have to rethink my plan. $366.00 for speed goat....RIDICULOUS!!
 
Maybe they didn't make enough off the NR's with the $100 sheep and moose points, $50 elk points, $35 deer points, and $25 antelope points? Wow.

Dax
 
$606 for a special deer tag. I have two points for deer, elk, and speed goat. ( like everyone else ) I will keep collecting points but once I use them on a hunt I might be done with Wyoming.
 
I don't like it either but it is the "law of supply and demand"?


Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
 
Law of Supply and Demand...my a$$!! Flat out greed by the state of Wyoming. Wyoming currently has one of the largest state surpluses. Money for basically anything that is needed. The Wyo Game and Fish should be able to use this surplus to operate.
 
I think its a fabulous idea and in a conservative state like wyoming, i'm surprised that so many of you guys are against capitalism. What would you prefer, the government subsides the hunting public, that would be socialism. . . .
 
THIS WILL REALLY CUT BACK ON HUNTER NUMBERS, & AFTER I GET MY MOOSE.....WELL....MIGHT NOT HUNT WYOMING TOO MUCH......YD.
 
Today I get a postcard from the WG&FDept. saying that their Dept. "is committed to reducing mailing and printing cost of their hunting application booklets."

They now encourge you to get your 2008 appl. info at their website and continue applying for the Wyo big game hunting licenses ONLINE.

So why the 18% increase????????????

Brian
 
Why?

Because the residents of Wyoming like it! Just like the the residents of every state that love seeing Non-Residents get screwed.
 
Wow! over $1100 for an elk tag! Just wait till the other states follow suit. Do you think they are just trying to get the prices so high, so that the non-residents will just hire an outfitter? As if the unconstitutional law of no non-res hunting in the wilderness is not enough.
 
I was looking at applying for deer tags in Wyoming next year and was wondering what the differance in just a deer tag and special deer tag? Does that have to do with applying by a single unit or by a zone?
 
Using our states surplus to keep the Non-Resindent hunting fees low? Now that is funny right there. There would be a mutiny in Wyoming if that were to happen.

Wyoming is just catching up with similar price ranges as other states have for Non-Residents. If you don't like it that is fine, but I guarantee as long as there is Non-Resident tags available they will unfortunatly always sell no matter what the price.
 
How many of you business owners have lowered your prices in the last 3 years?

None.

Gas, utilities, wages, all have gone up.
 
I would have to agree with some off this.Wyoming and Colorado have always been behind on the price of an elk or deer tag compared to other states.Besides some of the licenses you can get in Wyoming you can hunt like 6 weeks on the same tag.Archery hunt and if not successful go after them with a rifle, doesn't seem unfair to me.
 
In the not so distant future, 10-20 years these incremental price increases are going to price most of us out of hunting.

Not pointing any fingers at Wyoming because every western state is doing it.

Glad I drew my moose tag this year! I'll never apply again in Wyoming. I think I'll go for one good elk tag in Wyoming and call it good.

They'll get away with it for awhile but mark my words it's going to catch up to them eventually!
 
I have hunted Wyoming as a nonresident for 32 years.i guess with my age and the price increase together,it is time for me to give it up.
I will go to Colorado for elk this year ,but if the price increases to the Wyo . price then I will stay home and hunt my own back yard.
Here in Michigan it isn't all that bad anyway!
 
"but I guarantee as long as there is Non-Resident tags available they will unfortunatly always sell no matter what the price."

Pretty sad commentary

I don't think anyone expects you to use your surplus to finance nonresidents. In fact, the opposite is true. I am sure just like every other western state, more than half of Wyoming's license revenue comes from nonresidents. So it could be said that we are subsidizing your nonexpensive tags.

All we ask it that if you are not in dire straits financially, keep our fees low enough that you don't ONLY have the rich hunting. We are just asking to keep the dream within the reach of normal guys, like you and me. Keep our numbers down if you want, but don't price us out of the market.

Is that really too much to ask???

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
>They'll get away with it for
>awhile but mark my words
>it's going to catch up
>to them eventually!

Doubtful given the small percentage of tags going to non residents. There will always be a certain number of guys with some discretionary ching in their pockets willing to buy those tags. If you guys want to blame anyone, toss the blame at our republican controlled legistlature. They're the ones who decided long ago that the WY G & F would have to support itself. They're also the ones refusing to allocate any of that huge cash surplus with the G & F or anyone else in the state. I like free enterprise. I didn't have any qualms about sending Colorado $1700 this year for a mountaint goat tag. Had to skimp and save, but it's all about priorities. However, assuming you might be correct, I'd still consider it a win/win. Those unused non resident tags would be available when I apply and might increase my odds of actually drawing a deer or elk tag...
 
I have gone thru the procs from 2004 to 2007 and this is the first non-res tag fee increase on elk-deer-antelope in those 4 years.

I really enjoy hunting Wyoming.

