Non-resident cow elk

[RICMIC]

There has been some discussion about the shortage in funds (ref. JimP in the wolves thread below), and here is my input as it pertains to my situation.
I have hunted CO as a NR a couple times on guided elk hunts, and 6 times unguided. I am unlikely to accumulate enough points to ever get another tag for bull elk in the areas that I am familiar with, so have been looking at using my 3 points for a cow elk hunt. Since I last hunted cow elk, they raised the NR tag fee to the full $800 that a bull tag costs, and in many of the zones the NR aps dropped to zero. I am inclined to use my deer points this year and then completely drop out of the CO system, and taking two much younger NR hunters with me.

 

[JimP]

It's sad but you have fallen into the screw the NR on their permit fees and available tags.

Looking at other states along with their fee increases I am considering doing the same. The odds of ever drawing a bison tag in Utah are still out the door for me, but with their bonus point system I might have a chance, a slim one but a chance but I think that I'll drop out of it this coming draw cycle.

I can see your problem with Colorado, and even being a resident I have my problems. Areas where we could pick up a draw tag after all the draws are now gone and you need points to even draw them, and this is for residents.

 

[minn elk chaser]

Problem with Colorado is that I have 15 elk points and my son has 28 points. I like Ric, think that with the tag prices and the cost of a outfitter it just to expensive to hunt there. I have been hunting in Colorado since 1979 with years off when I drew tags in other states. Never have done a guided hunt in Colorado so could diy but thought for the last hunt there it would be nice to go guided.
I have a deal in New Mexico where a three day guided cow hunt on private land with the license and tags for $2500. Have done that 3 times and filled our tags each time. Much better deal and almost guarentee to fill the tag.

Colorado is making a big mistake with there tags and pricing. Wonder how many more non-residents fell the same way.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I completely agree with both of you. I only apply for NR tags in Wyoming and California. I will not ever apply in Calif again for a lot of reasons I will not go into here. Wyoming is another story. I quit applying for NR elk tags about 10 years ago and after I use my points for antelope and deer. I will never apply again there.

If I were not a resident of Colorado, I wouldn't apply here either. The costs are really getting out of hand, especially for a NR, even the NR fishing license is too high IMHO.

I am now getting pretty old and my best hunting days are behind me unless I am willing to spend my family legacy on guided hunts here in the US. It could cost close to $50K now for a guided Alaskan Moose hunt, way outta my league.

I really feel bad for generations that follow us and decide to hunt big game. Most of the animals are there but the politics of a lot of states see hunters and fisherman as cash cows (especially nonresidents), there for the taking.

 

[JimP]

I completely agree with both of you. I only apply for NR tags in Wyoming and California. I will not ever apply in Calif again for a lot of reasons if will not go into here. Wyoming is another story.

I quit applying for NR elk tags about 10 years ago and after I use my points for antelope and deer. I will never apply again there.

If I were not a resident of Colorado, I wouldn't apply here either. The costs are really getting out of hand, especially for a NR, even the NR fishing license is too high IMHO.

I am now getting pretty old and my best hunting days are behind me unless I am willing to spend my family legacy on guided hunts here in the US. It could cost closed to $50K now for a guided Alaskan Moose hunt, way outta my league.

I really feel bad for generations that follow us and decide to hunt big game. Most of the animals are there but the politics of a lot of states see hunters and fisherman as cash cows (especially nonresidents), there for the taking.

That's where I enjoyed heading over to South Africa a couple of times.

For the price of a single guided elk hunt here in the US you can hunt a half dozen different animals. Granted there are extra expenses but in the long run it is a lot cheaper than hunting here in the US.

However I always get that question of why would I spend what we have to spend here in the US when I can head across the Atlantic and hunt a dozen different animals for the same cost. I just tell them that you can't hunt a moose, grizzly bear, elk, and a number of other animals in Africa and if you want to hunt them you need to be willing to pay the price to hunt them.

 

[mallardsx2]

What really baffles me is the bear and mountain lion off the cuff and out to lunch price increases.

It’s got a lot of people wondering wtf is going on.

