$660.62 for Iowa???
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As the title says $660.62 for a out of state Iowa bow license dang that's really starting to get up there in price. I have 3 points for another $150 for a grand total of $810.62 to shoot 2 deer with the bow in Iowa. Don't think I will be making that trip anymore. What's everyone else seeing for out of state license in your state. I am a resident of Wisconsin and non-resident licensing for gun or bow is $160.
Prices will continue to rise in all states. Supply and demand is the most simple equation to figure out. Nothing personal just business
I'm tracking with you. Have one point from last year. Don't plan on donating any more cash to Iowa. (recently purchased land in KY)
I tend to have a different perspective. I started applying for premium tags way before I could afford it. I think my first CO NR goat tag was $500 at a time when I was probably making about $10 an hour. It was a bargain then and it's a bargain today at well over $2K.
What are memories worth? What kind of experience are you getting for a few days wages for the average person. $660 for 7 to 14 days of enjoyment are not a big deal.
A week at a resort with the family will be several times that. Sure, Iowa is more expensive than other states but it is also a way better hunt than most. Everything in live is relative. An Iowa hunt every 3-5 years can be a great experience. Many people not only pay the license fee but also fork out many $thousands for an outfitter or a one year lease.
I feel sorry for those that get pissed off at the latest license price increase and stop playing the game. I've done the same in the past. If I had paid the extra money and kept applying I would have had a few more great hunts by now. Think about what you are giving up and what you plan to do 5 or 10 years from now before you give up.
I've long been saying these NR prices are getting out of whack. The various national sportsman related organizations (RMEF, Sportsmans Alliance, NRA, B&C, P&Y, etc) are late to the game in realizing what is happening. They are not looking out for their members and hunting opportunities in general. They should be leading the charge in reigning in states who use NR's (ie...many of their members) as cash cows to be raked over the coals. I don't buy the supply and demand theory as the sole reason for states wanting to charge high NR costs because it's not. THEY DO IT BECAUSE NO ONE IS STOPPING THEM! Unless they are stopped, they will continue to raise prices at will. Individuals can't do alot to reign them in but national organizations can....if they have the will. So far....I blame these national organizations for failing to realize what is happening, not taking action and letting the states get away with it.
I hope soon the members of these national sportsman organizations are going to start wondering why it's getting so expensive to go hunting and what their organization(s) is/are doing to address it. At some point they will start to question if being a member of the organization is worth it. My two pennies.....
Just how in the heck do any of these clubs have any power over anything?
They will charge as much as we will pay
$2,000 + for a NR Wyoming moose tag is ridiculous, too. That’s not even counting hundreds and hundreds I’ve got invested just in the p point fees.
As soon as I draw that tag (if ever), I’m out!
"Just how in the heck do any of these clubs have any power over anything?"
Great question.........they are national, well known organizations. They carry alot of clout (see the NRA). They can start out by identifying the problem statement, develop the message that will be sent to these states, publicly send the message to these states and see how the states respond. If the states refuse to take action, the organizations can then look at the pocket book of these states. Stop supporting the states, no more advertising, no more spending money there, no conferences, move corporate offices if need be, etc. That would be something to see the RMEF leave Missoula, MT for another state....that would be an attention getter. If that still doesn't get any action, try to get the Fed's involved. The point being in all of this....IMO I think something can be done if there is a will. I don't have any problem at all with NR's paying more than the Res's......I just think some of these Res/NR price ratios are too extreme. Maybe a ratio cap is the answer??
I think we all get why a goat and sheep tag would be high. States put time and a lot of money into the management of those animals. Research, transplanting, observation. In difficult to reach areas.
So what exactly are they doing for Iowa whitetails.
The land owners or lease holders do most of the management and work.
It’s price gouging because they can.
Until people quit paying why wouldn’t they keep raising it.
JSW +1.
Bowhunts ARE my vacations. I'm just not a resort kind of guy...although the wife drags me along on those from time to time. I used to get worked up over price increases too. Dropped out when Wyoming bighorn sheep preference points went from $7/year to $100/year. One of my biggest regrets as a bowhunter....
Life is short. How does the saying go....It's not about the amount of years in your life...but the amount of life in your years.
If ya don't draw you will get your refund mid-August.
Good luck, Robb
Kansas is close to 600, Illinois is close. I paid 660.65 for Iowa and had 200 plus in points. I don't think 660 is terrible considering Iowa still offers quality deer and is not over run with NRs like Kansas and Illinois. Shawn
I can't believe a NR would pay $250 for an Iowa turkey tag!
I hope they raise it to 1k so less will apply.
My next Iowa tag will be my last for some time. It’s difficult to explain to my wife that I need to wait 4 years and total $800+ to hunt our neighboring state for a species that is quite abundant where I live and can be hunted in ~$30 permit.. Maybe when my kids move out and expenses are less I will get back in the Iowa game.
You can’t really be upset with what they are charging when people line up for 4 years to hunt there.
Raising the cost will not stop people. It's about doubled since the start. I figure I can draw every 4th year and a grand would not bother me. Hell I know guys who buy a 3 dollar cup of coffee every day. That is over a grand right there. Shawn
It is price gouging in my opinion.
What gos around comes around,let the wolfs have my tag.
I'm a cheap non trophy hunter but I would put away $200 a year for 4 years to hunt there especially if I get to shoot 2 deer. However I probably won't ever do it.
It's not price gouging if you don't pay it. I'm hoping to get gouged in a few years.
From a looking back perspective, my drawing/DIY out-of-state hunts were some of my most researched, anticipated and ultimately rewarding and memorable hunts I've done. When prices rise, applications numbers drop for a few years. Take advantage of that and draw a tag!
That said, I'd recommend you go on a DIY elk hunt for a change of pace in the future. New challenges and scenery, for maybe not much more money for the tag and license than a premium deer tag.
