Also all the people talking about revenue you are forgetting key points. Qualifying license, habitat stamp, application fees.
Last year there were 113,125 NR adults that applied for a first choice elk. In order to apply they had to buy the $11.50 habitat stamp, qualifying license, and then the $10 application fee. The least expensive qualifying license is the annual small game $93.78.
11.50 + 93.78 + 10 = $115.28
$115.28 × 113,125 = $13,041,050 before even issuing a single elk tag.
This is FREE money to the CPW! By all means come out to Colorado and hunt small game.
For 2024 the prices increased.
HS $12.15
QL SG $98.92
APP $10
Total $121.07
I doubt we see a decrease in applicants
Im sure someone will say that ^^^ is included in the 'fees' of 66% of the budget [referencing the pie chart from page 4]