shootbrownelk
Veteran member
The hunting/gun magazines keep saying that hunter numbers are drastically declining. Really? Not from what I've been seeing here in Wyoming the past few years.
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- Thread starter conibear
- Start date
My youngest son and nephew (both first timers) drew their antelope tags with an average of 4 points. So we will be making the trek out to Wyo this fall.
I'm sitting at 5 points each for Elk, Antelope and Deer. My oldest son one less for elk and lope but the same for deer. My youngest son has 4 each for elk and deer.
So My plan is to do one hunt each fall either for one of my son's or myself if they can't get time off and keep buying points for the species we don't draw or apply for. One or two tags a year max and I hope to be able to do a quality unit for each hunt cycling through our points based on what interest's us and what we learn from each area we visit or pass through.
When it comes right down to it I'd rather pack my son's kill off a mountain more than my own.
I'm sitting at 5 points each for Elk, Antelope and Deer. My oldest son one less for elk and lope but the same for deer. My youngest son has 4 each for elk and deer.
So My plan is to do one hunt each fall either for one of my son's or myself if they can't get time off and keep buying points for the species we don't draw or apply for. One or two tags a year max and I hope to be able to do a quality unit for each hunt cycling through our points based on what interest's us and what we learn from each area we visit or pass through.
When it comes right down to it I'd rather pack my son's kill off a mountain more than my own.
Nothing for me this year. I thought I might get a antelope tag but I think I?m a year off but now maybe 2.
Fink
Veteran member
Mnbogboy
Member
Only a guess but us baby boomers are mostly retired and finally have the time & the "means" to make these hunts.
There probably is a lot of us boomers so western states ripe for the picking are seeing more applicants.
I believe as a whole hunter numbers are decreasing due to a variety of social and logistical reasons.
HighPlainsHunter
Active Member
After hearing all this news about point creep and more applicants I think it's time to raise the NR tag prices and the PP's.
Hate to be like that but if a Kansas whitetail tag is worth $550 and Montana is $639 then we need to be in the $500 range. Aside from the crappy $200 tags (so crappy you can buy 2) in Nebraska Wyoming is the cheapest in the region with tags in the $300 range.
I'm not for gouging but we need to be getting market value for these tags to fund the management side and open up more walk in areas.
Hate to be like that but if a Kansas whitetail tag is worth $550 and Montana is $639 then we need to be in the $500 range. Aside from the crappy $200 tags (so crappy you can buy 2) in Nebraska Wyoming is the cheapest in the region with tags in the $300 range.
I'm not for gouging but we need to be getting market value for these tags to fund the management side and open up more walk in areas.
lostinOregon
Member
Hunter numbers may be decreasing, but the electronic age has made everything available at the tips of your fingers. When I hunted out of state 20 years ago, I didn't know many or any other people that did. Now, with magazines and websites touting drawing strategies and units most serious hunters are branching out. I don't think we are gaining many hunters, but the ones we have are getting educated and more serious about it.
Rich
Rich
Alabama
Veteran member
I say they go to a happy medium of halfway between the regular and special license price. I will apply for the special draw in a heartbeat to save a few years and get to hunt now, but it's one of the dumbest concepts I've ever heard of. The same product (tag) should not be sold at 2 different prices just so those with a little more money can theoretically jump someone else in line. Any business that tried that would be ridiculed or mocked at best and protested or sued at worst.
And yep those Nebraska "crappy" $242 permits aren't even worth that. Everyone stay away! ;-)
LCH
Very Active Member
Wyoming seems to be doing an overall great job of wildlife management at their current funding level, and I am not generally supportive of fee increases meant solely to price some hunters out.
One area that I do agree Wyoming is underselling their tags are the reduced price antlerless tags. If a pronghorn buck is worth $350-$600 plus points and fees, a doe tag is worth more than $34. I think a lot of guys just throw in their two doe pronghorn apps because the cost is negligible compared to what they're already shelling out for a Type 1. Also, I love the Type 6 elk tags, but I undoubtedly get more than $300 worth of meat and enjoyment when I do draw one.
One area that I do agree Wyoming is underselling their tags are the reduced price antlerless tags. If a pronghorn buck is worth $350-$600 plus points and fees, a doe tag is worth more than $34. I think a lot of guys just throw in their two doe pronghorn apps because the cost is negligible compared to what they're already shelling out for a Type 1. Also, I love the Type 6 elk tags, but I undoubtedly get more than $300 worth of meat and enjoyment when I do draw one.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
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This is very true. There are more jobs right now that I have ever seen in my lifetime. People are spending the money right now, thats a fact.
Prerylyon
Veteran member
I think they did raise prices a yr or so ago for some of the tags.
I for one don't want to see increases in price, but I hear what your saying.
The 'market price' for tags will be what the nonres hunters are willing to bear; WY G&F has already known how many nonres hunters applied this year for weeks now-and, consequently, what a hot commodity their tags are.
I probably shouldn't come right out and say this, but based on all that, they really have every incentive and motivation to raise the nonres tag fees and not fear pricing themselves out.
The leftover list looks like its got less going on too...
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Prerylyon
Veteran member
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
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Everyone wants to talk raising prices but everyone wants to bitch about how much tags cost.
I love it.
After pouring over my "game plan areas" I know one thing for sure.
My "Game plan areas" have changed big time and the limited Archery I was looking at is no longer a reality unless by chance I draw it on the random draw at ~2% odds lol
It appears that high point holders came out of the woodwork this year.
I love it.
After pouring over my "game plan areas" I know one thing for sure.
My "Game plan areas" have changed big time and the limited Archery I was looking at is no longer a reality unless by chance I draw it on the random draw at ~2% odds lol
It appears that high point holders came out of the woodwork this year.
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RICMIC
Veteran member
WY uses the low price doe/fawn tags to manage the herd numbers, and pricing some of them higher will likely affect the ability to do so. The antelope doe/fawn tags in the unit that I apply for is only has a handful of resident applicants for 250 or so tags, but the number of NR applicants climbs every year and surpasses the tags available. This year will be the 4th time that I've successfully drawn two doe/fawn tags, and only had a buck tag the first year. In a couple years two of us will have the points for a buck tag again. The doe hunt is a fun and affordable way to introduce others to hunting out west.
Dos Perros
Member
- Jul 1, 2015
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mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,921
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After a few hours of pouring through the draw results, I 100% feel its time to do away with the archery stamp and make people decide if they want to be archery hunters or gun hunters, Statewide.
DH56
Active Member
One other thought- The increase this year in applications can simply be that many have decided to call it quits on the preference point game and turn them in for any tag. Cost and time to get one may be a factor. An indication of whether that is true may play out over the next 1-2 years, based on how many apply for a tag from that point on.
JimP
Administrator
That is what I thought about last year 2018 when the tag increases first showed up and the applications jump up. But this year is even worse.