Robb
 
completesportsman:

This argument has been used many times, but it doesn't have a legal leg to stand on. No one is stopping us from going on, camping, using, etc. federal lands/national forests. However, legally, the state owns the wildlife. They get to say how they are hunted and what is charged. Not really anything the feds can do about it.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
txhunter58

Then the feds should not give the states one penny to operate their individual wildlife managment programs. It makes me sick knowing that the states are getting wealthy off non-res hunters. Elk hunting success rates accross the board for guided, unguided, resident, and non-res hunters all accross the board success rates on elk harvest is 25%. That means most states are getting pricey licensce fees for elk hunting and still keeping most of their elk.
When they have too many elk and want to reduce herd numbers do they lower tag prices? NO they just sell more tags at the same price.
 
Nothing I know has increased in cost like NR hunt apps/tags.

I would say in 8 years there has been a 10 fold increase in apps fees. NR bighorn sheep $7 a point to $100, what?

Ah well. True these incremental increase are going to make it crazt expensive very very very soon.

I have to ask, who makes these decisions and who do they answer too, that is what we need to know to try to keep them reasonable.

Are there any residents that truely think it is fair for NR to pay $100 for a sheep point, knowing that if they have 5-10 points they are looking at DECADES of applying before there points MAY actually have ANY affect on drawing a tag? Any residents think it is ok for NR to hike, fish, camp, site see in wilderness but we suddendly need a GUIDE to hunt there? Sartcasim aside, I want to see if the residents really think this is ok, if so then the battle is lost, if not maybe it can be slowed to an acceptable pace. Mark my works after sucking us all into this expensive game and stocking points they will next cut the percentage of NR tags.

If you are just now starting the points game for sheep, maybe you just graduated high school and got a real job or you want to start appling your kid who is finalyl old enough, you will pay $100 a year (NOW this is sure to go up!) for, at a wild guess are least 30-40 years before the points make any difference in drawnig a tag. That is $4000 (it will actually be a lot more since WY is sure to follow there own pattern of rasing tag fees). $4000 for no increased odds up to that point.

What can we do to make this reasonable. Again I am not saying prices should not increase etc, but WY seems way way out of line.
 
I love how the Residents think its a great idea to screw NR with tag fees... Hear it from hunters in every state.

Funny thing is, with higher tag fees come people with deeper pockets meaning, more land leased and decreased resident opportunity in the end. Look at just 10-15-20 years ago, it was very easy to get onto private land to hunt. Now it costs big mooney if you're lucky enough to find a place, or you hunt with an outfitter. Land owners know there's plenty of hunters out there that are willing to pay $600-1000 for an elk tag, whats a couple grand for hunting opportunity. How many residents do you know that would shell out that kind of money? Most I know complain about the $25-50 they spend on an elk tag.

Its just a matter of time before the majority of the private land is leased and the majority of resident hunters will be crammed onto public ground, which will result in fewer tag allocations, and decreased hunting quality for everyone. All you have to do is look at a few threads on here, starting with vouchers in Colorado, or wealth tags in Utah, etc.

Our hunting heritage is doomed. I'm glad I make enough money to hunt where I want, and have property to hunt as well. For the average NR or Resident hunter, I don't think the future is so bright.
 
>Land owners know
>there's plenty of hunters out
>there that are willing to
>pay $600-1000 for an elk
>tag, whats a couple grand
>for hunting opportunity. How
>many residents do you know
>that would shell out that
>kind of money? Most
>I know complain about the
>$25-50 they spend on an
>elk tag.


Most Wyoming residents are hunting Public grounds already since most of our state is BLM or National Forest.

You may also know residents who complain about how much they spend on thier licenses, but I bet if you asked them if they were willing to pay double or even triple if the state were to eliminate Non-Resident hunting, most if not all would take that offer.

Don't get me wrong I really don't mind NR hunters but the fee increase except for sheep and goats is not all that far out of line, just look at Utah's Non-Res prices.

As for NR having to have guides on Wilderness hunts - Absolutely
 
Complete...on this one you are completely full of sh$t...

Colorado DID lower the elk tag fee substatially to reduce the booming elk population. Cow tags sell for almost HALF what a bull tag sells for. This change was made after input from hunters who complained about the high price of a cow elk tag.

Check into it first before you spread the BS...
 
Also, according to my math, WY takes in over 1 million on NR SHEEP points alone, about 50 go to the pnt draw, that is $20,000 per tag they make in point fees (for NR sheep).

WOW
 
tough,
The last time I hunted CO was 1999, if my memory is correct I paid $250 for a bull elk tag, I look now on CO website and it is $501, thats double in 8 yrs. You may be right about the cow tag but I'm not driving 36hrs to kill a cow elk.
Why don't you look a the title of this thread....WY NOT CO!
 
Hope they triple all non-resident fees in every state, because sooner or later rebellion will set in, then law suits with different angles and approaches will begin, then new laws will be enacted, then people will vote on hunting as a hertitage, and then hunting will be a past memory, then hunting videos will be a felony to own or watch, then the word "hunt" will be taken out of Webster's dictionary, then ?
 
