States have a right to set the price they want for a license. Supply and demand dictates how almost everything else in the country is priced, so why shouldn't hunting tags be any different. Whether you think it is fair or not is beside the point, the fact is there are plenty of hunters who are willing (albeit grudgingly) to pay these fees in order to hunt in the western states. That shows that while they may seem expensive, there are still alot of people that think they are worth it. If it is important enough for you to hunt elk every year, than maybe you should move to a state that has more liberal resident elk tags. Don't get me wrong, I hate paying $800 for an elk tag just as much as anyone else. I also hate paying $1.85 for a gallon of gas, but I do it anyway because I like to drive my truck. As long as I can afford it I will still keep hunting out west. And when I can't afford it, I'll move out there so I can.