I'd rather not pay for a doe license but they make it mandatory, so that's just part of the deal. I doubt many of those tags ever get used. As far as the total cost it's in line with the quality of hunting they provide. I chose to accept their fee structure when I first started buying points. There's no other eastern state managing for quality whitetail hunting as well as Iowa.
"There's no other eastern state managing for quality whitetail hunting as well as Iowa."
Iowa is good and even better is they don't need APR's to be good. They do a great job of regulating hunters and where they hunt. The unlimited OTC tags is what kills states that do not regulate hunters, the harvest or where they hunt. Michigan is a case in point.....unlimited OTC tags, no harvest regulation nor location managment.
IMO states have to work with what they have WRT to soil, ag, water, pressure, etc. For a state that does unlimited OTC tags and considering it's small size....I'd say Maryland would give Iowa a run for the money for big bucks and deer numbers. Although they started APR's a while back and that hurt the hunting, they do track the harvest location closely using mandatory check-ins. Plus their NR tags are much more reasonable than Iowa and you can do sika's in MD.
All relative. Good buddy of mine will continue to put in, draw, hunt, then repeat to hunt there. I myself will continue finding out where i can buy tags OTC every year, and a whole bunch of them, and go find something to shoot. We'll also cheer each other on and have a diet Coors waiting back in town for story time.
It's all relative... I couldn't care less about antlers so, any deer tag that is triple digits is too high for me. My brother on the other hand, is a horn-porn maniac and would pay big bucks for big bucks.
They will continue to raise prices until tags stop selling. Which is fine for NR tags if you ask me. I'll keep spending less than $40(tag) to fill my freezer.
It sucks so bad I wish I could pay it every year to hunt there. Like was mentioned. It's relative to what you experience for hunting in your own neck of the woods. Mine isn't very good, so paying the IA price is well worth it. And, believe it or not, some guys actually like to hunt big whitetails more than elk. So the, "man, that's almost as much as an elk tag!" comments don't mean anything to guys like myself. No offense intended. There's no place I'd rather be 10/25 - 11/25 than in an IA woods.
I think everyone should get a free tag not just the richest 1% wait......nevermind.America baby can't afford it work harder or don't buy it.When I was young I couldn't afford to travel to hunt it never occurred to me to "force" them to lower their prices.Get over it.
As long as you all continue to pay those prices they will keep charging them. boycott the states that charge these out rageous tag fees and eventually the state will realize the loss of revenue for the business
“There's no other eastern state managing for quality whitetail hunting as well as Iowa.”
Never thought of Iowa as Eastern state,
Usually referred to as Midwest state. West of Mississippi is western state, east of Mississippi is eastern state.
Or whatever ya want. East of somewhere west of somewhere depends on where ya sprouted up.
Since an Iowa archery tag is still requiring some preference points in most units, the price has apparently not reached it’s full potential.
^^^^^ business sector and maybe then they will rethink their model. Otherwise they rates are going up and guys will continue to pay to shoot average deer they cold have shot in their home state. Yes I know Iowa holds great deer , but let's face it, there isn't a 180 behind every tree. 660 for a deer tag?
I am sorry to say I walked away from Iowa 10 years ago. I have a couple of great farms I could get on but it just too expensive. Supply and Demand is the issue here. Once the number of applicants goes down the state might not be so greedy.
Iowa is in the middle east Huntcell :)
I think they should charge $1500. I bet there would still be a wait. I never could figure out why people complain about the price of tags, licenses, etc. It's really simple. If you ca nafford it then pay it, if you can't then find a cheaper option. As long as there is more demand than supply prices can and should go up. That's capitalism, and I fully support it. I drives me nuts that I see guys complaining about socialism in politics out one side of their mouth and then out the other side they are advocating for welfare related to cheap tags. I can't afford to apply for moose and sheep in many states. I don't bitch about it, I find things I can afford!
As the original poster of this topic I'm gonna/did pay the price and go and have a hell of a good time like I did 4 years ago and 4 years before that. I just feel like there are other opportunities for the archery hunter with some great sleeper states that have otc tags available for way less money.
I spent that much last fall to hunt Iowa and would do it again this year if I could but I have to wait a few years again. It’s all about priorities. It’s a world class hunting experience and worth it in my opinion. If people don’t want to do it that’s fine too
Brotsky, You make a great point. But the capitalism part that works is the outfitters managing the animals on private land.
They ask for and receive thousands of dollars to hunt those deer.
That is the capitalism portion.
The state government attaching itself like a leach to the source of Revenue is not.
All they do is administer the drawing.
Which can be done for $60-$150 as many states charge NRs to apply for whitetail.
As stated Above if they didn’t limit the numbers the quality would suffer
But I’ll bet most outfitters don’t net as much revenue as the state After their costs of doing business.
Outfitters don't dominate NR hunting in Iowa-yet
Call it gouging or whatever. But I know that it takes money to monitor and manage animals and harvests and whatever else they check out to establish their seasons and harvests. To buy and maintain public lands which are not overly abundant in IA is probably expensive as heck. Maybe $600+ is what it takes to maintain personnel and programs for managing forests and other wild areas in IA. I doubt they are building a gigantic wildlife state agency with the amount of cash they are bringing in. What they charge residents vs NRs can be debated I suppose. But it is what it is.
I bought 300 WI acres for the timber and deer hunting. I still think they are over pricing a public resource.
I have hunted whitetail in a number of states from the east coast to the Kansas/Iowa and from Texas to Alberta. In my opinion, Iowa is a whitetail hunters dream and none of the other locations I have hunted have rivaled the quality or quantity of good sized deer I saw. Is it worth $600 for the tag? Depends on your own situation and priorities, I would happily pay more if I didn't have to wait 4 years to hunt it.