It's sad to see hunting going to a rich mans sport.
To put in for the regular price, Deer,elk, antelope, and sheep. Total cost $3,639 My 14 yr old boys cost. Deer, antelope, and elk $537. Total $4,176. This is for one state, and one son, at the cheapest price. This is depressing, and sad. May be playing more golf.
 
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, wish I had some more, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, I'm in for one elk hunt and one antelope hunt, then I'll be done in WY except for deer, which I'll pay the higher price if they ever start managing them correctly.
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-27-07 AT 04:53PM (MST)[p]Complete...your the one that was spouting off about "most states" I know what the original post was but apparently you got off track and spoke before you really knew what you were talking about. Last I knew, Colorado was a State and happens to be the State with the highest population of elk on the planet.

You're babbling about prices in 1999, the last time you hunted? What, did you think they were going down with the passage of time?

Don't want to or can't shoot a cow...why? Gotta have a rack? Fill your freezer and pick up a few sheds...good Lord...hope you only come every 8 years...heck, make it every ten...:)
 
Then don't apply! Write your representatives and complain! Show up at the meetings in force and raise heck! Don't just roll over and send them the money for God's sake. Prove to them that their tag increase just took money away from their bottom line. Go shoot coyotes or grouse or pheasant but don't just PAY like there is no other choice.

Those must be non-resident fees. Hunt your own State. Gotta be cheaper.

I agree, hunting is becoming expensive but so is golf. My concern is that hunters in general don't pay enough attention and get blind-sided by this stuff after it is too late. There's no excuse for that given communication in today's world.

How about this? What have the owners of Monstermuley's done regarding fees increases? Is this just a web site for pics and hunting stories and BS and fighting or does this site take an active role? Not saying they don't but I would like to know what productive things result from this web site.
 
well ,we can talk all we want to but that does'nt change things.I would say for you people that enjoy hunting the western states,keep it up as long as you can,you never know what the future holds.
I may just apply for the doe antelope license ,at least I can still afford them and I can stil go hunting.At my age that is a biggie!
 
It is very sad to say that out-of-state hunting is doomed for the regular joe. I guess it has been coming for a long time now, but some of us were just slow to realize it. The other thing to consider is that people are not going to pay for sub-quality animals. Wyoming better get their act together with their deer if they want to charge $606 a pop. I hunted Wyoming's "best" deer hunt this year and was not overly impresssed. (I have been on hunts in CO. that took 2 pref. points that were better) States like Nevada ($1200) and New Mexico ($766) can charge this much for an elk tag because you know you may have a legit shot at a 340"+ bull. People are not going to pay $1100 for raghorns. As for needing a guide in the wilderness, the residents know it is complete B.S. and unamerican. Like Don eluded to in the post above if they really believe that is a just law, I guess all is lost. What goes around comes around......maybe we need to work on getting a law passed so anyone from a differnt county has to have a guide to hunt/fish in a different county?
 
So what is Wyoming's best Deer hunt? I you are refering to the coveted Region G, there was some tremendous deer taken out of there this year. Region G does take alot of scouting throughout the year to be extremely successfull, and that is the way it should be. Wyoming does a tremendous job managing for all hunters just not the type of guys like most on this site that are concerned only with a score of an animal.

Also why are all of you so stuck on the "Special Permit" prices? If you don't want to pay that just put in for the Regular Draw.

Another thing is when it comes to hunting the Wilderness many NR resident hunters would be extremely unprepared and out of shape to hunt unfamiliar areas with that limited access. As a member of my County's Search and Rescue I see how unprepared most NR are when they are hunting unfamiliar backcountry that is not Wilderness. This may not apply to many on this site but it does apply to a majority of NR hunters that apply for Wilderness areas. Oh and you don't need a guide either, just make a friend that is a Wyo Resident and ask them to go along.
 
sounds like my odds are getting better in the special draw, good!and yes i am a non-res. ya the qulity in some of the past's top producing unit's has dropped, but there are still great elk and deer unit's and the best pronghorn hunting in the world (bar arizona, which you will never draw anyway!)as for the wilderness, i don't like it, you think wyo. is the only western state with big mountains and remote area's?
 
The unprepared non-res in the backcountry argument doesn't hold water, just like all of the other arguments don't. They are forcing people to hire guides. If you are that concerned (which I know it is a B.S. excuse anyway) about helpless non-residents getting lost, tack on a $10 search and rescue fee to a license. Last time I checked Wyoming's backcountry is not any more "wild" than any other western state. Also we did not hunt "G" (although I have hunted it) we hunted a late rut hunt.
 
I knew it was comming! They get you hooked on preference points and then raise tag fees. Look for preference point fees to rise now that so many are "pot committed".

As usual, I'll volunteer for more overtime at work. At 59, I'm getting tired though!

Eel
 
I finally printed the '08 proc and have it readily available in the 'sit-down-office'----man my legs went numb!