I would rant and bitch some more about it but it doesn’t make it better and besides I don’t want a certain someone on here to get their dress all blowed up in the air and tell me how entitled I am being….so I digress.

 

[RICMIC]

A lot of the pressure to reduce NR tags is coming from residents, and I don't really blame them. But, for every NR tags that is reduced, it would need a 10 fold increase in resident dollars to make it up. That is not going to happen.
When I was on this years antelope hunt in WY, a guide from a well known outfitter ragged on us for a while about NRs taking all their tags, and that he can't draw a tag in the area that he was guiding. I pointed out to him that likely all of his clients were NRs, and that he can still hunt the majority of the state OTC if he doesn't draw in a limited area. That area actually had 150 resident and 7 non-resident tags.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

A lot of the pressure to reduce NR tags is coming from residents, and I don't really blame them. But, for every NR tags that is reduced, it would need a 10 fold increase in resident dollars to make it up. That is not going to happen.
When I was on this years antelope hunt in WY, a guide from a well known outfitter ragged on us for a while about NRs taking all their tags, and that he can't draw a tag in the area that he was guiding. I pointed out to him that likely all of his clients were NRs, and that he can still hunt the majority of the state OTC if he doesn't draw in a limited area. That area actually had 150 resident and 7 non-resident tags.

The only antelope OTC tags are left overs, no regular OTC tags for antelope here in Colorado.

 

[Winchester]

A lot of the pressure to reduce NR tags is coming from residents, and I don't really blame them. But, for every NR tags that is reduced, it would need a 10 fold increase in resident dollars to make it up. That is not going to happen.
When I was on this years antelope hunt in WY, a guide from a well known outfitter ragged on us for a while about NRs taking all their tags, and that he can't draw a tag in the area that he was guiding. I pointed out to him that likely all of his clients were NRs, and that he can still hunt the majority of the state OTC if he doesn't draw in a limited area. That area actually had 150 resident and 7 non-resident tags.

RICMIC, you’re right, there's great pressure coming from residents to reduce NR tags. Last year when the Parks and Wildlife Commissioners were debating how to help alleviate overcrowding during archery season, it sounded to me like they were ready to eliminate both Resident and NR archery OTC tags ... that is until they opened it up for public comments. They were so overwhelmed with residents insisting that the commission not reduce resident tags that they had to extend public comments to an additional meeting, where residents continued to voice their strong opinions. When the comments concluded, the Commissioners voted to eliminate NR archery OTC tags but let the Resident tags alone.
Of course, the most significant overcrowding occurs during 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons due to OTC rifle and the Commissioners said they would address that soon. The revenue from OTC rifle tags is tremendous so this is a much more difficult problem, but overcrowding is very real during 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons so the Commissioners will try and do something. And whether they’re right or wrong, you can bet resident opinions aren’t going to change.

 

[RICMIC]

The only antelope OTC tags are left overs, no regular OTC tags for antelope here in Colorado.

CC, I was referring to Wyoming.....but, most of my reference was to elk tags. I have used all of my points over 22 years in WY to draw in General areas that residents can buy OTC after they fail to draw a limited tag. In WY, they don't have a point system for residents except for the "trophy"species. so a lucky R guy can draw every year in his choice limited area, or like many of us NEVER Draw.

 

[Bonecollector]

What really baffles me is the bear and mountain lion off the cuff and out to lunch price increases.

It’s got a lot of people wondering wtf is going on.

I would rant and bitch some more about it but it doesn’t make it better and besides I don’t want a certain someone on here to get their dress all blowed up in the air and tell me how entitled I am being….so I digress.

Bet I know who she is!

 

[hunter25]

I live in Colorado but quit all other western states other than Wyoming until I use my antelope and deer points.
I apply for bear in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin but that's only about $5 each until I draw.
Like JimP mentioned I've started traveling the world to hunt. I'll be hunting Romania in May for 2 roe deer for less than a 2 day axis hunt in Texas.
I've got an upcoming muskox hunt in Greenland that although fairly expensive is still less than a guided elk or trophy deer hunt here at home.