Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

Whats up with these tag prices ? I dont understand how they can sell a resident a tag for $35 and then hit a nonresident $470 for an elk tag and it not just westren states My home state of IL. is doing the same dam thing ! [:@] I can get a deer tag for $15 it cost you around $300 for the same tag it just aint right. The ground I hunt in CO. is fedral ground I pay the same taxes on as the people that live there so why so much more for me? I guess they know will pay what ever it takes. Its kind of like air have to breath have to hunt.

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

In most places the biologists,the wardens,and the rest of the fish&wildlife personnel and all of their buildings,vehicles and other equipment and expenses are paid for by the state or province.Therefore the residents of the state or province do pay a great deal more than non residents do in the form of their tax dollars.

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

Like stubble said. Residents live, work, pay all kinds of taxes to their resident state. Nonresidents are there for a rew days a year and then leave to go back home.

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

Justhuntitall is correct, the tag fees are getting out of hand. Next year Utah is raising there tag fees almost double. I believe it is greed and the states are seeing what others states are getting for there tags and it seems to be a tag price war, "who can get the most and we are going to see who 's will be the highest". Next will be Arizona and by then Colorado will see that it's tags are the cheapest and then they will increase theres. The cycle will start over. It would be nice if all nonresidents would all get together and boycott any of the big three states. I mean Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. If nonresidents would not hunt in these states these states could possible have financial difficulties. All those residents couldn't keep it afloat. I didn't include New Mexico but maybe I should have. Allot of these state survive on the nonresident money and I know the state pays there employees but the money gotten from hunting license sales and money from sales of guns, ammo, hunting supplies and such from the Feds do pay for the buildings and all other essentials. In the Eastern states there is more Game Wardens per square mile than out West. There is probally more in the state of Penna. than any 4-5 states out here combined. These wardens don't make 50K a year, its allot less, and any state worker knows there not rich by any means. The sell of hunting licenses could easily afford paying there employees. They don't have allot of them! I apply in most of the states out west and its getting costly. I started in the beginning trying to just hunt in any state out west and all I could do is build bonus points. I wanted to hunt. I had to buy a license in some states with no guarantee of a tag and lost the cost of the license if not drawn. Last year I had 8 bonus points in Arizona and drew an Archery elk tag. If you figure the cost of the tag it was worth well over $800 in license costs excluding the tag fee. Who says we aren't paying there wages. It would be nice to just draw the tag without all the other fees. Costs are getting higher and we all understand but what it looks like is greed. How can you justify doubling license fees? My home state of Nevada is growing so fast and we don't have the animals for all to hunt. License costs for elk for nonresidents is outrageous, $1200. I have so many bonus points for all the species in the state that is mind bogling. I rely on other states to hunt. Put yourself in my shoes. If I only had Nevada to hunt elk in then my chances of hunting elk would be once every 20 plus years. 10 years of trying to draw and then if I harvested an elk then would have to wait another 10 years (state law)before I could start reapplying for the tag. So maybe 2 bull elk tags in your lifetime. For all you elk hunters could you live with that? If you love to hunt than you know this will not work. I know, I could move out of the state and to another where there is animals, but!!!!! So, with all these tag fees increases have you seen vast improvements in state recreational? I doubt it, just more money in those pockets. The residents are thinking if they keep raising the tag fees there will be no hunters from other states because of the cost. Wrong, the rich will always have money and be able to hunt, now they won't have to wait as long between tag drawings and they will still get the better areas because of the bonus/preference points. I believe the states are seeing the applications increasing every year and they are seeing $$$$ signs. Most states have went to the Credit Card application process. Why do you think? More people to apply and more application money$$$$. The Credit Card makes it easier and more profitable. I believe that all states should get together and decide on the same price for all tag types. Raise the price as inflation goes, this is, in some ways,how state wages are calculated for there raises. I better get off my soap box before I pi$$ off everyone. Some of you don't know how well you've got it. But this is my 2 cents.