Anyways the fee's are cheaper than I posted but that is with out the point option.....

Robb
 
Tough,
I did not say the last time I hunted was 99, it was the last time I hunted CO. And yes, it is no secret that CO has the most elk anyone on here already knows that. All I'm saying is tag fees have went up everywhere, alot. Even if they lowered cow tags in CO they have still gone up alot over a short time. I'm not against shooting cows, or does. I shoot plenty of doe deer in my home state. I just get upset when someone gets into my pocket book and it gets harder every year for me to make the trips out west to hunt. I don't play golf, I hunt, and I save all year for my fall hunting trips. By the time I miss work for 1.5-2 weeks, drive out, pay for fuel to get me there(we all know what fuel has done the last 2 yrs) buy my eats and NR license I have alot of money invested in my hunt. I just don't want to put that much time and money into a hunt and shoot a cow elk. Maybe I'm looking at it wrong, if I would shoot a cow at least I would still be bringing somnthing home. Most of the time though I don't have the option of shooting a cow with my tag or the time of the season I am hunting. Anyway I'm not going to argue with anyone anymore, I came on here for a long time and read posts and looked a pics before I joined and I definitely did not join to get into arguements. It just seems like everyone wants more of a persons $$ all the time, the only thing that does not keep up with price increases is a persons pay check!
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-28-07 AT 12:33PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Nov-28-07 AT 11:20?AM (MST)

>txhunter58
>
>Then the feds should not give
>the states one penny to
>operate their individual wildlife managment
>programs. It makes me sick
>knowing that the states are
>getting wealthy off non-res hunters.

Do you think the feds give ANY state G&F Dept. money of any significance? Hardly... their contirbution won't even come CLOSE to paying fo the cost of wolf mangement in our state...And if you think that WGFD is getting wealthy off of non-residents, you're crazy. Barely holding your head above water is hardly wealth.

Do you want to hear what one WY state senator wants to propose during next year's legislative session? Fund the WGFD out of the State's general fund equal to the yearly NR tag income for draw areas. NR tags would then be limited to general areas and leftover tags for elk, deer and antelope. Moose, sheep, and goats would be resident only. He's proposed provisions for the first year of his plan to reimburse all NR for their PP plus interest.

I don't think this proposal is right but a lot of residents would... so funding WGFD with our state surplus might not be a good idea....
 
Wyosheds,
Respectfully, I have to disagree with you. Wyoming will allow any non-resident from anywhere to do anything they want in the "Wilderness Areas" except hunt. Rockclimbing, fishing, backpacking, hiking, camping, back-country skiing, etc. So if what you are saying is correct all non-residents should have a guide regardless of the activity they chose to pursue in wilderness areas.
It has long been known that this law is for no other purpose than to help the outfitters of Wyoming get paying clients. I can't think of any other state that has this type of archaic law, except Alaska for some species, sheep, brown bear, and goat.
And the fees are getting to high for a bunch of people.
 
Complete...no problem and I agree with everything in your last post. I, too, do not like paying through the nose for hunting and get tired of the increase in both fees and regulations. But, I have decided that to some degree, one way I can deal with it is to be as knowledgable as possible about the regs and the system, even though it takes alot of time and effort. The good old days are pretty much gone but I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel yet. In a way, I guess the game and fish folks are telling us to prioritize what we want to hunt cause we're probably not going to be able to do it all. What saddens me is that my son will never really know how fun hunting used to be...

Didn't mean to come off like an a-hole BUT I think COlorado is still the ONLY state where NR's can buy an over the counter bull tag, even though the price is similar to other States. Seems like a pretty good trade-off to the NR's. Good luck and I hope you are successful when you hunt Colorado.
 
The NR law in WY wilderness (guides required) is BS. I am looking at my unit and one corner is wilderness, and it is NO DIFFERENT then the area right next to it I am going to hunt. Just as steep & remote, and where I went in CO this year was higher and just as rough, I had no problems!

There is NO WAY any one can legitmatly argue that the NR wilderness law in WY is for anything but money and giving residents a good place to hunt no overrun by NR.
 
"There is NO WAY any one can legitmatly argue that the NR wilderness law in WY is for anything but money and giving residents a good place to hunt no overrun by NR."


I agree it is BS but the only entity you can blame for that one is the WY Outfitter Assoc. Residents don't even like the Outfitter Assoc.
 
WHATS NEXT, FISHING, DOES EVERYONE THINK THAT HUNTING IS GETTING OUT OF HAND IN THE WESTERN AREA OF THE U.S. ITS CUTTING OUT THE LITTLE PERSON ELSE WHERE,MY FAMILY AND I HAVE BEEN GOING TO COL. FOR YEARS SO I GUESS THAT IS WHERE WE WILL GIVE IT UP IN OUR LIFETIME, SO ALL OF THE REST OF THE WEST CAN WORK IT OUT BETWEEN YOURSELFS AND THE JACKA$$$$$$$$$,S YOU VOTED IN THERE TO TAKE CARE OF EACH AND EVERYONES STATE THAT YOU LIVE IN AND GET RID OF THE OUTFITTERS IF YOU CANT FIND THEM YOURSELF GET A CANE POLE AND GO FISHING THATS WHY THEY CALL IT FISHING.
 
