NR License Fee Increase

Buzzy · Mar 21, 2023

Appears license fees for NR’s are increasing this summer from $72 to $120. In the past all you needed was a valid license at the time of your application. So many folks would buy a license right before the draw deadline and then the next year apply a few weeks earlier so they only had to buy 1 license every other year.

Does anyone know if this can still be done moving forward? Trying to see if it’s better to buy a 5 year license now before the fee increase or play the every other year game if that’s even a possibility moving forward.

Thanks

elkhunterUT · Mar 21, 2023

You should still be able to do the every other year approach if you time it right. Nothing has changed with the rule that you only need a valid license at the time you apply.

New this year is the ability to amend your application free of charge up until the application period closes. I am not sure if your license has to be valid every time you amend. That could play into your considerations on timing your license.

Buzzy · Mar 21, 2023

I did the math and the price is the same if you buy a 5 year license at the last minute or did the every other Year proposition. Since Utah raised NR prices in 2020 and now in 2023 I suspect it’s probably a break even proposition to just buy the 5 year license and the last minute and not worry about playing the buying one every other year game. If anyone sees things differently please let me know.

elkassassin · Mar 21, 2023

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elkhunterUT · Mar 21, 2023

Buzzy said:
I did the math and the price is the same if you buy a 5 year license at the last minute or did the every other Year proposition. Since Utah raised NR prices in 2020 and now in 2023 I suspect it’s probably a break even proposition to just buy the 5 year license and the last minute and not worry about playing the buying one every other year game. If anyone sees things differently please let me know.

I haven’t done the math but you are probably right. If you do the 5 year you still should be able to squeeze 6 years of applications in on the 5 year license assuming you time it right and the state does not change the app period drastically during that time.

Buzzy · Mar 21, 2023

elkhunterUT said:
I haven’t done the math but you are probably right. If you do the 5 year you still should be able to squeeze 6 years of applications in on the 5 year license assuming you time it right and the state does not change the app period drastically during that time.

Yep you are correct and I took that 6th year into account with the math. So basically it will cost $360 bucks for 6 years with either option. Assuming that you can play the every other year game and NR license prices do not increase in those 6 years. I’m guessing they will increase and it’s a break even proposition if you keep money and earn a little or give it all to them up front and let them earn some but you won’t have to pay any increased fees if they are implemented.

ElmerFudd · Mar 23, 2023

Is this years new application deadline likely to stay in place a while? Everyone has to buy a 365 day this year with the later application period. We might as well wait till close to the deadline to apply this year.

elkhunterUT · Mar 23, 2023

ElmerFudd said:
Is this years new application deadline likely to stay in place a while? Everyone has to buy a 365 day this year with the later application period. We might as well wait till close to the deadline to apply this year.

Really hard to know the answer to that - my hope is that they push the deadline back even a little further until permit #'s are fully finalized/approved by the Wildlife Board in the beginning of May, but who knows if that will happen.