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

I totally agree I don't want to see hunting become a richmans sport, but I think that day is already here. So where do go from here when the Dow won't listen to public info. Raising tags has its purpose. For one I know why colorado did it a couple years ago was to limited the numbers of hunters in the field and pressure on game. But that back fired on them and they started to give out more tags and you could of bought a 2nd cow tag for a $100 bucks as a non-resident. Did they give the resident a cut on the tag nope because it was only $30.
Used to be a few years ago I would travel out of state for a deer tag it cost as much for a non-resident elk tag, so where was the fairness in that. 300lbs of meat is quite a bit more for the money. So I believe what they have the prices at now are somewhat fair. But future increases are not going to be good on anyone.
Is it really fair that someone moved to a state and pays taxes in that state has to give up their tag to someone that chooses not to live in that state. Nope. I hear all this hype about non-resident not getting drawn for trophy area. It is easier right now for a non-resident to draw a trophy unit in colorado right now than it is a resident. Especially in rifle seasons. Most of our residents are drawing in 8years while a non-resident draws in about 4 to 5 years. Of course some units are not that way but most are.

Colorado has been one of the most fair states to non-residents there is. But all that has been published over the last ten years is how bad Colorado's quality of bulls is. Go to nevada or arizona for a trophy bull. That's all in good they are killing bigger bulls but for all those people trashing how bad Colorado is, when you can't draw your tag in arizona or nebraska or where ever. Colorado still lets you in to hunt an over the counter bull tag. That's really being two faced.

Hunting pressure has to be controlled and that is the states best way is to raise license vs. limiting the number of hunters in a total draw and running into lawsuits like arizona did. The divisions of wildlife are trying their best to make it all work for everyone and maintain an elk herd or deer herd.

Lets put it right. If I wanted to hunt back east for deer or whatever my options are.

1. still go after a draw tag on quality deer states being a non resident.
2. pay upwards of 250 to $300 for a deer tag
3. pay a landowner a trespass fee or by chance have a buddy with farm ground.
4. hire an outfitter for a deer for around $2500 about going rate.
5. hunt state ground that is so small that is will be overrun by hunters.

Feel very lucky there are western states with tons of national forest to hunt on. And there are still some states where you can go hunt with out drawing.
If I had to pay $500 as a resident to hunt elk I would save up and do it every year. I love it that much. I bet most gadgets they buy every year for hunting they really don't need add up way beyond $500.

If you haven't looked around lately everything cost an arm and a leg anymore. Take your family to dinner and a movie and you've spent $50 to $100 in one night. What did your new truck cost $30,000 to 45,000 wow thats a chunk of change. A new atv you ride around on cost $7,000 and that's just the beginning. And trust me I have to save all year for my out of state trips while I starve for the love of hunting. I don't have a new truck or atv not that I would own one. The thing is how much you willing to give up for what you love to do. I'd give it all.

You want to keep the prices down and the draw less. Join the rocky mountain elk foundation or one of the deer foundations and keep putting them animals in good habitat and in states where they don't have them so there's more opportunity to hunt them.

So you can't draw a arizona tag I say that's arizona's loss. Hunt somewhere else.

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

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.

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

I don't mind paying more for the privilege to hunt other states to a point but don't like hearing the residents bad-mothing the non residents. On another forum I read a quote saying "I wish they would limit the non residents or cut them out totally".

If your state wants to get rid of non residents the first step would be to start paying non resident fees then the game departments won't need our money. Of course, I doubt that the business owners who want our money would agree with that statement.

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

Let me start off by saying I have nothing against non-residents.
I live, play, work & hunt in Montana. I have lived in Nevada for 2-years, I moved because of the poor drawing odds. Nevada figures a elk tag is a once in a lifetime tag. I want to hunt elk every year. I have also lived in Idaho, Arizona & New Mexico. Arizona & New Mexico are not as hard to draw as Nevada IMHO. I never did draw a tag in Arizona, New Mexico or Nevada. I only tried for the state that I was a resident in at the time. Every year I would send in my application & every year I failed to draw. This allowed me to buy a non-resident Idaho Panhandle region elk tag over the counter. I have family living in Idaho & I grew up there so this made it a easy hunt for me.
I can relate to how the non-residents feel. I also know how residents feel. I feel if I work & live in a state I should get better odds at drawing a tag & get it for a cheaper rate. I figure I am paying enough in taxes to the state of Montana every day to earn this right.

