Elk Hunters, are tags to cheap?

[dgilbert]

Hell I can't afford them know, so ya hope you have to pay more.

[jaker_cc]

At least you READ the post. lol



I agree with you on the bonus/preference points and that would be a step in the right direction.

I also agree with you on some of the causes. Truth is we don't have drastically more hunters, or drastically fewer tags than 10 years ago. Something has to be done.

We don’t have more hunters in general through out the country, but hunting out west for elk and deer is on a complete uptick. So those tags that were left over or guaranteed 8-10 years ago are being gobbled up by people just looking for a an opportunity.

I agree that something needs to be done though as some hunts are just a money grab with no real opportunity to kill an animal. I realize that killing is just icing on the cake, but that’s why we make the trip west every year. I’ve noticed in a few states that there is a gross mismanagement of hunters and opportunity in what are thought to be Trophy units. Not because of too few tags but because of too many (not all that are geared towards trophy animals) and some that are geared to trophy animals.

Idk what the answer is, but I know that the states are making a killing off their natural resource. It would be nice to see them think of what is best for that resource once in a while.

[BuckSmasher]

We don’t have more hunters in general through out the country, but hunting out west for elk and deer is on a complete uptick. So those tags that were left over or guaranteed 8-10 years ago are being gobbled up by people just looking for a an opportunity.

I agree that something needs to be done though as some hunts are just a money grab with no real opportunity to kill an animal. I realize that killing is just icing on the cake, but that’s why we make the trip west every year. I’ve noticed in a few states that there is a gross mismanagement of hunters and opportunity in what are thought to be Trophy units. Not because of too few tags but because of too many (not all that are geared towards trophy animals) and some that are geared to trophy animals.

Idk what the answer is, but I know that the states are making a killing off their natural resource. It would be nice to see them think of what is best for that resource once in a while.

Agreed on all points. Maybe the silver lining to selling so many crappy tags is that people will fall in love with elk country and want more elk on the landscape?

[PlanoDano]

It is a catch 22. We need more diy hunters to protect access to the public lands. But more hunters mean more competition for the resource. Some states have exploited this demand but then again managing the resource is not cheap. The process of making laws within the states is ripe for exploitation by special interest.

[Wits_End]

So your wanting the tags to increase in price so you have a better shot at getting one? Your basically saying let’s squeeze out the little guy out so you can feed my personal thirst for killing an elk. That’s freaking sad to even say out loud but I’m not surprised with some people’s greed. We’re screwed

There is a point here but i think the one being made is heavily exaggerated.
Ignore the $3,000 number, maybe it is $1,200 or $2,000.
No different than spending years paying draws with no success or buying otc to have a poor hunt due to loads of people and getting nothing for your money.

[Pedernal]

If money isn’t an issue and you want a real opportunity to kill an elk why not go hunt private? Leave the public land for folks not as fortunate? Let’s not make public land elk hunting a sport exclusive to the wealthy.

[BuckSmasher]

If money isn’t an issue and you want a real opportunity to kill an elk why not go hunt private? Leave the public land for folks not as fortunate? Let’s not make public land elk hunting a sport exclusive to the wealthy.

From my original post. What kind of 'value' is Ma and Pa getting with this? If anything the 'little guy' that is buying crappo tags is worse off. Let me assure you based upon personal experience, there is a HUGE range of elk hunting experiences from one area to the next.

Take Colorado for example. They sell OTC unlimited tags for branch antlered bulls. If you buy one of those tags you may be hunting VERY VERY few legal animals. Take a hypothetical unit with bull:cow of 15:100 and a poplution of 1000 elk. Out of those 150 bulls lets say half are legal, that leaves 75 elk out of a thousand AT THE BEGGINING of the season available for harvest

How good of a hunt are you likely to have hunting a unit the size of a Texas county with 75 legal, huntable elk in it?

[Wits_End]

Camping in the elk woods is free. That's mostly what the "poor person" tags get you and is headed further in that direction every year.

Look at NM, everyone is now paying extra for guide fee to get better draw odds cause the nonres indiv draw sucks. Why not just increase across the board.