A little off subject. I've lived in Illinois (my home state) & now Iowa 20 + years. I'm old, was never really a horn hunter in all my years but did become more selective on Bucks as I evolved & my kills mounted & I no longer shoot Does. No, I do not have a wall of biggies but I do have had many awesome, fun filled times in the wilds. I just loved bowhunting biggame. 15 states & 2 Canadian provinces. I wish those buying points & planning for many that once in my life time trip, good luck. Think of this, I've been on over 30 DIY Elk Bowhunts & my most expensive tag was like $35. I always bought Mule Deer too as there was few draw areas then.. Tons of states for Whitetail. My 1st out of state was Wisconsin & it was $10 for Deer, Bear & all small game with a bow. Wisconsin is still my favorite state to Deer hunt. My most expensive tags have been Wy. for Antelope with buying points & the tag (my 1st was 2010 at age 68). Draws & point costs "suck" but unfortunatley, that is the new norm in so many states. IF you love to hunt, save a little extra & make that dream hunt happen. In 1990 I took my son to Quebec for Caribou. I busted my arse working to save & make it happen. Yes, that was a ton of cash for me but defiantly worth what we experienced. Now, that hunt is one unreachable. Good Luck & if it doesn't cause a hardship with family, GO FOR IT..
When I studied Natural Resource management, and now managing guest fishing policy for a big private trout fishery, we regularly tested the willingness-to-pay threshold using different models. All states do that with hunting license fees. Iowa will find out how close they are to that threshold.
I 90% agree with Brotsky. I am about as right wing pro capitalism as they come. I don't begrudge a landowner for get the most he can for leasing his land and the guy or outfitter that leases and charges what he can get for his hunts.
The 10% come in when I look at hunting and I have always thought of it as more blue collared working mans pastime. In a lot of places it gets more and more out of reach for those guys. No doubt the opportunities still exist but they are harder to find each year.
Point being I hate to see it come to a time a guy not being able to take his son hunting somewhere reasonable close to home and have a fair shot at see a few of their target animals so that the next generation can be eaten up by hunting like I was when I was young. Edit to younger because I am not old yet at 43 :)
Compare that to $45k for a sheep hunt and it will seem like a bargain. Sucks but it’s reality.
An Iowa resident pays like $35 for a tag. The Iowa DNR needs X amount in their budget each year. I prefer blue collar Iowans pay $35 to hunt reasonably close to home and NR traveling horn hunters pay $600 to fill the coffers to that level required by the IA DNR. I guarantee 95% of the guys hunting IA from elsewhere have the opportunity to hunt whitetail deer at home. If IA made NR tags $300 and resident tags $150 would that be better? And for who exactly? The DNR needs the money, where is it going to come from?
"Point being I hate to see it come to a time a guy not being able to take his son hunting somewhere reasonable close to home and have a fair shot at see a few of their target animals so that the next generation can be eaten up by hunting like I was when I was young. Edit to younger because I am not old yet at 43 :) "
^....concur...my thoughts too. The wife has brought that up before as to why she doesn't want to go on any out of state hunts.
JohnMc- every guy within driving distance of Iowa can hunt whitetails at home with their son, at low cost and have a fair shot at some of their target animals
I think $35 is 100% reasonably for a in-state deer tag. I think $600 for a out-state deer tag is reasonably no one needs to go out of state to hunt. I just hate to see hunting get to the point a guy can't find a place to hunt with in a hour of home because all the private is lease up to the highest bidder and what little public there is overrun with hunters and void of game because there is no private available even though you may have know half the landowners in your area your whole life. By no way am I suggesting I want the government to get involved in leasing or do I expect a farmer to turn away large sums of money he can get for leasing. It is just an observation I see that I don't know that there is solution to.
The day is getting here that hunting will be the hardcore guys like most on bowsite. The guy that like to go out for a few day during rifle season maybe with son or daughter in tow will be such a daunting task that they just give up. I find that sad and probably bad for the future of hunting.
It is the job of a state to manage their state wildlife and make their constituents happy. If they have x amount of NR tags to hand out, their only concern is that those tags are purchased. If it takes 3 years to get a tag, its evidently still a bargain to the masses.
People will spend whatever it takes to stoke their ego. I understand out of state hunts for a species that is not available in the state you reside in. Paying money to hunt the same species that can be found in your backyard is just chasing dreams. I hunt out of state for Elk because the tag in Kansas is so hard to get but i would never put in for a deer tag somewhere else even in I lived in a state like New York or Florida. I hope every state keeps raising prices on every species until they can run a an efficient and effective DNR. Just remember all that tag money you spend doesn't help the resident hunters. I know the but the economic impact, In Kansas the non resident impact is .0003 of Gross domestic product.w
Some would say the 660-ish is still under-priced based on demand. Considering that the dozens of fundraising "governors tags" are bringing 15k+ apiece at auction.
In the state of Illinois all monies are dumped into a general fund. Politicians decide on what they're going to give to the DNR budget. Which they always shortchange.
My buddy owns about 400 acres in Iowa.He's a pheasant/ deer hunter lives in NJ.He called up DNR when they had the increase and they told him at this price they will sell as many Lic. as they need to!
A few years from now many will say: "Man I wish I could have hunted IA back in 2020 when it was only $660!" It won't stop there. Most places in the world hunting is a rich man's game. One day, North America will be the same. The question is how fast it happens. We are talking about a limited resource in a growing population. As the population and building expand, the resource gets even smaller. With one side growing and one side shrinking...you do the math. Right now is as good as it will ever be. Don't let this time go to waste.
I too disagree on the high cost of tags, and having to wait every 3-5 years to bow hunt Iowa is a turn off to me. Once I burn the tag I'm working on now-----I'm out!!
As the population of hunters gets smaller due to various reasons....that resource will only be hunted by those who choose and can afford to hunt it. In the end, we maybe asking ourselves why didn't we stop it when we had a chance instead of letting it get out of control? Why did we let the few in charge ruin it for the many? We would have ourselves to blame.