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

I understand what you are saying Wolf Killer and meant no disrepect to anyone on this forum. I really enjoy going to Colorado and Montana and have met some really great people along the way and have also run into a few that rubbed me the wrong way...which takes alot. when I hunt, I always attempt to respect the land and others around me when hunting. I guess with hunting as in other segments of life we always have people who don't have respect for either the land or for others around them. Sometimes, as I've seen in Minnesota also, it's the residents that lack respect. Other times it the non-residents. Just wanted to point out that there are good and bad in both groups...

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

I agree 100%. Did you draw a non-resident tag for Montana this year?

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

Non residents pay alot more than you think and I don't see a problem with them coming here to hunt. Motels, resteraunts,bars,gas stations and the like all profit.
Some here think non resedents encroach on the hunting area's,However I have found MOST do not go back into the woods deep enough to effect me and my hunting. I met a few from WA who were happy just to camp near the road and drink beer,be away from home.
All I ask is when your done hunting have a safe trip back HOME.:)

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

I agree with you cherokee_outfitters. Iam just a simple construction worker. Most my friends dont understand why I drive a old junk truck I can afford a new one but right there is the reason I get to go elk hunting every year in Co. and to Arkansa duck hunting and hunt deer in Mo. The only good thing about price hikes it did thin the crowd where I bow hunt Elk in CO. And also I have to say the people in WY. are good people every time Ive been there hunting Ive been treated like Ive lived there all my life . Hats off to all you folks. Come to IL. Iwill show you the same thing.:D

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

Yes Wolf Killer I did. I hunted muleys for the first time last year in MT and knocked down a buck on the last hour of the last day. I met some great people in Eastern MT and am looking forward to going back. I'm going solo this year as my brother couldn't swing it this year. I'm going to look into where I went last year and also found out about a distant ex relation that married a rich girl and bought a ton of land out by Missoula.

MT Bob, I know what you mean as I see alot of those road hunters in MN too. When I go to Colorado I rent a pack horse and walk in across a canyon and over a mountain to get to the good stuff. It takes a whole day of walking to get in but it definitely gets you away from most hunters. I'm really looking forward to getting back to Montana again as it's a beautiful state. I've spent a little time out in Western MT on one trip and my Uncle has a cabin just west of Hamilton. I went thru Darby and visited Sula as my grandparents spent many summers in the area fishing and camping. Hiked to the top of Trappers peak one day and man what a view into Idaho. Well, back to the packing. Me and the girlfriend are heading to the Black Hills after work tommorrow to chase some Merriams around.

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

This has been a sore spot with me for the past few years. 15 to 20xs the price of a regular license is too much. I understand the tax issue, but we also pay federal taxes that support highways, federal land, and not to mention federally subsidized programs in those states.

We are tourists as much as hunters. We eat in restaurants, stay in hotels, buy gas-food-supplies-souvenirs-etc. We use outfitters, pay trespass fees, pay for processing, and sometimes taxidermy. That's a huge impact to the local economy.

If we are priced out of the market, the economy will suffer. There are more people than not who are simply being excluded because of the tag prices, no to mention the ability to afford to bring a youngster. And if it continues, the sheer numbers of hunters will be depleted everywhere. Then mark my words, hunting WILL be like elitest like Europe, if it's not outlawed all together.

Personally, I won't get to elk hunt this year because my somebody in another country now has my job. My hunting enjoyment will come from this site as you guys tell your stories. So have some good ones...I'll be looking for them!!!

h/g

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

How many of you have said, " WE'RE ALL, HUNTERS AND FISHERS, ENTITLED TO THE SAME RIGHTS, FAIR AND EQUAL."

"Every one of you that posted a reply to justhuntitalls', has a valid point, the pros' and cons'. I got to go to Colorado this past year mule deer hunting and had planned on going back this year Elk hunting. Because of an illness in my family I can't go back this year and if this illness persist, I don't know if I'll ever get to go back. While out there I met some extremely nice and helpful folks, and I thank them for all they did.

