Two years ago at the SFW banquet, three Pahvant LE Elk permits sold for $32,000, $28,000 and $26,000 respectively in one night! A Wasatch Mtns. Archery LE permit went for something like $14,000.
It's pretty easy to see why the powers that be want to sell off Utah's elk herd to the highest bidder. I think I was the only person in the building two yeas ago who actually wanted the Pahvant Elk permit that was raffled off. Everyone else there that I talked to wanted the 4-wheelers and trailer they could sell instead.
In the end of the day the guy that won the raffle choose the 4-wheelers and thus the third tag went up for auction.
Someday I'll draw my LE elk permit. After the 20 years I've already waited, it will be worth every bit of the $30,000 someone might want to pay, to me.
Cheers,
Pete