Great points made on all sides. I believe in the free market and Iowa and all states can continue to raise tags fees until supply/demand are in balance. I started bowhunting when i was young to get away from the orange crowd. Today it seems everybody now bow hunts and cross bows make the woods very crowded. Many guys travel to multiple states, so, whether you stay home or not, it is hard to get a quality experience on public ground. I see these hunting shows and industry people promoting taking kids and women into the outdoors. Where are we going to put them? I don't see those people hunting public or shared private. So they profit from their products, but, don't practice what they preach. Hunting, like golf, fishing, sightseeing - any hobby is expensive. When i hunt public ground, or private ground that let's everybody hunt it - i find that it's not as good as i wish it were. so, i find that i spend much more money than i should to try and get reasonable hunting as i don't have access to good, private ground. I have buyer's remorse because i spend more money on hunting than i believe i should. If i was starting again today - i would not hunt as i think it's too difficult to access a good experience - and is too crowded and expensive. But, i don't begrudge anybody that does, as most outdoorsmen are great guys. The world is just too crowded. But i have a choice to pay it, or not. Why would a state, landowner, outfitter charge a $1 if they can get $2. Sorry about the long post. Great subject. All the best to everybody.
$810.62 USA cost me $1115.24 Canadian
I think that states should reciprocate NR fees. So Iowans would pay the fees their states charge when they hunt out of state. Same for all states.
JL - " In the end, we maybe asking ourselves why didn't we stop it when we had a chance instead of letting it get out of control? Why did we let the few in charge ruin it for the many? We would have ourselves to blame."
I have to ask...as a non-resident of any state, not just Iowa, what control over licensing fees and/or tag allocations do you believe exists...other than boycotting as an individual? Non-residents don't vote or pay taxes in these states. Politicians and those appointed by politicians could care less what non-residents think about their prices/regulations.
The way I see it...I can bowhunt a quality whitetail state for two weeks during the rut, when most states are in the midst of general firearms season, for less than $2k including travel, food and lodging (split two ways with hunting partner). That's a damned cheap out of state vacation comparatively. Currently takes four points (five years) to draw the zone I hunt. That comes out to about $1/day for the entire hunt cost...tag and point fees included.
I think all states should accept Canadian money on par for tags and licences : )
Absolutely correct Ambush,
Ia is my home state, relocated out in 84, first yr for NR tag I pd $80 in 89 and the last tag I pd $325 in 2000 and took a very nice buck on a 10 acre public land. The land was starting to turn to black earth with an increase of leasing, always went back home for the pheasant hunt with some old buds. Just couldn't see sitting in an area that was once rich with game that got log off and tilled over and wait every 4 yrs to bow hunt. Spent the $ to hunt else where for NR bowhunting. Always said that Wi, Mn. should have a reciprocal NR tag. Ia had it all at one time for hunting, deer, ducks, pheasants, quail, grouse, woodcock, squirrels, rabbits and turkey, the turkey is about the only game bird left, sad commentary.
"I have to ask...as a non-resident of any state, not just Iowa, what control over licensing fees and/or tag allocations do you believe exists...other than boycotting as an individual? Non-residents don't vote or pay taxes in these states. Politicians and those appointed by politicians could care less what non-residents think about their prices/regulations."
I would agree most politician's could care less what a NR thinks as long as that NR individual spends money in their state. That is where the national organizations come in to play. Collectively, many voices are better than one. These organizations have the money, structure and platforms to advocate for their members and hunters. Money and the court of public opinion speak pretty loud to a state and their Chamber of Commerce's.
I'm not sure what you mean by tag allocations. Are you saying how many tags should be allocated for NR's?? If so, that is up to the states F&G depts or state legislators to figure out. If a state only wants a certain percent of the total tags to go to NR's....that is an internal decision. I don't see how an NR could do anything about that.
I’m ok with that, Rod, as long as we don’t have to score stuff in centimeters!
But Troy, a 120” whitetail would be 304.8 in metric!!!
Here's our experience trying to get a national organization involved in non resident license fee increases. I was one of the original members of an RMEF chapter organizing in northern Minnesota about early to maybe mid 90's. We were the only chapter in all of northern Minnesota at the time so our banquets drew well and sold out. Big bucks. We were sending near $25,000 per year to RMEF. About this time NR fees were increasing and as I remember other restrictions like I think New Mexico was requiring guides for NR's or talking about it. Anyway, we made several contacts with RMEF leadership suggesting they do an editorial, column, whatever, expressing their membership's frustration with the increases, etc. Try to shorten this. Was considerable back and forth. Gist of it was they told us they were not political and would not intercede. Said they discussed it at a board meeting. We asked for the minutes. They told us in writing the board minutes were confidential and we couldn't have them. Really. Wish I had that correspondence yet. Especially their last letter. We asked for a list of all chapters and the addresses and said we'd send a letter to all of them expressing our concern.
Next board meeting of our chapter, we read a letter from headquarters that said they considered our concern and desire to write all chapters and determined best course of action is we are pulling your charter and the Arrowhead chapter no longer exists. We looked at each other, and ordered another beer. Part of our continuing education.
Since then a number of other chapters have formed in northern Minnesota and even one where i live, but it is quite small. All avid elk hunters tho, just as I am, and , yes, I remained a member of RMEF and really appreciate the work they do.
JL - "I'm not sure what you mean by tag allocations. Are you saying how many tags should be allocated for NR's?? If so, that is up to the states F&G depts or state legislators to figure out. If a state only wants a certain percent of the total tags to go to NR's....that is an internal decision. I don't see how an NR could do anything about that."
Only included tag allocations because non-resident tag numbers factor directly into the quantity of preference points required to draw the tag. Roughly 25% of the "total" tag price is preference points in a four point unit. Don't get me wrong, I applaud the fact Iowa limits non-residents. Big part of why the tag is worth the money IMO.
Agree with APauls...these ARE the good ol' days. It wasn't that long ago Iowa didn't allow ANY non-resident hunting.
NR hunting licenses are a commodity for sale. Not unlike any other commodity. Some states' philosophies appear to be raise the price until total incoming cash starts to decrease...then back off a bit.
