Whats your threshold for pain?

Beendare

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Since we are seeing the Sheep, Deer, Elk, etc tag and license prices jump….whats your threshold where you say, “ Nope, I’m not paying that much for that ______ tag”

Lets assume Non Res tags here….not inc guide fees.

Pick your states that you usually hunt…..…and pick your species, whats your $$$ limit to insure you hunt?
 
OP
Beendare

Beendare

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I’m a bad example here…as I am willing to pay whatever the market price for certain elk tags.…so take a Montana or Wyoming general tag as an example…I would drop $4k to guarantee the tag No problem.
edit; I should clarify, Im an old guy with maybe 10 more years of bowhunting elk left…so my threshold is pretty high
 
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Depends. For UT and CO OTC for elk, $500. Since it has surpassed that, I don't hunt those states anymore. For a pretty much OIL bull elk tag in UT, I'd go ahead and spend the $1,000 or whatever it is now.
 
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I haven’t decided yet as I have had sons hunting for years now. I haven’t bought a tag and have just been helping them. My last one is 13 so I have a few years left with him buying youth tags until I have to start buying full price for myself. Still pondering this. I started a thread in the Elk section about the Cow prices in CO being the same now as a Bull
 
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Depends on how likely I am to have a good shot at notching the tag. A unit with single digit success rates that I’ve never seen before? Not very much. A unit that I know inside and out that has good harvest statistics? I’d pay a good money for that.
 

S.Clancy

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Considering I just applied bought and applied in MT for elk, elk B, antelope, antelope B, deer, Mtn goat and 4 turkey tags, with a good chance of drawing all except the mtn goat, I would say my tolerance isn't super high. It is super fun hunting other states, but not if they are 2-3K a piece.....at least not until I make more $$$.
 
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I only make it west every few years so the cost of the tag is pretty small considering. I am considering buying a cow and bull tag this year to make the most of the fuel money to get there and back.

I don't pay for outfitters or much else so it's not such a hit if I spend an extra $500.

The memories I have collected with family are worth 100x what I would have saved if I never took the trips.
 

ez_willie

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5MilesBack

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I have a much higher threshold dollar wise than I do "crowd" wise for elk. I'd pay a lot every year for the right areas AND minimal crowding. With the crowding I've seen in recent years even in draw units, that dollar threshold goes down as well.
 

bsnedeker

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Considering I just applied bought and applied in MT for elk, elk B, antelope, antelope B, deer, Mtn goat and 4 turkey tags, with a good chance of drawing all except the mtn goat, I would say my tolerance isn't super high. It is super fun hunting other states, but not if they are 2-3K a piece.....at least not until I make more $$$.
Same here! I actually dropped out of WY last year when they raised the bonus point cost by $50. Very little point in chasing NR tags when we have it so good here at home!
 

KurtR

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Im pretty much done with out of state big game hunting. Once Idaho went crazy it was over for me. I liked hunting with my brother but we are planning more waterfowl trips together and get to hunt more than just that one week.
 
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Early 30’s here and I’m good until $1,500 or so. Above that, it better be a premium tag.


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My dad just told me a few days ago he had to think about applying to Colorado for a cow tag at 700+ for the tag of drawn. So that might be his limit unless he can get a bull tag.
 

TheViking

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You only get so many hunting seasons in your life.

As a colorado resident who has hunted out of state the last 4 years - worth every penny I’ve spent. I’ve gone 3/4 on archery elk hunts. Way less crowding, way better quality of animals which equals way better quality of hunts! OTC colorado just gets hammered. $57 for a tag is great, but success rate is much lower, crowds are many times higher and frustration levels can be through the roof. Dropping $1k on a tag isn’t a big deal for me knowing the quality will be there. I don’t have many other hobbies, so dropping an extra few hundred or even a grand on a tag isn’t a big deal for me. Some people think I’m crazy, but to each their own.

Next year my name will be in the draw for a NR Wyoming tag. $2k is gonna suck, but it will further weed out people, in theory making it an even better hunt experience. Work a little OT, watch what I spend on a few other things and it’ll all pan out to be the same at the end of the day.
 

CorbLand

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Mar 16, 2016
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Early 30s.

I build points in two states as a NR. Other than that just hunt my home state as that’s all the financials allow.

My breaking point will be when it gets to the point I cannot continue to pay my bills and take care of my family. Until it hits that, I will continue to try. I only do the two NR states because I have family in one and friends in the other. If not for that, I wouldn’t do it.
 
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Next year my name will be in the draw for a NR Wyoming tag. $2k is gonna suck, but it will further weed out people, in theory making it an even better hunt experience. Work a little OT, watch what I spend on a few other things and it’ll all pan out to be the same at the end of the day.
I don't think it's going to weed anyone out. The tags will all sell regardless, but it may increase the odds for the special while decreasing regular draw odds.

I'm in until I die. I don't work all year to balk at the lowest hurdle.
 

Lvthntitall

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Wife just ask me if I was going to retire early, I said I can’t I have to many hunts I want to go on. When I save up what I need for the hunt I go, regardless of the cost. Plan to do it until my body says I can’t.
 
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