Non-resident tag fees out of control!

[Doe Nob]

Do you understand what retired means? I worked my ass off for 45 years to take it easy in my later years and enjoy hunting and fly fishing. Which btw is what I do in the summer.
Maybe you don't want to sound like a jerk, but........

I'm sorry, but its hard to engender sympathy with that kind of attitude. I guess if you can't afford to drive to a different unit and camp out for a week, you did a poor job of retirement planning and saving to be able to retire in the lifestyle you desire. You're telling me you can't enjoy hunting because you can't drive to a different unit where you could get a tag? I'm not suggesting you dig ditches, maybe guide a couple fly fishing trips during the summer since you like to do it, get a few hundred bucks from tips and now you have the funds to more fully enjoy your hunting season. I'm sure with the experience you have you'd have a lot to offer other fly fishermen who are new to the sport or the area.

We paid $1100 for 2 elk tags in a CO OTC unit, $1300 to rent a cabin for a week, drove 1250 miles each way getting 9 mpg towing a trailer with 2 atv's to come hunt Colorado this fall and ate tag soup. Not complaining at all, just saying a lot of us sacrifice quite a bit as non residents to be able to hunt, its hard for me to be sympathetic, heck you even got a sherpa out of this thread to pack out your elk for you!

 

[Old Hunter]

I had an industrial accident at 55. I was a truck driver making good money. It turned out my boss never had workmans comp on me. It took all my savings to pay my medical bills. During my recovery which took 6 months. I got glaucoma in my right eye, and lost it's sight. I lost my ability to keep my commercial license. Plus, my injuries never did heal to the point that I could have done the job anyway. I was forced into retirement and broke.

It's been a struggle ever since. I live on SS and a little money I get to tie flies. I couldn't give up hunting, and learned to shoot left handed. I moved to Colorado, because I knew I would never be able to hunt here again unless I did. I spent a ton of money coming here to hunt when I lived in Calif. I have too many injuries to camp, and I don't have the gear to do it anyway. I do the best that I can, but I have to hunt my unit, or not hunt at all.

I hunt alone, but can get help getting the meat out if it's close. Which means my unit.

I don't like talking about this, but you won't let it go. I'll work it out.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

Guys,

This kind of bickering is the same hunter-on-hunter fighting that Kevin mentioned earlier isn't productive.

I think this thread needs to fade into the sunset.

 

[Old Hunter]

I never wanted any part of it, but I won't be talked down to by someone who doesn't even know me.

 

[Wapiti slayer .270]

Pete,

I hunt a hop, skip, jump away from you most years. If I'm in the area I'll help you pack your elk.

I can set up camp and include my nonresident buds for $250 a guy. That includes all gas and food. So the idea of spending big money just to hunt is invalid to me. If folks plan they sure can cut the costs big time.

 

[sjsmallfield]

Guys,

This kind of bickering is the same hunter-on-hunter fighting that Kevin mentioned earlier isn't productive.

I think this thread needs to fade into the sunset.

I couldn't agree more at this point.

 

[jenbickel]

CAN I GET AN AMEN?!

 

[sjsmallfield]

That's AWESOME Jen! Well said. Lol

 

[jenbickel]

Lol I'm glad you think so!! Hahaha it made me laugh! I thought it was quite fitting.

 

[Drhorsepower]

That's awesome

 

[Doe Nob]

Apologies extended to Old hunter.

(And if you haven't sued your old boss yet get an attorney and get some retribution)

 

[NDHunter]

CAN I GET AN AMEN?!

Well put Jen!!!!! And damn that looks like a good place to throw out a line, sit down in a chair and crack open a beer.

 

[Old Hunter]

Apologies extended to Old hunter.

Thanks....

 

[cacklercrazy]

if they only give 10% or less of the total tags then they should be the same price. If they want to take the tag % quatas off then let them charge what ever they want.

 

[HuskyMusky]

if they only give 10% or less of the total tags then they should be the same price. If they want to take the tag % quatas off then let them charge what ever they want.

I never really understood this limiting to 10% either, never made much sense, ie if they issue 100k tags, and only 10k non-residents apply then naturally only 10% of the tags would be to non-residents in the first place.

I'm willing to bet that more residents always apply for tags than non-residents. Let the draw just work itself out, if one year it's 12% great, if the next year only 8% get lucky fine. But why set a limit before the draw even occurs. # of applicants alone should kinda solve this problem in the first place.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Can't remember which one of the state's hunting pamphlet I read this in, but the policy was if resident applications did not use their quota, then the NR tags could increase to fill the total quota. Guess that meant that the NR quotas could actually float and reflect demend rather than a strict quota.

 

[HuskyMusky]

Can't remember which one of the state's hunting pamphlet I read this in, but the policy was if resident applications did not use their quota, then the NR tags could increase to fill the total quota. Guess that meant that the NR quotas could actually float and reflect demend rather than a strict quota.

I know ID gives some resident hunters the option of a 2nd bull elk tag but they must purchase the 2nd tag at non-resident prices. At least when there are left over non-res elk tags.

Actually I think this is what happened in NM, reducing NR tags from 22 to 16% or whatever, I think in certain cases non-residents had better draw odds than residents, which goes back to why even separate the tags/pools, but it makes sense if 100k residents are applying for a certain unit, vs. only 2k non-residents, there will always be more residents applying in a state than non-residents.

 

[In God We Trust]

10% of tags for non residents unless there are left over tags. Non residents should also have to pay more than residents. Most people can't afford to travel to other states and allowing the whole country to put in for tags and have the same shot takes oppourtunities from residents of that state. I want to be able to hunt my own state as a resident every year and if I have some extra cash I will spend it going to another state. Everyone should quit whinning about expensive non resident tags. Enjoy your home state and if you think the grass is greener on the other side than MOVE!

 

[Old Hunter]

Absolutely.

 

[4590bpcr]

If you find yourself coveting the resident prices in another state then quit with the excuses and move there. It's the same old saw; that somehow the resident needs to extend the priveledge of an in-state tag to a non-resident. You move to that state, pay taxes, invest in the community, put up with a shortage of services, etc. --THEN you can get some benefits, i.e.; a resident price tag. I have no sympathy for the jerks who think the world owes them something, when all they can think of is to hold out their hand. Get a life.