Robb....non-residents can buy OTC tags in Idaho and Utah? I did not know that. Is that just archery or also for rifle season if you know.
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-29-07 AT 07:09PM (MST)[p]

and you guys wonder why things pop up like that proposed bill or law or whatever it was about Teddy Roosevelt and the hunting prices of NR tags on federal land. I bet a bunch of you that were against that are the ones whining now. Wake up... I said this crap was coming years back, and it will only get worst. Auction tags, huge leases, huge tag prices, Great Briton..
Where will SFW be to help you on this??
This IS THE FUTURE of hunting because you are all greedy and cheap and do not give a crap about your kids hunting future, just your own.
 
I have to agree a little bit with everyone on this one..Yeah that is kind of crazy increase...but it isn't any higher that too many other states. I would pay the non-res price as a res if i believed that the animals were managed correctly and there weren't as many people (res and NR). If it was an enjoyable experience that it would be worth every penny. That is why i love it. For the fun, not the kill.....I think we have as a hunters' society have lost track of that idea. It is supposed to be fun and enjoyable. Hope all have a great holiday.
 
Man I'm glad I moved to Wyoming 10 years ago....this is the only place I hunt and fish now and completely content. Feel sorry for you average joes that have to scrape and save to try and find a place to hunt each year.
 
As a non resident I have been hunting wilderness areas for 10 years with no problems without a guide- Hatrick 1
 
PleaseDear hit the nail (on post #24).

Wyoming basically assessed a 5% license fee increase over a 4 year period. That is why it is a 20% increase. Rather then increasing license fees annually, the G&F Department has waited for 4 years for any kind of license fee increase. In Wyoming, the state legislators must approve license fee increases. We tried to change the law to allow for annual cost of living increases but it became problematic. A State Senator suggested bringing a license fee increase proposal annually to them. I believe most people could swallow an annual increase easier then they can a 20% license fee increase every 4 years.

As long as the non-hunters continue to push for protection or designation of sensitive species while not contributing to wildlife management hunters will be required to pay more. Grizzly bears cost Wyoming ~$1,000,000 annually. WY G&F is expecting wolf management to cost between two and two and a half million dollars annually. You are paying for these added costs while the non-hunting public contributes nothing. Anti-hunting groups are laughing all the way to the bank. Sportsmen pay for all wildlife management. They have figured out that by restoring large predators to their former ranges they can divert money away from hunting programs, reduce hunting opportunities by feeding more game animals to these predators and if we try to hunt them they will litigate to stop hunting of these predators because they know that they are diverting money from state hunting programs.
 
As a teacher in wisconsin my wages are so far behind the rate of inflation it isn't funny. I think with the cost of fuel and fuel oil or propane gas for home heating. there are a lot of hunters that I have talked to that are reducing thier app to one state this year as I am. Wisconsin deer hunter numbers have dropped almost every year in the past five. The impact is that not enough deer are being killed and we had a program called earn a buck which meant you had to kill a doe in order to kill a buck. That program lowered hunter numbers even more. The future of hunting is being closely monitored in our state as this has been one of the highest % to the general population in all fifty states. The fishing license sales has already seen the drop in revenue. A lot of nonresidents have given up on our state as the price of the license combined with the cost of fuel has made this family recreational activity too expensive.
Driftersifter
 
Colorado is the only state where a non-resident can buy an over the counter tag...contrary to what other BS folks post on this thread. Someone prove me wrong...
 
Utah sells over-the-counter elk tags to nonresidents. Anybull or spike only. Archery, muzzleloader, or rifle. Idaho also has over-the-counter elk tags.

-------------------------
www.sagebasin.com
-------------------------
 
Oregon sells NR's over the counter archery/ some rifle for Rocky Mt. and Roosevelt Elk, though I wouldn't buy one they are still available.

Rich
 
Wyoming is pouring the pork to the NR with the never ending price increases, and the preference point system that keeps so many people in the game because it's like placing an order from Cabelas when ever you get around to it. you do have to give them credit for the 25% of the tags they let us have, that's hard to beat.

It's supply and demand but the same could be said for your drivers license, how much would you pay for it? probably more than you are but should government charge more just because we'll pay it?

When all is said and done I'll pay whatever they tell me to until I draw , then they can shove it. I do feel for you guys with kids that want to hunt though, that's a tough one.
 
LAST EDITED ON Dec-12-07 AT 10:54AM (MST)[p]Does anybody ever worry about the mindset of people like Huntindude when they do draw? (I'm not trying to pick on huntindude, his post above just highlights my point.) By the time you have waited several years, paid the point fees, and the high tag fees, do some people fell like they are now "entitiled" to be successful? What are people willing to do to ensure success in these situations? Follow all the rules?