They only give out 6k tags a year They could raise the price even more and easily sell out every Year.
There will be a day when $660.62 will look pretty good. Remember when gas was .17 a gallon? It is a government agency. They never, never find ways to be more cost effective or efficient. Just look at the VA, the postal service, on and on it goes...where it stops no one knows. So we can fork out the $$$, or drop out of the game. But we get nowhere if we just complain.
"In the state of Illinois all monies are dumped into a general fund. Politicians decide on what they're going to give to the DNR budget. Which they always shortchange."
Yup and that's why Illinois public quality is a shadow of Iowa's. Politicians brought a fake NR quota and three months of crossguns to exploit the once great resource. Hoping the IBA can hold off the corrupt politicians as long as possible in Iowa. But the pressure has been relentless. Anywhere there'a a resource to exploit, it will attract politicians like flies to crap.
If MN charged IA reciprocal deer license fees, nobody would buy one. The experience wouldn't justify the cost.
Only 1% of Iowa is public land. So, what exactly is the Iowa Department of Natural Resources managing with their $600-plus tag fees? It seems private land owners are doing most of the wildlife management. I can see western states, with large percentages of public land, needing higher wildlife management budgets. But Iowa has less public land than any other state. What are they spending the money on?
Matt
Grey Ghost don’t go and give all the western states too much credit for large budgets. I am a 5th generation Oregonian. They keep taking more and more money and the results keep going down. Of course the Public Employees Retirement fund is BILLIONS in the red! They definitely need more money.
If you're a guy that's happy with a 120 inch buck, and there certainly isn't anything wrong with that, then $660 is sure not a bargain
If you're like me and REALLY want a 180+ whitetail to stare at on your wall, then it's downright cheap
And hell, I've never even hunted there. . . .
Brotsky's Link
Here you go Matt. You tell us.
6000 NR x $660 = $3,960,000
Whoop dee doo. What's CO bring in for NR fees?
...and the percentage of public is closer to 3% in Iowa.
It takes 4 P-Points to draw in unit 4 at $62 each ($248) and the tag is $660 so it's over $900 to bow hunt Iowa!!! Plus, a top of the line outfitter is between 5 & 6K. WOW!!!
I wouldn’t spend that kind of money to hunt Iowa when I can hunt my home state with the same quality deer for $24.00.
It’s a different story though to hunt a animal that we don’t have in our state. Then and only then would I find value in high tag fee’s.
Snag, You don't need to convince me. Burned 21 NR OR elk points last year and trying to burn 22 both deer & antelope in the same year 2020 to exit Oregon's game. 10% quota > 5% quota to now 2 1/2% quota. Heck outfitter welfare tags = NR tags. This is the year with dirt cheap airfare. I want out of that system ASAP.
One thing I did not like about Oregon is (at the time) if you just want a NR pref point, you had to buy a NR license before you could get just the PP only. I walked after 4 years of giving my money away to those clowns.
All you guys saying I hope they raise the price because you can afford it I’d like to see your stance when it gets raised to the point where you can’t - where then does that leave the average American hunter other than extinct?
The average American hunter doesn't hunt out of state.
^^^ this. It is really tiresome to hear how license prices are pricing the average guy out. Seriously? I agree with the leasing problem, especially in states with little public land. And not everybody can afford to hunt out of state. Hello? But otherwise, resident license fees are so cheap in the grand scheme, that everybody who wants to hunt can afford to hunt.
I started bowhunting in 1956 & had a shop/lanes from 1963 thru 1982. Like Ground Hunter said (The world is changing, I realize that, but my message to the Sitka and Kuiu crowd, the meat eater fans, etc,,,, is once upon a time, hunting was not about you, not about the scores, etc, it was about the experience, and you know what, it was about hoping the youngest hunter got the shot, on fair chase animals, without a camera behind them)., In my 70s like Groundhunter totally agree.
The public areas I've hunted in IA have food plots, TSI, and native prairie. All require management and expensive equipment to do or dollars to contract the work out. It also costs money to buy more land. Also requires dollars to study the animals and harvests, write reports, etc. In a lot of states deer license dollars support other wildlife management as well.
ahunter76 maybe try delivering hour message in a non-patronizing way and it might work. Clothing choice has zip to do with a persons attitude or interests. So what if a person buys a $200pair if pants that will last him 20 years. That’s $10/year for a fine pair of pants.
Hunting isn’t also defined by the way it was when you were young. Granted, we all wish it was still that way but it isn’t, and no amount of wishing or buying cotton camo will make it that way. We live in a new normal. That’s just the way it is. And 50years from now it will be different still
^^Well stated, APauls! I’m betting that most guys wearing Kuiu or Sitka gear are enjoying their “experience” every bit as much as the someone wearing woodland, tiger stripe, or no camo at all. I’d also venture a guess that the huge majority of them don’t have any cameras behind them, plus they would be tickled about the youngest hunter getting first crack at a critter as well.
I never got too sensitive about what camo another hunter wears. As long as it was quiet, if they were hunting with me.
Carry on, girls.
Matt
Saying it's about ego etc or rich guys blah blah blah.I can take you for 1 week during the rut where I grew up in SW Iowa and if you're from the SE you'll see more less wary bucks in 1 week with an honest chance at a biggie than you will in 5 years at home Don't want it stay home and quit complaining.There is a reason people want to go to Iowa.
Is Iowa really only 1% public land?
"I wouldn’t spend that kind of money to hunt Iowa when I can hunt my home state with the same quality deer for $24.00. It’s a different story though to hunt a animal that we don’t have in our state. Then and only then would I find value in high tag fee’s."
The quality of the hunt is 1000 times better in Iowa. That is largely due to their DNR. Hunting in WI is decent despite our DNR doing everything they can to screw it up. Just imagine if they actually knew how to manage a deer herd.
OK, my quick fact checking says Iowa is 2.8% public land, or to be clear, state and federal land.