However, I do think the prices are outrageous, and I know I can't do anything about it.

Now let me give you something to think about! I spent over 20 years in the military. When I was living in other states, all I normally had to do was be stationed there and I could buy a resident license, some states made you wait 30 days. Now that I have retired from the military, and am a resident in another state, I have to pay the high prices like every other nonresident. I don't agree with this at all, I should, and every citizen of the U.S. should have the same right to at least hunt on Federal land, regardless of the state its' in or he/she lives in, period. If the land is state owned and dosen't get any funds from the Federal Government, then I can see them charging what they want.

It's a dead horse folks, and no matter how hard we beat it, it ain't gonna make a move.

Somebody in this forum said, that it cost $200.00 for him to go east and hunt whitetails. That may be so in some states, but not so here. I may be off a little, but not much. Here it cost around $118.00 for a nonresident to get a big game license, this includes, whitetail, wild hogs, and turkey, is that a deal, or is that a deal. I would have to look at our regs. to be sure, but this may also include black bear hunting. Any other states match that?

Every thing you read or hear, in every forum, hunting/fishing show, magazine, etc. preaches that we as hunters and fishers should pull together for the benefit of our sport. Now tell me, "HOW MANY TIMES HAVE ANY OF YOU SAID THAT ALL OF US ARE ENTITLED TO THE SAME OPPORTUNITY'?


Dog1

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

IronRanger.
If you get back to these parts email me before you come. Maybe we can drown some worms in the river.:)

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

I'm with the folks who think non-residents pay to much. Over $700.00 here in NM. for elk. I paid $1200.00 for a moose tag and it cost almost $2000. 00 to hunt sheep. This is bogus, hunting shouldn't be just for the wealthy. I am fortunate as I can now afford this if I save really hard but it still is wrong. It is easier for me to draw a moose/sheep tag in Wy. than it is for a resident and I think the odds should be the same. I'm not saying non-residents shouldn't pay more but some of these prices are rediculous.

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

It's all about supply and demand. Whether it's fair or not doesn't mean anything. The fact is there are more and more people who are applying for, and willing to pay top dollar for, licenses in the western states. And don't kid yourselves, these states know it. If a state like Montana were to double the cost of their non-resident buck deer tag, they would probably still get three times as many applicants as licenses. Is it fair? I don't know, but like I said, that doesn't matter. Personally I wish it could be like the old days that my uncle told me about, when you could pay a couple hundred dollars and get a Big Game license that would basically let you shoot one of everything. But I think those days are long gone.

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

There's more to it than just supply and demand. Non Resident tags are getting out of hand and if not somehow checked it will become a rich man's game and the state will have killed the golden goose.
I understand there there are all sort of dynamics at play , but when it comes to the fish and game dept. of western states it's non res. money that foots the bill for them.
I hunt Wy. and have always done self guided hunts for mule deer and antelope in the past. Friends have told me that hunt regularly that outfitter hunts for take antelope use to be only a year or two ago were 5 day hunts for $850 range ,now the same hunts are 3 days for $1200. I've tried to rationale this buy telling them cost have increased, especially insurance (for the reputable outfitter) and I imagine access fees. But I do have to say it's hard to defend the increase AND the REDUCTION of days.
I hope this trend doesn't keep up ,for if it does the western states better hope there are alot of hunters with deep pockets to go around for all the guides ad outfitters.

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

I always hear people saying that hunting in Texas is only for the
"rich man", and to a point this is true, but I never hear anybody saying that Texas is one of the cheapest states for Nonresident tags. And the real big plus is that you do not have to draw for any tags, other then antelope and bighorns.

For $250 a nonresident gets all his tags and lic. in one. They get 5 whitetail tags, 2 mule deer tags, 4 turkey tags, and can hunt hogs, javelina, and exotics all for $250, not bad.

RE: Nonresident tag fees outlandish!
 

Hey thanks for the info TXhighrack . Only thing bad about Texas is finding the ground to hunt.