It amazes me that when you live in a state that has millions of acres of public land available to hunt that you want more, meaning, that some of you want NR's to stay out so you can have more room to hunt and kill a big elk to sit back and brag about.
I have only bow hunted there 2 times but each time, in an OTC area I have encountered what I, and most of you, would consider big bulls, and numerous cows and have seen a total of 3 other hunters in those 2 hunts. By the way, I always bought a cow tag cause antlers do not interest me anymore but seeing those bulls were a real treat. Granted, I didn't kill an elk but you can bet that if I had been hunting them for years like many of you guys have that I would kill one every year if I hunted them every year. It is really mind boggling to me that each and every resident elk hunter doesn't get an elk every year as they should be able to scout often and know where they are when the season opens. Granted, some years are different but man, the opportunities you guys have are unbelievable to say the least. In my opinion, they are much easier to hunt than are our whitetails here in KY. Also, the only 2 times I have seen ATV's and dirt bike riders, they were residents and were nice enough to stop and see how we were doing and offer advice to us as NR hunters.
As far as NR fees here in KY, a person can get a NR license and deer tag for 190.00 which allows 1 buck and 1 doe, and for 15.00 more, another antlerless tag for 2 more does and in zone 1 areas, you can buy as many antlerless tags as you want and kill as many does as you want for 15.00 for 2. An elk tag chance is 10 dollars and 365 for a NR if drawn. Also, 4 turkeys in the fall for 60.00 NR. That's 265.00 for 4 deer, 4 turkeys, whatever small game is in season which is rabbits,quail,squirrels,coyotes,grouse, and 365 more for an elk if you get drawn. Not to bad if you like to hunt.
Anyway, I had fun and was looking forward to bringing my kids out there to hunt as they are getting old enough to hunt there now but guess we'll stay here and hope to get drawn for elk and hunt our local whitetails. 100 bucks doesn't seem like a lot but that nearly pays for the gas for the trip when split with a couple others and when buying tags for 3 it all adds up fast.
I'm done with my complaining so I hope some of you that don't like NR's have a great year and have as much undisturbed land as you think you need to attempt to get your bull. Also, to those residents that I met that were helpful and friendly, I say thanks to you and good luck in the years to come. I could go on and on but those who wish to push out NR's due to greed and selfishness will never change or understand regardless of what someone types on a forum so have fun guys, the hunts were fun and you have a great and beautiful state. Hope it stays that way.
Rob