The state gets the license and tags fees for the animals. most of which are nonresident fees. so the state does see some benefit from it. Just like if you or I drew a tag. why does the state deserve more money for those tags than they do for typical draw tags? Plus taxes from the land owner and the cwmu operator.
a majority of the cost is tied up in leasing the land so the cwmu operator doesn't really see a ton from it either and most operators have other jobs because they don't make enough off of the hunting alone.
I never said i was in favor of CWMU's locking up public lands. I believe public lands should be public and should stay that way. But I also believe the CWMU program is extremely beneficial to wildlife and if run properly it is a great program. I also know it is great for the landowners.
They might get 3 month seasons but they still don't kill a ton of animals. and the animals they do kill are mature and they allow the young ones to grow up which helps with management. Animals off of the CWMU get harassed nonstop, wounded often, and all the immature animals are at risk because of over hunting so if it has horns it dies.
I can tell you one thing! getting rid of CWMU's wouldn't shorten your wait time for drawing a tag. You can get around wait times in almost every state if you are willing to pay for the hunt so that is not unique to a CWMU. Why does it matter if a guy can afford to hunt those units? Good for him! I don't blame him for being able to afford a pricey hunt. If you had the money you would too. NO, I cannot afford them either, but i'm not jealous of those that can. In fact, the majority of people that buy tags on CWMU units are super great people that are extremely kind and generous in their lives. it's easy to hate on them when you are on the outside looking in, but there are some amazing people that both run the units and that buy the tags.
Utah has much bigger problems than CWMU's when it comes to hunting and herd management. I used to be a fan of utah hunting, but the CWMU hunts are probably the only hunts i would even be interested in these days when it comes to utah hunting.
I know people hate the program, but it is beneficial and I hope they don't go away. I don't want them to have free reign of the state, but they do have their place if managed properly.
The DWR doesnt get tax money from property taxes. Much of which is tied up in the Greenbelt anyway.
And as you said, most CWMU is leased by guides, so the guides dont pay a dime in property tax.
Further. The majority of high dollar tags are bought by business owners who then write off the cost, meaning again no real tax benefit.
So a Deseret Elk tag nets the UDWR $268. An LE unit nets the UDWR $268. There is zero benefit to a CWMU vs LE
Next. The dirty secret of CWMU came out with ONX. The tens of thousands of YOUR land claimed by the CWMU via fence.
The other is the amount of landowners who own grazing allotments. So they feed their livestock on public, saving their private. For that they also payva reduced rate. That feed and competition taking from YOUR wildlife.
Next. It 100% does increase tag creep. Rich dudes aint stupid. If they can draw a Pains deer tag it is a lot cheaper than buying one of Heatons.
So. How do you fix the system.
1. CWMU tags are sold JAN 1-31. That takes buyers out of draw pool, helping creep.
2. Any public acre is leased at the going rate. Meaning the CWMU pays the same rate to the State as it charges for. No greenbelt exemption.
3. CWMU are subject to waiting periods, OR the average dude is not. The 2 class system is BS.
4.CWMU licensing is done similar to liquor licenses. Limit the amount of operating licenses per region, let the guides who are running them, bid for them in auction.
5. ALL hunting in the state follows the same season framework. CWMU get the same season lengths as public. Again no 2 class system.
6.Public available tags will be tied to the # of animals on the CWMU. The more of the public wildlife you claim as your buisness, the higher a % of tags you must give out.