Bowsite.com

ElkNut1

Hunting will only survive if people are participating.

People will only participate when they get to experience success.

Be careful what you wish for....you just might get it.

Brian

I have 7 of them. That's right, 7 hunters.

4 of them hunt right now.

50 dollars here, 526 for antelope in Wyoming there, elk here, deer here.

And yes I'm very successful in life. I can and do afford guided hunts. But I'll always be a champion for the guy who has several kids, wants them to hunt, and has to keep cost in mind.

Your thinking is very narrow minded Sasquatch.

Very self centered and self serving. Don't be surprised when our passion for hunting dies.

But hey, you'll have Wyoming to yourself. If you can. If the masses haven't taken it from you.

The alternative is not playing the game. I can see how folks are priced out. I'm thankful that there's whitetail hunting for the working man in America because the costs are crazy and I'm not talking about guided hunts - these are just pieces of paper that the government is giving us to hunt these animals.

Bob, what's a special elk tag suppose to run if the new increase goes through?

HB0288

How about only allowing westerners that are seasoned bow hunters to apply?

That would really help Colorado and Wyoming elk hunting.

Do I seriously advocate this?

HELL NO!!

I don't think the $690 fee is outlandish honestly. I don't necessarily like it, but the fees have to go up at times. However, I still don't like the 40% allocation into the Special.

"they really need to up their prices asap"

But thanks for all y'all thinking I hope hunting dies off. ;)

And yes ppl have helped me, and on other species such as deer or turkeys I've helped many out! To my exact spots. Even to where I got on elk in Colorado when I went.

I'm not threatened by other hunters. Never will be. If I succeed good, if not that's good too.

I've offered and sent pm to people to tag along with me that ask about where I hunted! You really have no idea who or how I am. Your basing your opinion of me from a smart ass comment that was made before I commented. But thanks anyway.

I wish I hunted something this way that y'all would like to do I could return the favor. But I'm sure no one has interest in southern/eastern hunting that's on here.

I also put my time in flying out to scout for a week before I drove up to hunt!

If bowsite charged for advise maybe I'd pay, maybe I wouldn't. Would depend on how much I felt it's worth.

If no one helped me I'd still be out there though trying and learning! It wouldnt make or break me.

We aren't running a business when it comes to a public resource for recreational activity. Especially one that relies on strength in numbers.

I'd suggest that you do some serious research on hunter numbers, recruitment numbers, declining numbers, etc....

Hunting is dying. We are the minority, not the majority. That's a fact.

We need to keep people interested, and not look at this from a financial gain aspect or a personal gain aspect. Bow hunting is too damn important to me to price people out simply because it'll work better for "me".

Your suggestion on this is extremely short sighted, and quite frankly, ignorant.

We need to try to pull people into this, not push them out.

Price increase drive away business. Just because it'll support a few more increases, doesn't mean you should do it. Let fathers keep their kids hunting. License fees Are just yet another increasing cost of living, Let's not even talk about the cost of the gear etc.....

This is what matters to me...

Let's help keep this going for others.

I wish the legislature would allow G&F to raise license fees as needed, rather than wait for the legislature to decide. If that's every year, so be it. As it is, I believe 2008 was the last license fee increase. People are more accepting of small increases every year than they are of larger increases every 8-10yrs. Inflation increases the cost of living in every other corner of our lives. I don't understand the rationale behind the argument that license fees should somehow be exempt for those increases.

I don't have a problem paying to play, but to continue to raise fees on non residents, or really anyone, isn't a great solution.

I'd have to assume that you're of the camp, don't increase taxes, learn to live on what you collect as the government. I'm of that camp too.

So if Wyoming is losing money hand over fist from the energy bust, are we safe to assume that once oil stabilizes, and comes up in cost again, which it will, that Wyoming will lower the cost of good? Not bloody likely.

How about this, of Wyoming is going broke, why don't they start to charge you good residence income tax?

I'll ask again. What is a great solution?

"How about this, of Wyoming is going broke, why don't they start to charge you good residence income tax?"

For starters, you really think the good residents of Wyoming should pay extra taxes so others can come here and play? That will certainly generate lots of support.

In this day and age, hunting is no longer needed for survival. In it's simplest terms, it's entertainment. Do you also feel it's unfair when movie, ballgame, concert,etc, ticket prices are raised? Using your rationale, the people that work at those places should pay extra taxes in order for prices for the general public to remain the same. No thanks.

The lesson of the day I would say is, when you need to generate revenue, you do in a manner that isn't in enormous jumps.

We have a gentlemen here advocating doubling the fees. And then raising the fees again if there's still a demand.

What is my solution?

If you need more money, do it responsibly. Not to mention Wyoming already holds everyone's refunds for an extended period of time, collecting interest on everyone's money, which is a small percentage on the return, but a small percentage on a lot of people. That's a hell of a generator there of money.

Reality is this....price increases, can and often will drive people away. If your state is that broke, then pony up the income tax.

But I also don't recall Wyoming cutting fees when they were an extremely rich state either. When oil was booming. Perhaps they should pass a law that gets rid of the, use it or lose it??

Wyoming receives large amounts of Pittman Robertson money as well. Which Wyoming admits, will Decline due to anticipated gun sales declining.

So in a way, you want to accept federal dollars from a federal Program that anyone from all 50 states would pay into from any and all hunting purchases, and then also turn around and say, why should we pay income Tax so you can come Play?

There are many residents that used to advocate and fight for nonresident rights and privileges, myself included. However, when all we hear is complaining every time license fees go up, or threatening to ignore the restrictions for wilderness areas, that willingness is diminishing rather rapidly. If you lose the support of residents, good luck getting anything done on your behalf.

2nd of all, the debate here began because some people advocated pricing increases for personal gain, not for the financial interest of fame and fish.

3rd of all, Wyoming is a very small fish in a large pond in the hunting world. If Wyoming could rely on its residents for everything, then you wouldn't need the non residents. Much less more of their money.

4th, Wyoming appears to now be having a hard time standing on its own, so be very careful in assuming the world needs Wyoming more than it needs the world.

If you feel Wyoming needs you more than you need it, then you are certainly welcome to stay home or go to another state. Pretty simple. I'm confident someone else will gladly take the tag you don't want.

The overwhelming sense of entitlement exhibited by some is truly amazing.

The same could be said of vehicle license plate fees. Double then double again. Is everyone going to park their vehicles no. Double sales tax and then double again. Going to stop buying toilet paper? Nope. Just because a government can double or triple a usage fee or other tax does not make it the best for society. Double tag fees and the average net worth and annual income for those getting tags is going to be higher. Is it wise to push out Joe Six-Pack so another Richie Rich heads to WY? Guess who will hire lots of outfitters and push for transferable landowner tags and outfitter tags and auction tags? Yep, that is what happens when you shift your hunter pool to be wealthier. They will write checks to get friendly politicians elected that understand the need to have an outfitter allotment and auctions tags. Money talks in politics and politics is part of G&F whether it is who is appointed to positions or the laws that get rammed through while you are out busy at the day job.

However yes, gov needs to manage their spending, however hunting carries minor interest as a whole.

I'll start another thread.

The de-railers can keep this one alive

What a circle jerk this thread has turned into---------->

Good luck, Robb

"Edit" Can any of you take a normal side UP pic?? my hell-----

You should see "Image Tools' at the top of your photo. Select "Rotate 180" and that should take care of it