I saw that Iowa had about 375,000 acres of public and that is slightly more than 1%, but if you live there you will have no problem getting permission somewhere if you are persistent. Also because there is so much cover to hunt on private, the public is very lightly hunted
Close to 3%, as midwest stated. The bigger question is, how much of it is miles and miles of prairie farmland, that holds basically 0 deer numbers.
In my 25 years of hunting there I've seen the state acquire some pretty big new chunks for public within my zone alone. I imagine that is where some of the money has been going. If that's the case it's fine with me. Best WT quality in the country.
4nolz@work, that has been my experience. I see more nice deer in a week of hunting IA than I see in 10 years in MN. If not longer.
Who would you recomend for archery outfitters in Iowa? got the points and time to have a great hunt.
Not sure on the price thing as far as what is right but the laws of supply and demand definitely would make one believe they could get quite a bit more. Also interesting is the amount that our Governors auction tags go for , they bring between 9000.00-15,000 and that is one deer and only one season. Some of the above post asked what the DNR does with the money. Living here I think they actually do a pretty good job. Some of my farms had crazy high deer numbers called they sent a biologist out and issued tags to correct the problem. There are also programs like Reap and EQip that fund conservation projects on private land.
casper, PM the guy who made the post right below yours...Hans 1.
I have $ tied up in 5 points but not really complaining. Yes, it is a expensive tag when you compare it to some states put I’ll just hunt public and still think it is reasonable to try Iowa at least once. I hunted in Alberta once for Whitetails and this is much cheaper with a chance for a good quality animal.
Another consideration. Resident license fees have not increased nearly has fast as the NR fees. The high NR license fee allows states to keep their resident fees low enough so the average guy can take his kids hunting and have a great experience. NR fees have very little to do with the 3R's . Recruiting new hunters takes place at the grass roots level, not across state lines.
$2,000 is too much for a moose tag???? Your only other option is to go north and spend 10x that, maybe more. I would hunt moose every year for $2,000.
I wonder just how many of the biggest complainers actually ever hunt anywhere out of state. Most of us who do are glad to have the opportunity and glad to pay for the privilege.
Why is anyone suprised? That is what Iowa has been charging, or close to it, for quite a few years now. There are less expensive places to go if you don't want to pay what Iowa is asking.
For $670 you can get a Colorado non-resident either sex elk tag and a fishing license, every year. Just saying.
;-)
Matt
I guess I don’t see the big deal. If you don’t want to hunt in Iowa, don’t worry about the cost and if you want to hunt here.... I guess that’s the price now. 660$ is not that much especially since what’s it take 4 years to draw.... put money in a jar. That’s not much to save a year. Hell thats how I’m saving to do my Yukon hunt. I’m not rich at all, but by god I’m gonna go. That’s how I paid for all my Quebec hunts and mule deer hunts.... save for something you want to do! Lots of states to hunt white tails a lot cheaper and easier. Go hunt there.
Yes, that is how much it costs to hunt in Iowa.
JSW......my comment on the $2,000 Wyoming moose tag was said tongue in cheek (for the most part) The gist of my comment was more about my poor luck in trying to draw that particular tag (or any other premium tag, for that matter) and when I finally DO draw that tag, I’m not going to put in for it any longer.
If you are a NR wanting to come home to hunt the family farm do you get a tag or is it a 4 year wait, $660 to bow hunt a long weekend with family?
Let's double it to 1200 just to keep out the riff raff!
Glunker not archery.If you are a landowner you are first to draw leftover(doe) tags valid for gun only and only on that property.Otherwise NRs would be buying up Iowa like Illinois
There is also a Holiday deer license for NR meant to be for people coming home.Valid only ~12/25-1/1 only bought it person only if tags left (usually not in zone4) late muzzleloader only
Blinker- my dad and uncle live in iowa. My kids go down thier to hunt with grandpa each year on over the counter doe tags for thier shotgun season. With sports and every other kid thing the December seasons work for us. Too bad it run me over a grand last year for those 3 tags. Yes- that much for doe tags, but it’s the only way I can get them to spend woods time with grandpa so I save for that and pay it
And tags are transferrable in shotgun so your kids shoot bucks and grandpa tags them legally
My home County always sells out before anything can be bought OTC it's best to reapply first come first served online when they become available
"For $670 you can get a Colorado non-resident either sex elk tag and a fishing license, every year. Just saying."
For $1330 you can get both :)
Kansas with the mule deer stamp and the cc fee was $700 out the door. WY in the Special draw is about the same.
I'm putting in for all 3 of the above, but I do have a line. I don't put in for AZ bison just out of protest because I feel the price is ridiculous. Dropped out of WY bison, sheep, and moose too. I don't see how they can justify charging so much for a mandatory PP that basically has no value.
I will be hunting zone 4 in the southwest corner and am lucky enough for the last 2 trips I just knocked on doors to gain permission for the 2 weeks I'm there and hoping that happens again. Most of the time they say shoot as many as you possibly can.
Most of my views have been expressed by 4nolz, Brotsky & Bake, but I'll add a couple things.
Hunting is inexpensive. Hunting whitetails is extremely inexpensive. The horn porn industry and the "HEY LOOK AT ME!!!" mag/tv/video/internet/social media crowd has increased demand for more antler inches in the belief that killing a "world class" buck will also add inches to one's male appendage. Let those that want the recognition, the challenge, the vacation, the adventure, the whatever, spend whatever they want on trying to kill a big buck. Not a single kid or meat hunter from a whitetail state has been denied the opportunity to kill something at a low cost.
And for anyone from a non-whitetail state crying about it, I say a good natured "screw you". I'm dropping a minimum of $700 in fees in your states to have elk just laugh at me. ;o)
When most get over their first world problems, they may realize we have it pretty darn good as hunters in this country.
I’ll gladly pay the $700 and wait my 3-4 years to hunt public land whitetail in Iowa. It is 100x better than I have here in Michigan. I would not pay $700 or wait 3-4 years to elk hunt public land in Colorado.
