This bill is out and it looks like thier going to increase the prices for nonresidents etc. Bison will be $6000 for a nonresident.
2021 WY Bill for Tag Increases
- Thread starter Maxhunter
- Start date
JimP
Administrator
I believe that this will drive a lot of non residents to quit putting in for draws up in Wyoming.
I agree that fee increases are needed but not at the percentages that they are talking about here.
I agree that fee increases are needed but not at the percentages that they are talking about here.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,901
- 3,213
Those are some serious increases.
A lot of non-residents are so vested in the preference point pool right now that they will still pay the fees. The state knows this.
I think you will see a lot of non-residents drop out once they have drawn. They likely wont hunt there again.
A lot of non-residents are so vested in the preference point pool right now that they will still pay the fees. The state knows this.
I think you will see a lot of non-residents drop out once they have drawn. They likely wont hunt there again.
JimP
Administrator
I'm in the point game but I am really looking at it if I should just cut my losses and get out of it. The points in the antelope unit that I have been putting if for just keep increasing keeping me just out of the tags.
Close to $300 more for both a antelope and deer tag may just make the decision for me.
Close to $300 more for both a antelope and deer tag may just make the decision for me.
Hilltop
Veteran member
The antelope and deer seem steep to me but I do understand their reasoning. I have drawn a particular tag two times that my resident friend has yet to draw. 90/10 split for tags is fair and the only way to accomplish this without losing money is to raise fees. With the current demand far exceeding the supply, it just makes good business sense to raise the fees as much as the non-residents will pay. Draw odds may get better but I'm guessing they still sell all the tags.
Yell Co AR Hunter
Very Active Member
I can say if this passes I will no longer hunt Wyoming. The quality of areas I can draw a tag every 2 to 3 years does not justify the cost.
I would like to get in one general elk hunt in my life, but not going to pay the price listed on that bill.
I guess when I get forced out of nonresident hunting I will start working on a bill to keep all nonresidents out of my state, which gives you 6 deer, 1 bear, 2 turkey tags, and small game any method hunting for $350.00 annual.
I would like to get in one general elk hunt in my life, but not going to pay the price listed on that bill.
I guess when I get forced out of nonresident hunting I will start working on a bill to keep all nonresidents out of my state, which gives you 6 deer, 1 bear, 2 turkey tags, and small game any method hunting for $350.00 annual.
JimP
Administrator
It isn't addressed in the bill but I wonder if they will be raising the "Special" tag draws the same percentage?
troybackman
Active Member
When would these take affect if passed? This is may require me to make an application revision this yr to draw a guarantee tag instead.
Hilltop
Veteran member
If I am reading the bill correctly, there will no longer be a special tag.
Yell Co AR Hunter
Very Active Member
Who is the author of this bill? Who is backing It? It is poorly written and leaves so many gaps it is scary. This will open the door for big class action law suit. I look forward to following this. If passed Wyoming will be liable for running one of the largest scams on hunters. What will get them is doing away with points for nonresident hunters and continuing it for residents on certain game.
Class action law suit...on what grounds?
Where in the bill does it "get rid of points"?
You should probably study up on some case law in regard to R/NR license allocation. Its been tried in court dozens of times and the courts have always concluded the authority to regulate game falls under the jurisdiction of the State it resides in.
Further, s.339 reaffirms the rights of the state to discriminate against NR's in any way they choose, including allocation, fees, etc. This Federal Legislation passed after the USO/Taulman dust up in Arizona on the dormant commerce clause case.
You have no grounds for a lawsuit, although I'm sure some attorney that graduated with a C average in college would be happy to take your money to fight it.
Good luck with that...
Oh, and NR elk applications increased 6,476 this year over last. If this bill were to pass, Wyoming will likely see another increase in elk applications next year too.
dan maule
Veteran member
It'll be interesting to see what happens if/when the economy really slows down and people don't have the expendable cash flow like they do now. Eventually the government hand out money is going to dry up. These are very large increases, large enough that I am sure some people will start to be priced out. I know supply and demand, I understand it, but in the long run it doesn't help hunter recruitment at all. It will take a while for the supply/demand curve to turn and I doubt these prices will ever come down.
Hunting as a NR is not where hunter recruitment happens...it happens where hunting is close to home, affordable, something a person can do each year, etc. Meaning the state you are a resident in.
I cant think of a worse way to recruit hunters than elk hunting. Hunters are recruited by hunting whitetails, upland birds, waterfowl, small game.
dan maule
Veteran member
I understand what you are saying, but less and less people have access anywhere to hunt. I know several folks who have taken "New" hunters out for an antelope hunt and they were hooked. These folks I am speaking about do not have anywhere to hunt in state they live so I believe it will have an impact on hunter recruitment. Not every non resident hunter is trophy hunter and some of them do not have access where they live. I get the gist of what you are saying and I do agree at least in part, but paying $600 for an antelope license definitely is going to make someone think a little harder about making the trip.
I agree with that...they'll think about the additional $300 for a pronghorn tag, for oh, about 30 minutes then cut the check, or more than likely, slap it on the plastic.
D_Dubya
Active Member
Right on about hunter recruitment. a lot of folks talk about “hunter recruitment”, few actually recruit hunters. I personally believe that getting young people exposed to hunting will at the least make them somewhat aware of hunting related issues by the time they get to be voting aged adults. I got three kids their first deer this year at my place and almost a fourth (two my children’s friends and my buddy’s son and daughter). Hard to beat sharing the excitement of a kids first hunt. High priced out of state “vacation” elk hunts aren’t where the fire is lit for new hunters.
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ore hunter
Very Active Member
- Jul 25, 2014
- 699
- 114
I hope they think twice about those price increases,,a modest price increase ok,,i say 10% would be ok,,but not doubling the prices,,thats just crazy,,we all work for a living and would be lucky if we got a 4% wage increase,,,,i hope they dont get carried away or ill be out as a n r.
JimP
Administrator
I was thinking about the increases. Just a couple of years ago the Wyoming legislature decided that the DWR needed to pull it's own weight and cut their funding. Now I am not sure if or how much the Wyoming DWR got from oil and gas leases on federal lands but with our President cutting way back on the amount of oil and gas leases on these lands could put quite a crimp in the DWR funding depending on and if they get any of it from them.
Game and Fish is self funded, no money from the legislature/general fund or oil and gas leases.
61% from license revenue, 24% from PR/DJ, 7% grants, 3% interest, and 4% other.