No need. I already know you're correct. At what point does it become buying an animal? (No, there are no guarentees of success) That too, of course, is a rhetorical question for each individual to decide. The circumstance is what it is and that's life. When I determine to travel out of state for a hunt, there are places that won't gouge and that will be my destiny.

Right on: Supply and Demand
 

Kansas certainly knows their market. Too few deer and a high demand, not for meat, but for antlers.
And if the price is too high for you, there is someone else willing to pay. It's not socialism, although it might be taught well in public schools.

Wife and I are in the WY draw for antelope and deer, combined it was about $1700

NH isn't so bad, it's about $100, but that's a non-resident hunting license, gets you deer tag, plus all small game and birds. Deer season is a month long for guns.

then again, nobody in their right mind really wants to come here to hunt, unless you live in MA, cause we can hunt Sundays.

Oh, I don't know about that. My wife is originally from Rochester and I've thought about doing a bear hunt up that way. I also put in for a moose tag every year but so far my luck has been bad on that one.