Hunting used to be, and still should be, about the hunt. There are some tags I do not apply for, even though I could afford them, simply because I don't want the pressure drawing one of these tags might entail. Does $2500 buy a sheep tag in WY, or does it buy the sheep? I know the answer, but I'm not sure everyone does. What about an $1100 elk tag. Are you willing to go home empty?
As much as I love sheep hunting, putting out the high dollars for the tag transforms these hunts, and puts increasing pressure to be successful. This is rarely discussed.

Bill
 
I'm kind of like Huntindude. I am at the top of the point pool ( with everyone else ). Once I draw the tag I want I am done with Wy.

I don't think your entitled to a elk once you draw. But for the wait and the price I would like to see a quality hunt. The state needs to do it's part in Wildlife management and the Hunter needs to their fair part to have a quality hunt.

I drew a quality hunt in Wa this year that took six years to draw and only 16 tags for the whole state. I came home empty handed but had a great hunt. I never thought i was entitled to a bull.
 
Did anybody catch the fact that if there are tags left over after the "leftover draw" you can purchase a second buck tag on a first come first serve basis for some of the regions. This is good for me. If less people put in I can more than likely get a second buck tag "whitetail" and be able to take two bucks for my 24 hours of driving back and forth.
This increase shouldn't come as a suprise to anyone because as stated in prvious posts this has been in the works for years and hasn't been a secret..
Everything costs more these days and it was just a matter of time before Wyoming followed suit, landowners fees and so on. I just have to make the most of what is available to me and what I can afford to do.
 
For me the reason I'll be done with Wyoming is at age 44 even if I draw out next year I won't live long enough to have a realistic chance at another quality tag. it's not that I don't want one, if points for sheep and moose were $10 heck why not try for the 25% of the anybody tags. but at $100 a shot I'm not that optimistic or stupid.

As for going home empty handed I'm fine with that, I just returned from the late Kaibab hunt where I passed on some great bucks looking for a greater one. I shot a sub par buck the last day in it the brush that I would have passed on if I'd have had a better look at him, he's going to be awful eating anyway so a unfilled tag wouldn't have upset me. not getting what you hoped for from a once in a lifetime tag is what separates fair chase hunting from zoo shoots. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed though.
 
Its funny, I bet I could pick out the "wealthy" just from reading this post. Fact, the deeper the pockets, the bigger the trophy room! No one can deny it. Sad but true. What really saddens me is that we all complain, but to the wrong people. Instead of spending time here complaining, spend the time writing a letter to the state of Wyoming and complain to them. Hell, complain once a day to them. Maybe if all the complaints were directed to the people that can actually make changes, changes would happen? It is "us" that elect these people. I know that my complaints alone about this will only be a drop in the bucket to them. But 1,000 complaints? 10,000 complaints? Who knows. But at least I'm trying. Are you?
 
The only people who elect anyone that matters are the residents of Wyoming, I doubt higher non res tag fees are costing them any sleep. you have a good idea but unless non residents stop applying all our whining will fall on deaf ears, if enough people stopped applying in protest that would up my odds of drawing a bunch. I like that idea.
 
Fall on deaf ears? How do you know? No I can't elect someone in Wyoming. But I can stand up for whats fair. I have no intentions of getting out of any states pool of points yet. They do have me by the balls though. I have invested too much money in all the states to quite over higher prices. But I will have to pick my battles after I draw some tags. It is sad that people cant afford to take their kids anymore because they have been priced out.
 
Not saying anyone is giving me bad info but I keep reading this every once in a while...stuff like this

By Holger Jensen
Colorado is unique among Western big game hunting states in that it still sells over-the-counter licenses for bull elk.

Read it many times from different authors...don't know what to think of it.
 
I am with dude. After I draw a moose, elk, deer, and antelope Wyoming can bite me. I am done. I cannot justify $195 a year for fricken bonus points. It is nuts and getting nuttier folks!

Sad part is Wyoming will sell the tags just like last year. The demand is high and some people have the cash! The guys with money are probably excited to have us po' folks out of the draw?

It is what it is I guess. Deal with it how you must.
 
I agree with you, it's only going to get worse and the young hunters will be old before they can draw most good hunts if they ever do. they won't even be able to do that if their parents don't bother or can't afford to get them in the game early. I don't mind paying more as a non res of any state I expect to, but Wyoming is getting greedy in my opinion. We're both staying in the game and most everyone else will too, so nothing will change and that's the bottom line.
 
This kind of reply really makes me laugh...funny stuff.

"It is sad that people cant afford to take their kids anymore because they have been priced out."

BS, plain old BS.

For starters NR YOUTH licenses in WY are about half of what adult NR fees are.

Secondly, there are reduced price cow/calf elk and reduced price doe antelope and doe deer licenses available. Very cheap. For less than $100 you can get your NR kids a pocket full of doe tags. Great way for kids to get the much needed experience they need.

