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New legislation heading thru the process, takes affect Jan 2018 if they pass...

Fee increase again, about 3% for resident and 20% for us rich NR.

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2017/Introduced/HB0288.pdf

And up again, the 60/40 Special/Regular swap a roo..

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2017/Introduced/HB0278.pdf

I always apply in the Special pool, but I still think it is a bad idea. We need more people experiencing western hunting on our public lands, not less, and reducing the tags in the Regular pool does just that.

I was opposed to making that change when it came up in the last Wyoming Legislative session. As a non-resident I provided comment that it not be changed and the majority of tags be kept at the Regular price. Evidently, the Wyoming Legislature has a problem keeping emails as private documents. They forwarded my email to the Wyoming Outfitter and Guides Association who then came after me and my position on the Board of Directors of a national hunting organization.

I guess it is too much to expect some of these elected officials to operate with any sort of discretion. Regardless, I will again provide my comments against the idea.

If the notion is to raise money, raise it on folks like me, and others who apply in the Special pool. Personally, I suspect the motive is less about raising money and more about increasing the tags available to those inclined to hire help.

Just another example of how politicians can screw up most anything when it comes to hunting, fishing, and public access.

So with 2 PP @ 75 each ($150) - (that's what it has been taking for me to draw.) Elk tag ($690.00) Archery License ($70.00 – that is NOT 20%, but that is what they listed as the increase for this license – [20% should be $34.00]) Conservation stamp ($15.00 – if 20% increase rounded off to the nearest 1 dollar) Management permit - where we hunt we have to pay a "feed area" permit ($15.00 – same as above) Total for 2019 $940.00 to hunt elk Oh, I just went back and read .... nonresident application fee will be $15.00 $955.00.

Pretty damn close to MT

Except you don't have to wait three years to draw...you can hunt every year. AND you get a deer tag with that!

"Folks, honestly the price increase should, though I understand why they piss people off, be the least of your worries. It's the public land transfer I'm referring to that will ruin our entire hunting opportunities."

WGFD should be greatly concerned about it. Who's going to buy all their tags when people can't find a place to hunt?

And he's right. But I think there's more to it. "Those inclined to hire help" are also "those inclined to hire politicians".

I have a rule. When trying to understand why politicians do what they do, it always comes down to GRAFT.

Occam's Razor for politicians.

Thanks for the heads-up and links W-Bob.

Well stated Big Fin----->

I didn't see anything about the Leftover tags being draw this summer or did I over read that?

Good luck, Robb

Just want to say thanks, Randy, for continuing to fight for the Average Joe when it comes to these matters. A lot of guys of your stature in the hunting community would not and do not do the same.

The second draw for what is left after the initial draw that you're talking about isn't in a Bill in the Legislature. The G&F Commission can do that on it's own since it's just a simple method of allotting the same amount of tags a different way to make it equitable for everyone.

Colorado - $640 Idaho - $570 Montana - $873 OR $1025 if you throw in a deer tag New Mexico - $843 Oregon - $710 Washington - $497 Wyoming (CURRENT PRICE) - $632 Regular and $1113 Special

The new Regular price was $955, quoted by a poster above. What's the new special price?

These prices right now are draft. If you have concerns you should be writing to the legislative committee and let them know. If your money will now go to Colorado, tell them so.

What makes me nervous is the sky seems to be the limit. Remember when Montana was getting $1500 for outfitter sponsored tags? Insane prices AND outfitter bias! Yikes! But they got hooked on NR money and now look. They can't even sell their licenses. Montana has always had a few things to learn from WY but I think the Cowboy state should look around too. Everyone has a breaking point. There are people who say Wyoming will never see another dollar of their money. But for every one of those there are at least 1 if not 2 new elk hunters going there as well as ones migrating there from other states. I think things will get much worse before they get better if they ever do. Sigh......... I was born 100 years too late.

My Wyoming resident friend said the 20% price increase for a NR is ridiculous and he told me they should be increasing residents. I am sure most NR agree with that and most residents disagree. We all need to pay our fair share.

Last year he went guided again and shot a medium sized bull.

This year he decided that he wanted to go badly but that guided hunting costs too much in WY. He's still paying the credit card bill from last year and his wife is understandably upset. He didn't apply to WY because it's not friendly to nonresidents without a guide and he can't afford to go guided this year.

Here is a perfect example of how WY's outfitters got his money two years in a row and now he won't even buy a license on the third year. So the game and fish department is losing a license sale now and in the future. He's looking into other states.

Like many here, I'm an elk junkie. I'm hunting WY for the first time this year by using too many points and getting a general tag at the regular price. Only time will tell if I return to WY.

I was telling my wife I was going to apply for Wyoming this year, third year in a row... she asked how much. Hesitantly I said, $1100, she about choked! Not sure I'm gonna have much luck convincing her on $1500 or whatever the new special price is...

Wyoming's caught between a rock and a hard place. It's primary revenue producer is energy. With oil prices low, and coal production reduced to historic lows, the economy is in dire straights. Budgets have been slashed in education, infrastructure, etc. No excuses, but the state's in bad shape and they are clutching at straws to keep afloat. The legislature is doing everything it can to generate revenue. Right now, the demand for NR licenses is high, so naturally they can drive up the cost. Once the demand declines, then they'll have to reassess cost vs demand at that time.

I understand the frustration, but I'll say exactly what most residents think...you (NR) don't have to deal with the cold, the wind, the isolation, or the relatively low wages. About the only perk we (res) get is the hunting and fishing. If you don't want to live here, then there's not going to be much of a sympathetic ear when NR's have to pay to play here.

They might want to consider raising a few bucks selling wolf pelts though. ;-)

Elkstabber I would have to disagree with the statement about Wyoming being unfriendly to no residents without a guide. I'll assume that comment stems from the wilderness restriction but damn man there is plenty of great hunting in non wilderness areas. Tons! And I think they've done a better job managing their game than some states have. The cup is half full buddy! Good luck this year.

If they raised the res elk license to $300, I'd pay without a moments hesitation...more if that's what it comes to. That said, it would be nice if we were confident the money was going to the benefit of the wildlife rather than new offices.