Utah gone crazy.

[MTBackroads]

They will sell every NR tag at that price too.

Don’t see any Utah guys complaining either..

 

[Roadgoat]

States across the west will be more and more pro-resident and structure their draw systems accordingly as opportunity decreases. Technology will increase harvest rates and opportunity will decrease, in most cases the 'non-residents' will pay the price.

 

[NJ-Hunting]

Slowly becoming a rich mans game. Sad to see

 

[wingmaster]

It's getting ridiculous!
I would have sat out the year in protest, but our license is still good, so I guess I'll give it one more year. I'll definitely be contemplating next year, depending on how the odds shake out after the increase.
Anyone giving up on UT?

I'm out for OIL species, I would not be happy getting a $4-5K charge on my credit card. Same reason I don't apply for AZ's $5k bison tag.

Deer/elk/antelope/antlerless might still be worth it to me, so I'll probably keep putting in for those depending on how odds and fees look next year.

 

[MallardSX2]

Good thing getting a multi-season elk tag is like hitting the power-ball. Twice.

 

[Rich M]

The "multi-season" seems to imply that you can buy a $4k license and hunt archery, ML, rifle until you get your bull. Is that right?

 

[Steve O]

The "multi-season" seems to imply that you can buy a $4k license and hunt archery, ML, rifle until you get your bull. Is that right?

You can DRAW that tag and yes hunt archery, muzzy and any weapon hunts. Never met anyone or even read of anyone who has drawn one of them as a NR…pretty rare.

 

[LostArra]

I think the idea is that public land hunting should be something that everyone can afford to do.

Public land hiking is something everyone can afford. Hunting the critters there is a different story.

NR big game hunting for premier species like elk in the west for the "middle class" (whatever that is) is becoming a historical oddity. Sure it can be done with saving money and budgeting time but there is zero incentive to make NR hunting cheap for such a limited resource.

As long as elk hunting is affordable for residents and the GF departments can be adequately funded by a few non residents then the states just keep moving along. Fairness is not in play. Almost everyone gets budgeted out of some types of hunting/fishing if you reach high enough. The Bill of Rights does not include a NR moose/elk/sheep tag.

How soon will Colorado jump their NR elk tag fees?

 

[Rich M]

Public land hiking is something everyone can afford. Hunting the critters there is a different story.

NR big game hunting for premier species like elk in the west for the "middle class" (whatever that is) is becoming a historical oddity. Sure it can be done with saving money and budgeting time but there is zero incentive to make NR hunting cheap for such a limited resource.

As long as elk hunting is affordable for residents and the GF departments can be adequately funded by a few non residents then the states just keep moving along. Fairness is not in play. Almost everyone gets budgeted out of some types of hunting/fishing if you reach high enough. The Bill of Rights does not include a NR moose/elk/sheep tag.

How soon will Colorado jump their NR elk tag fees?

Yup - hunting is a luxury.

 

[jackrabbitfan]

Non res elk hunting has become a situation of catering to the haves and have nots. Yes, anyone can budget for a $4000 elk tag I suppose but for the general public it's no longer realistic. Many people love going west for the "western hunt" and the likely result will be pursing other game such as pronghorns or mule deer

 

[realunlucky]

Non res elk hunting has become a situation of catering to the haves and have nots. Yes, anyone can budget for a $4000 elk tag I suppose but for the general public it's no longer realistic. Many people love going west for the "western hunt" and the likely result will be pursing other game such as pronghorns or mule deer

Odds aren't dropping so people are still applying and paying

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

 

[PathFinder]

Personally, this gave me hope to finally draw tags in Utah again. I'm fine with it.
If you've been priced out by the changes, look at the real root cause. Demand has gone through the roof. Why?

 

[Steve O]

Personally, this gave me hope to finally draw tags in Utah again. I'm fine with it.
If you've been priced out by the changes, look at the real root cause. Demand has gone through the roof. Why?

Why?

Well it is certainly not the quality of the animals or the Utah experience so I’ll go with influencer propaganda preying on an ignorant public and greed of the UDWR and their handlers at SFW…

 

[PathFinder]

Why?

Well it is certainly not the quality of the animals or the Utah experience so I’ll go with influencer propaganda preying on an ignorant public and greed of the UDWR and their handlers at SFW…

Greed or not, increasing demand and limited supply does two things; creates shortages, and drives up prices. I'll take higher prices for tags over shortages.
Agreed on the influencer issue.

 

[CMF]

Actually, I'm surprised that other states don't raise their prices. Capitalism would suggest that states should keep increasing their prices until they no longer sell all their tags... (and I know that public management of wild game is not capitalism. but it certainly is true that lots of states are leaving a lot of money on the table...)

I think that's a pretty dumb way to look at hunting and fishing. There shouldn't be a goal to make the most money. It's the government, not a business. They should collect enough funds to manage wildlife populations and administer the licensing and enforcement of regulations. It's pretty obvious the government is probably the worst manager of money, and you want to give them more?

I think the idea is that public land hunting should be something that everyone can afford to do. It’s certainly becoming something less affordable to the common man, but the approach you’re suggesting would really make it a game for only the absolute richest in society.

Totally agree

I agree with all that...

Right now, the demand far exceeds the supply.

That's what lotteries are for...

I'm just saying that I am surprised that they don't just through all that out the window and try to get as much money as possible...

It's looks like most of them are. Wyoming is 6k for a bison tag...

 

[Ucsdryder]

How much does it cost to go from Colorado to Florida for a week at Disney?

How much does it cost to go from Utah to San Diego for a week at the beach?

A weekend at the masters?

It’s all going up. Nobody is forcing anybody to go to a different state and go hunting. Life’s not fair, blah blah blah. Don’t like it, move there and become a resident or hunt the species your state has to offer. Or take up golf.

 

[Wprinkle]

Honestly for my own selfish reasons, stuck in point creep purgatory, Im ok with this. And if states that have gone to crap on the game management front, (Colorado) I would be ok with a $3,000 NR elk tag if they are not going to start limiting tags to match density populations. This would accomplish so much. A really good elk hunt every X amount of years, and would push more people to bear hunting every year. Reduces bear numbers and people that cant spend 3K a year on their 1 hunt still get to go hunting every year.

 

[Xperimental]

Kinda seems like a "BUD LIGHT" Moment to me.

A kind of FAFO moment.

 

[mavinwa2]

It seems fair to charge out of state hunters whatever their state charges for out of state tags. If people from Utah had to fork out over 3k to hunt elk in any other state maybe they would lower prices or just stay in state. Either way would be a win.

I'd gladly pay the non-resident WA State 2026 license fees for UT hunting/tag privileges.
WA deer NR: $599.07
WA Bull Elk: $685.60
Deer & Elk combo: $1020.00
The above fees include the basic hunting license too!
HOWEVER, WA State non-resident application fees for special tags are high: $152.30 each species.

 

[MTBackroads]

What does Iowa charge for an elk tag?