"I would not pay $700 or wait 3-4 years to elk hunt public land in Colorado."
Crap....guilty again! That's EXACTLY my strategy in Colorado! (except the $700 being a few hundred short)
Shrewski "hunt public land whitetail in Iowa." Trust me you don't even need to hunt public just go knock on doors
Boone what County/town in Zone 4 are you getting permission.I can't think of a decent timber in Montgomery Co without a local already bowhunting it
" I would not pay $700 or wait 3-4 years to elk hunt public land in Colorado."
Funny, I thought every hunter in Michigan invades Colorado for elk season every year. Sure seems that way.
I don't know, I guess whitetails don't trip my trigger that much. I've killed plenty them, including some dandy bucks, but I just don't get the same thrill from them as I do from elk. Heck, I'd rather spend $47 on a non-resident Florida fishing license, and catch tarpon all year around, instead of $660-plus for a IA whitetail.
To each his own.
Matt
Best Iowa buck. Tooth aged 5.5 y.o.
Best Iowa buck. Tooth aged 5.5 y.o.
Longbow elk
Longbow elk
Fly rod Florida tarpon
Fly rod Florida tarpon
Boys, I’m good. I like to do lots of different things in different places. I’ve not found much success knocking on doors in Iowa so I just do my best in public land.
I’d like to get a better elk and rubbing shoulders with all the guys in Colorado is not how I’m going to do it.
And one tarpon in Florida was good for me.
Everybody has their own way of doing things and I was just pointing out there are worse things than the way Iowa does their NR deer and I don’t mind waiting or paying that $660 for a quality DIY experience. Beats $4000+ for someone to babysit you.
"Beats $4000+ for someone to babysit you."
We agree on that. I don't understand how a hunter derives any satisfaction from killing animals that someone else scouted, patterned, set stands for, and determined how and when to hunt. Much less, pay thousands of $$ for that experience. Figuring things out for myself is where the challenge and fun is at for me.
But, again, to each his own.
Matt
GH, yes I hunted with Ron’s bows pretty hard for 5-6 years; about the time I realized there was Bowsite/Leatherwall. Obvious handle for 100% Polish guy...
That was a 58” Takedown Chameleon with bamboo cores.
I actually have a lefty I bought for my son many years ago. He prefers another brand. Shoot me a PM and I can make you a good deal.
Back to Iowa deer, they do a really good job with the little public land they have IMO.
People talk about , tag fees, outfitter cost, room, board and gas to get there. I will come from NY this year and hunt roughly 20 days in Iowa and Nebraska and including my cost for everything will be at roughly 2400 and that includes 225 or so for NE tags. I think that is a bargain!! Of course I will hunt public andmaybe some private and I will stay in my camper and make my own meals. Again if you plan and save where you can an out of state DIY can be done pretty cheap!! Shawn
Shawn are you gun hunting it seems like you go to Iowa alot if it's bowhunting I'd like to hear how you do it.
Shawn - really impressive. Good for you. I hope you have a great hunt doing things the way they used to be and still should be IMO
It's only 4 and 5 that take a long time to draw. You can bowhunt Iowa pretty much every other year if you want.
What zones? The draw statistics from past years are available.What zone can you draw with 1 point
You can hunt any of Iowa if you know someone that owns property
RK not with a bow.At least not legally.Doe only tags are not available for NR bow and aren't transferrable.
That’s not the case anymore, Ike. The zone I live in used to be that way, but they’ve reduced the archery permits (for some unknown reason). Now, it usually takes 2 pp going into the draw anymore.
Well, it's amazing to see all the different views on this subject. Illinois suffered from the same big buck fever as Iowa and it seems to being calming down in recent years due to blue tongue die offs. I know of guys who were paying 20k for 1000 acre lease in pike cty and they walked away from it due to lack of "quality" bucks. Another friend of mine has hunted next to that same property for the last ten or so years and still to this day, has Yet to shoot a "quality " buck. The power of porn horn is amazing, as mentioned in prior posts, for some reason it turns the cranks of Hunter to shoot a 180 buck, makes them feel like they have accomplished something great, fine. As mentioned earlier , having someone do all the work and then Hunter is led to a trophy and they shoot, once again fine, if that's they way you want to hunt, I call that more like waiting. I guess a trophy needs to be qualified d by each Hunter, and how you get to that point of the shot needs to be satisfying for you and you only. For me, every deer I shoot off of heavily hunted public land in IL is a trophy, be it a spike, doe or a buck, for I do it with a longbow and sometimes a recurve. The skill in learning a trad bow is something that needs to be worked on year round in order to stay sharp and accurate. Never have I walked out of the woods with a deer regardless of size do I ever feel like I have shot a lesser animal, because every deer I shoot is a trophy, period. So for you all wanting a challenge , put down the high tech bows, pick up a stick and go to the woods this season and kill a trophy, regardless of horn size. I bet you will get a satisfaction like no other animal you have killed with high tech, when you realize what you have accomplished.
GET OFF MY FOOD PLOT!!!!!
This was bugging me again when I was out for a jog. Started doing math in my head, so it’s $900 all in (4 years pp and 600$ tag). Obviously if you’re putting in for points you KNOW you are going to draw your zone in 4 years for sure. That’s 4.32$ a week. If you can’t save that, you are in big trouble and may want to consider another hobby.
You guys are lucky. If I could hunt Iowa for $900, ($4,387 CA) I‘d be tickled. I can hunt whitetails here and there are some beauties, but anytime I (you) leave my home province (your state) it becomes more like an adventure vacation. And $900 is one cheap vacation!
"So for you all wanting a challenge , put down the high tech bows, pick up a stick and go to the woods this season and kill a trophy, regardless of horn size. I bet you will get a satisfaction like no other animal you have killed with high tech, when you realize what you have accomplished."