But, its easier to gripe that the kids, and more importantly, the old man cant draw the best buck and bull tags in the state. Well, too bad, the opportunity is there for bargain prices.

As to WY being greedy...no more so than NV, AZ, UT, and most other states. NV $150 hunting license and $15 for each species after...if you draw...add more. Same for AZ $150 hunting license and drawing fees. Ut...Yep, same way.

I dont care, the money goes to a good cause and I'll continue to gladly pay it without the whining.
 
Priced out is the best way to put it. What would you rather hunt a doe or a buck? A cow or a Bull? Hunting is hunting, and its all fun, but come on! Yes it takes money to run things, but when is enough, enough? What about 10 years from now. I will still be able to hunt, physically (I hope) but will I be able to afford it? At this rate, most likely not. Glad you think all this is funny. I'll put my quote from earlier in another way, The deeper the pockets, the more opportunity you have for antlered animals!
 
Buzzed I've never hunted does and I never will, what you're saying is the high price of gas is no big deal just ride a bicycle.

Maybe you're like me and nobody is going to price us out of the tags we want, that doesn't mean the state game depts aren't pricing others out.

Hunting is a privilege not a right I understand that, but hunting on public land shouldn't be priced on supply and demand in my opinion. does Wyoming game&fish NEED the extra money , or WANT it? taxes are based on what the government needs to cover expenses, I see no reason a state game dept should be operated any different. I know they can if they want to, but again it doesn't seem right.
 
Tell me whats the difference between shooting a doe antelope and an average 12-13 inch antelope buck?

I'd say about 4 pounds of meat, a set of horns that will end up in the rafters or garbage can, and $230.

Same with an average mule deer buck VS a doe...a few pounds of meat, a set of rafter antlers, and a couple hundred in license fees.

How about a raghorn bull and a cow elk? Is 3-4 hundred dollars worth a set of antlers for the rafters?

Theres plenty of cheap hunting to be had, you just have to drop the elephant sized ego and buy yourself and kids a few cheap tags.

Oh, and BTW, I'm a WY resident and the reduced priced tags I buy every year cost ME as much as they do a NR. I buy them and dont complain a bit. I do have fun hunting doe antelope/deer and cow elk. In some ways more fun.

Your kids will have plenty of time to chase trophies if they really get into hunting. Its more important to get them out there than worry about getting them a B&C buck...or even a buck at all.
 
Huntindude.

Its your decision to not hunt does or cow elk. Fine with me, but you'll pay a price for that decision.

I just get tired of the "kids and I being priced out" BS. Its not true. There is opportunity in WY for just about every income.

BTW, how low should the cost of NR licenses be? Do you think they should just be free so that nobody is priced out?
 
How much should they cost? good question.

Wyoming is by far the most expensive anymore by the time you add the point fees. so is Wyoming too high or are the other states too low? if you want to base tags on supply and demand I guess the other states are too low. I guess I just don't think that's the way tags to hunt on federal government owned land should be priced. this is another situation where the USO lawsiut is haunting the NR hunter I guess.
 
Well said Buzz I couldn't agree more with everything you have said.

I also get tired of all the NR complaining about the prices Wyo is charging when the states they live in have similar prices. Also as I have said before if you don't want to spend the high dollar for the "Special" draw and put in for the regular draw. Ya you will get lower odds but if you draw you don't have to spend as much money. Also for Goats, Sheep, and Moose I really don't feal to bad about the prices especially when your odds are damn near as good as mine if not better and I am a Wyoming Native.

One simple way to hunt Wyoming cheap is move here and contribute year round. God knows there are plenty of jobs to be had.
 
LAST EDITED ON Dec-12-07 AT 07:10PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Dec-12-07 AT 07:08?PM (MST)

Huntindude said, "Wyoming is by far the most expensive anymore by the time you add the point fees."

Are you sure about that? I think you're wrong.

Point fee in WY is $50...regular draw elk tag is 641...$15 for a conservation stamp.

Now heres Nevada...$150 for a hunting license...$15 for a point...and $1200 for an elk tag.

Should we dive into AZ next?

AZ license $151.25...application fee $10...elk tag $595.

How about New Mexico? The good units are $760...still more than the point and tag in Wyoming.

How about Utah?

Yep...more than WY too...$65 for a license and $795 for the tag.

Either you suck at math or you dont apply for any state other than Wyoming.
 
LAST EDITED ON Dec-12-07 AT 07:20PM (MST)[p]Maybe I am wrong, but who did you guys grow-up hunting with? I grew up following my dad and uncles around. When I could carry a gun I hunted at their side until they loosed the reins. We camped together and hunted together. The point is that Dad probably won't drive the kids 500 miles to hunt a doe antelope or a buck IF dad doesn't have a tag also. I am not talking trophy hunts.

If the family can get together and go hunting then the traditions are passed down. If not, well say good bye to the future of hunting.

