The last time they raised hunting license prices, which was the first in almost 20 years, people moaned and complained about 5 bucks. They aren't gonna pay an extra 50.The NR numbers haven't changed significantly because the NR quota has stayed at 12,815 for nearly that entire time span. The herds can only handle so much pressure, once that threshold is reached something has to give. Right now IDFG is deciding to prioritize residents. This proposal does not automatically reduce NR tag quotas but it does spread them out over the entire state, although lower NR numbers will likely result. Right now a lot NR pressure is concentrated in a handful of zones, establishing quotas for all zones will just spread people out. Zones with better elk densities will sell out first and late comers will get the less desirable areas.
As a side note for those who say that NR dollars are the saviors of western state game agency budgets:
12,815 NR paying $571.50 (the current fee+ license) equals $7,323,772.50.
100,000 residents paying $52.50 (current fee + license) equals, $5,250,000.
A difference of $2,073,772.50
If every resident paid an additional $20.74 per elk tag we could replace NR dollars.
And with the increase:
12,815 NR paying $833.25 (the proposed new fee+ license) equals $10,678,098.75. Although the reason for the fee increase is because fewer tags are expected to sell.
100,000 residents paying $52.50 (current fee + license) equals, $5,250,000.
A difference of $5,428,098.75
If every resident paid an additional $54.28 per elk tag we could replace NR dollars.
In either example I would be willing to pay the increase to resident tag prices.
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