Sorry, but changing weapons would not change my perception of whitetail deer. I would not kill a yearling buck if we had a spear season. Dumbest animal in the woods IMO, and at my age, I have zero desire to kill one. Never say never...but I'd pretty much have to be starving first. Killed plenty of mature bucks under twenty yards over the years. Biggest buck ever (antler wise) was a fifteen yard shot. Satisfaction comes from getting that close to a seasoned old buck on his turf undetected...not what I shoot it with.
Some of those stickbow hunters pick up a compound when they draw Iowa :)
Mike, been to Iowa a lot, hunted once but that was years ago. I do know guys who used to hunt every other year but now it's tough to draw with one point. Shawn
You've only hunted once? Man you sure give alot of advice ;) :) Hope you get your 150"er :)
heck I remember when you could bowhunt with a doe tag...they closed all those temting loopholes long ago they dont allow fall NR turkey for the same reason.
Couldn't have said it better pav. Coming from MN where if I see a 2.5 year old it's a big deal, to go to IA and hunt is a whole different ballgame. Big bucks are just a whole different critter and watching them do what whitetail bucks are supposed to do just makes hunting way more interesting. It's not just horn porn, it's their behavior as a whole. I'd pay double what they're asking and if it was more than that, I'd find a way to pay......or I'd maybe have to move there. I'd have to drag the wife kicking and screaming, but it might have to be done. LOL.
12 the last buddy I hosted at my place in SW Iowa couldnt believe it.The buck he shot he said he watched him do everything deer do-he chased does,worked scrapes and rubs,fuzzed up and fought,bred a doe then laid down and slept.He couldnt believe it and said he couldnt even get enthused about hunting in SC when he got home.Its an incredible experience.
100% of the stickbow hunters that I know pick up the gun as soon as that season opens. All that crap they talk about working on their skill year round goes out the window. The skill is in getting close and if I get close with a compound or a recurve, both require the same skill. I’ve shot big ones with both and the farthest shot was 20 but the average is under 12. I do however hunt on my own property which really makes shooting booners easy
Are you not recovering all these booners you’re shooting, 1booner? Your handle has me a bit confused.
I pick up a shotgun because it gives me another tag to take a deer. Took a nice doe at 40 yards. Shooting a compound vs a trad bow is not the same, at all. Shooting private land deer vs public land deer is also very different. Shooting a trad bow year round is necessary to be accurate whereas all of the compound guys I know pick their bows up in August and shoot a few here and there to make sure their sight pins haven't moved since last season. Saying trad and compound is the same is crap talk.
"Shooting private land deer vs public land deer is also very different."
^...this
Yes, that is how much it costs to hunt in Iowa.
Iowa is as good as it gets when it comes to mature whitetail deer. If you are a nonresident you will pay a hefty price for the opportunity and have to wait to do so. We can argue all day whether the tag price is too high...but it is what it is. A bow tag is the most difficult tag to draw in Iowa. The number of bow tags is restricted. Everyone wants to hunt the November rut. A gun tag is a LOT easier to draw. However, archery equipment can not be used during the shotgun seasons. You CAN draw a late muzzleloading season tag with only one or two preference points in most zones. Archery equipment is legal to use during the late season which runs from the Monday before Christmas until about January 10. Hunting can be excellent IF you have a nearby food source (think uncut soybean or corn field). Late season hunting concentrates the deer to the few remaining food sources. Your chances of shooting a mature buck is excellent. It can be even better than the November rut. I sometimes see 50+ deer during a morning hunt this time of year. Potential problem is that many mature bucks will have busted racks from fighting after early November. I know what I am talking about. I own and hunt private property in SE Iowa.
when do the results come out?
Ollie- Not positive but lesser weapon rule doesn’t apply for nr- pretty sure
midwest's Link
NR has the option to hunt with bow or handgun during any muzzleloader season in Iowa.
Sorry about the bad link.
The late muzzleloader season is open for ,archery,crossbow and pistols. Early Muzzleloader season is muzzleloader only. The Regular Gun Seasons 1-2 are shotgun,Mz or pistols and now many straight wall cartridges but archery is not legal for those strange as it is it’s always been that way.
They need to get that changed, Steve. Never understood why I can't bowhunt during gun season.
Also, early muzzy not open for NR.
^....that does seem odd you can't use a bow during gun season. You wouldn't need to apply for just the bow season. Of course folks would complain if guns were allowed during bow season. Does it take a while to draw a gun tag??
Not as long as a bow tag.
That's kinda what I guessed. I suppose the gun hunters would get PO'd if bowhunters were buying gun tags to bow hunt during gun season. Maybe that's the reason bows aren't allowed during gun season??
I doubt many NR's would buy a gun tag to hunt one of the 5 or 9 day seasons in December with a bow.
its probably to avoid conflicts and for safety
I don't know what conflicts or safety concerns there would be. We'd have to wear orange, too.
If a NR could draw a gun tag without points (I did), I can see bowhunters doing that.....especially if they have a good place tp hunt.
The original reason that bow hunting is not allowed in the regular gun season is the same reason it was split into 2 seasons,safety. Historically Iowa had terrible hunters safety I think the worst year we had 46 people shot most was drive hunters during shotgun season. That tradition is fading away as most groups do not have the land they used to. In today’s Iowa with so much of the quality habitat owned,leased and managed this could be changed but is a fair trade to have all of Oct and Nov to our self.
The late deer season is open for archery but you can’t use archery to kill a deer with a muzzleloader tag. You must use an archery tag. A non resident can hunt the late season but he must have an archery tag to use a bow
That's not correct 1boonr. This straight from the NR deer application guide....
Iowan here. I'd say the nonresident cost is due to residents paying taxes that go to supporting the Iowa DNR. If we want to be able to use resources without borders, I think the way forward is either reciprocity agreements between states or for more of the funding to be managed and distributed federally. That way we're all paying our share for the management costs.
Now allowing rifles using straight walled cartridge.
Next step is any rifle...... would that make an impact on big bucks numbers since shotguns and muzzleloaders easily handle plus 200 yard kills now.