Also, if a youth applies in WY this year (at age 12) then it may be 5-10 years before he draws. While he gathers points for a cheap price, he will most likely have to spend the regular costs of licenses because he will be an adult before he draws.

One of the biggest complaints I have with a Conservation Group is they say that the future of hunting will be tagging along on some lucky hunter's hunt. Under such circumstances, our kids will never know the hunt, only the kill. This is all part of the trophy chase and how it is affecting our hunting opportunities.

All states are pricing the Non-Resident to death. I like Idaho's cheap youth, over-the-counter tags. They are an example for all states.

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www.sagebasin.com
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Packout,

You dont need anywhere near max points to hunt a buck antelope EVERY year in Wyoming. If a parent applies their kids for the best trophy buck antelope areas in WY that take 5-10 years to draw...apparently theres more going on than just "wanting to take the kid hunting"...wouldnt you agree?

I had several NR buddies who drew their second choice areas in the regular draw and took very nice bucks.

The opportunities are there for everyone...time to quit whining and start hunting.
 
BuzzH how many people do you know will drive 900 miles each way to shoot a doe? I can do that in my own state.

I think hunters have the biggest " If it don't affect me then who cares attitude " out of any group out there.
 
Buzzed,
I apply in 8 states and Wyoming is by far the most expensive to apply in, after all most of us do way more applying than we do drawing. the tag fee isn't the most expensive in every case but the non refundable fees are way higher if you apply for moose and sheep . no question about it Wyoming cost you the most of any state to build points unless you are a one species hunter who doesn't spread the hunting license fee out in a state like AZ. you might say not all states let you apply for all species but take Utah for instance, even with their new license fee the cost of applying for moose and elk as I do will still be cheaper per species than Wyoming. you must not hunt in any other state or you suck at math if you haven't figured that out yet.

An 1100% increase for the application fee in 1 year on a sheep application has to be a new record, now the tag fee goes up also. If I don't like it I don't have to apply I'll admit that, but I still think it's a hose job.
 
Buzz,

I complained. It is steep for a blue-collar adult. It is a priority. Maybe by looking at the big picture Wyoming is not out of line. I enjoy your great state as well as any other. For years I had killed my biggest bull there. Also me and my brother have both killed our biggest bucks in Wyoming. Overall, considering the cost of applying in other states too, it was very expensive and just got worse. I will deal with it however it pans out for me.

Wyoming has one of the greatest youth hunt prices. VERY cheap! My daughter killed a nice goat up there last year and the tags and stamps were a whopping 135 bucks give or take! My daughter gets points and applies in Wyoming. She will get sticker shock when she turns 18.:)

It is always good to hear both sides. They are griping about Utah hunting licenses in the General Forum. I will welcome the change and added money. I am a Utard though! However, I can understand the frustration!
 
Well guys,
I think we can all agree that paying more sucks. We can sit and compare every state in the west but what it boils down to is that its gonna cost more to hunt. Wyoming just did what Arizona did, one big jump instead little jumps every other year. Lets face it, none of us likes to pay more money to do what we love BUT... we're still gonna pay. All the guys running around saying "I'm done" aren't really done, they're mad and they'll get over it. We aren't gonna stop hunting! If Wyoming chooses to raise fees, oh well, its their state, they can do what they want. If you don't like it, move to Wyoming. The only problem I have with Wyoming is the issue with non-residents and wilderness areas and then again, I don't care much about that either. How they choose to run their state is their business and if we want to hunt there we have to play (or pay) by thier rules. We don't get a vote. Now we can all sit back and piss and moan but it does NO GOOD. I guess we'll all buy less Thirstbusters or go to one less movie a month or finally figure out we don't need to buy a new bow every other year or buy the latest electronic trout in estrus call, we'll pocket a little more money so we can do what really matters... Enjoy the hunt.

Donnie
 
LAST EDITED ON Dec-12-07 AT 10:19PM (MST)[p]I don't mean to sound callus or say that the price hike doesn't affect me too, it does, but it isn't gonna stop me. At least the federal government isn't regulating hunting or tag prices! Remember not too long ago there was an individual that was trying to make it a federal issue, can you imagine what it would be like if George Taulman got his way???? I'll pay the extra $90 for a deer tag thanks very much. At least Wyoming made the decision and not a judge in San Fransisco!

Donnie
 
I am not whining about anything. It is fact that raising the regular rates will price some out of the game and those same guys will not drive their 13 year old 900 miles to shoot a 12 inch goat on a small piece of grasslands between private ranches.

If Buzz did not grow up tagging along with his old man on the hunt then what I said does not apply to him. But most people started out that way. If Dad can't afford to go then neither will the kids. Wyoming is a high priced endeavor for nonresident adults, if you are buying the points.

I will still put in for WY moose, until I draw and then I am done. (Heck, I might even quit the WY moose. $1,600 to shoot one of the WY 4 year old bulls is steep) I will get one more antelope tag in WY then I am done. I will always (until they are 4 digits) try to draw WY elk and deer tags.
 

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