[Killer]

If money isn’t an issue and you want a real opportunity to kill an elk why not go hunt private? Leave the public land for folks not as fortunate? Let’s not make public land elk hunting a sport exclusive to the wealthy.

That is what is is all about right there
Public land and access. Tags are high enough right now.

[Pedernal]

From my original post. What kind of 'value' is Ma and Pa getting with this? If anything the 'little guy' that is buying crappo tags is worse off. Let me assure you based upon personal experience, there is a HUGE range of elk hunting experiences from one area to the next.

Take Colorado for example. They sell OTC unlimited tags for branch antlered bulls. If you buy one of those tags you may be hunting VERY VERY few legal animals. Take a hypothetical unit with bull:cow of 15:100 and a poplution of 1000 elk. Out of those 150 bulls lets say half are legal, that leaves 75 elk out of a thousand AT THE BEGGINING of the season available for harvest

How good of a hunt are you likely to have hunting a unit the size of a Texas county with 75 legal, huntable elk in it?

I get the poor opportunity thing but why eliminate it by making it even more expensive. I am all for good opportunities at killing an elk but don’t think the best way to make it a better opportunity is by pricing out the poor folks.

And no I don’t have an answer as to how to fix the current over crowding. But I don’t get paid to figure that stuff out.

[MadHatter]

If money isn’t an issue and you want a real opportunity to kill an elk why not go hunt private? Leave the public land for folks not as fortunate? Let’s not make public land elk hunting a sport exclusive to the wealthy.

Let's not make public land elk hunting an X games sport for everybody with a SxS .
In 28 yrs, I've pulled a 4 wheeler maybe 10 times, and only had it off the trailer twice.
The ridiculousness it has become is about to kill it for me.
If the few remaining locations I have, ever get opened up to anything other than walk in access, I'll be done with it.
It's being ruined by people who could really care less about killing a elk.
Turn it back into wilderness, shut down motorized access, and half of em would drop off the first yr.
IMO.

[Texas Grown]

I've hunted public here in Texas simply because I couldn't afford a lease before the last few years. I see increasing tags or licenses by teh state as just another step to make it a game for the upper income class. That is how states start money grabs. They begin to realize that tags are big dollars. Hence, the point systems and draws like so many have now. They will still take your money even though you can't hunt unless drawn. It will come one day that unless you are in the upper income class, you will eventually get priced out of buying tags, maybe in your home state too. Hence, why local residents are so against non-residents coming to hunt.


Increasing prices at state levels does nothing good for the hunting community or families, unless they are outfitters, landowners, or provide guide services. And certainly doesn't promote interest in hunting in the young. Only commercialism for certain income classes. Where is your spirit? Has self centeredness become so important that one would suggest a way to rule out the possibility of encouraging hunting as a whole? It's a wonder why the hunting community is dwindling. Which is easy to overlook for one's own self centered gain of opportunity.


Hunting used to mean that families got together to do things. It still does for some. But that interest is being lost by self-centeredness.



I'll get off my soap box now.

[muddyfuzzy]

I mean if you're all about limiting other hunters from trying to get tags you can always just sit out a year or pay that 1500-3000k, nobody is stopping you.

Dude is trying to have a proactive conversation about resource management and you subscribe to the “take your ball and go home” approach. That’s why these conversations never make any headway, people are just too worried about who is going to move their cheese.


[emoji1662]

[Bassdeer]

Move to a state that has elk and become a resident. Don't move to NM even a resident has to draw to hunt.

[Pedernal]

Let's not make public land elk hunting an X games sport for everybody with a SxS .
In 28 yrs, I've pulled a 4 wheeler maybe 10 times, and only had it off the trailer twice.
The ridiculousness it has become is about to kill it for me.
If the few remaining locations I have, ever get opened up to anything other than walk in access, I'll be done with it.
It's being ruined by people who could really care less about killing a elk.
Turn it back into wilderness, shut down motorized access, and half of em would drop off the first yr.
IMO.

I concur… I think outfitters should be banned from those wilderness areas as well. Let’s make it an equal opportunity for everyone.