LO Battle Ahead?

[Hammsolo]

No its not, not even close.

Sure a Gila tag may go for that but that is only a tiny fraction of the total landowner tags in the EPLUS program. The vast majority of the tags are in northern NM with elk herds that have significantly benefited and grown in size (some have doubled or more in the last decade) and these mature bull tags go for 3-8k.

If you follow the listings for people selling NM landowner tags, they all start out very inflated in price. The vouchers will be released here shortly and the market will be flooded with hundreds of extremely overpriced tags. Last year in the first two weeks the hunt I was interested in buying ranged from 10k-18k. Those same listings started to significantly drop after about a month and by mid August most were in the 6-9k range. I ended up not purchasing one but after I filled my early archery tag in the unit, I looked again to see about getting one for my wife and we called a guy that had one posted for $4500 (12 days into the early season so 3 days left to buy and set it for the second season) and offered him $3500 and was countered at $3800. We thought about it that evening and decided to head home instead.

This was an extremely fantastic hunt so don't tell me its 12k for a LO tag as being standard.

That’s great. When I looked it must have been like you did, but you argued everyone’s point. The average hunter cannot afford these tags. If we’re looking for ways for ranchers to make money it does accomplish that. What is the benefit to the average resident hunter?

 

[Hammsolo]

Some quick math:
Wyoming 2025 elk application cost me $2014.13
$1950 that was held for about 4 months. My high interest savings account pays roughly 1.5% monthly = $1950 * 1.5/12 compounded = $9.77 lost interest.
2025 Elk PP cost = $53.30
Total 2025 out of pocket cost for a roughly 1/20 chance at an elk tag = $127.20.

Lets say this same hunt takes 12 points to draw by the time you do this for 12 years to earn 12 years of points which would mean applying for 13 years.
12 years of applying and failing = $127.20 * 12 = $1526.40.
13th year, $2014.13 app cost and securing the tag.
Total elk tag cost assuming by a miracle none of these prices increase over 13 years = $1526.40 + $2014.13 = $3540.53

That sure is an expensive elk tag for a slightly above average unit. The unit I referenced above in NM has had about a 1/20 chance to draw the tag the last few years. $4k is about the going rate - not the inflated huge money maker that everyone is making these tags out to be.

$4,000 isn’t huge inflated money?

 

[seeth07]

$4,000 isn’t huge inflated money?

no, that's the going rate in which the F&G agencies are basically selling elk tags for. Not 10-20k like people are stating they are being sold for.

 

[Archer86]

no, that's the going rate in which the F&G agencies are basically selling elk tags for. Not 10-20k like people are stating they are being sold for.

What state is getting 4 k for a elk tag?

 

[seeth07]

What state is getting 4 k for a elk tag?

Wyoming, or getting close to it - see my math above.

 

[seeth07]

What state is getting 4 k for a elk tag?

Idaho is right there too. Most of their controlled elk hunt draws are about 5% draw odds and you are paying $200+ to apply. 20 years of trying x $200/year = 4k

 

[Archer86]

Wyoming, or getting close to it - see my math above.

Your math sucks. When Did wyoming change to a 2000 dollar special tag wasn't 13 years ago.....

You make the choice to apply for the special and the fact you apply every year to try for a random tag can't be included in the cost of the elk tag. At 13 points in wyoming as a non resident I would have hunted probabaly 3 to 4 tags at this point and at the regular price so for what you are paying for one tag I would have had 3 at a minimum plus some cow tags mixed in there.

Maybe re think your app strategy

 

[seeth07]

If you want a real number of what WY is selling NR Elk tags for, go find the number of NR applications including the breakdown of special vs regular from this last draw. From that determine the processing fee collected as well as the app fee. Find the number of total points that were purchased in 2024 from NR. Add those revenues together with the revenue generated from the actual licenses sold and then divide that total by the actual license total number. That would be a total cost/elk tag that WY is receiving and you would be shocked by how much they are making each year from each license sold mainly due to the huge amount of revenue coming in on the points being purchased by folks without a brain like myself that were sold they would help me draw a tag

 

[seeth07]

Your math sucks. When Did wyoming change to a 2000 dollar special tag wasn't 13 years ago.....

You make the choice to apply for the special and the fact you apply every year to try for a random tag can't be included in the cost of the elk tag. At 13 points in wyoming as a non resident I would have hunted probabaly 3 to 4 tags at this point and at the regular price so for what you are paying for one tag I would have had 3 at a minimum plus some cow tags mixed in there.

Maybe re think your app strategy

no, I'm trying to make it comparable to a hunt that has about a 5% random chance of drawing a decent tag. That isn't necessarily my strategy but an example of what it could cost for the same tag. The 4k LO tag in NM comes with about that 5% draw odds.

 

[Matthew57]

If you want a real number of what WY is selling NR Elk tags for, go find the number of NR applications including the breakdown of special vs regular from this last draw. From that determine the processing fee collected as well as the app fee. Find the number of total points that were purchased in 2024 from NR. Add those revenues together with the revenue generated from the actual licenses sold and then divide that total by the actual license total number. That would be a total cost/elk tag that WY is receiving and you would be shocked by how much they are making each year from each license sold mainly due to the huge amount of revenue coming in on the points being purchased by folks without a brain like myself that were sold they would help me draw a tag

I think you’re dreaming if you believe a 12 point equivalent Wyoming elk tag will go for $4K.

 

[Buschy]

I do fully trust and believe to be true when Buzz says, to the effect, that if there was a state with better elk hunting and better elk hunting for residents he'd be living there yesterday.

This is why I am planning a move to WY in the very near future, just need to sell our house. Anyone else can do the same.

 

[cgasner1]

I think if lo can sell tags I should be able to sell mine also.

 

[Treeshark]

I think if lo can sell tags I should be able to sell mine also.

Now you’re just toying with my emotions.

 

[BuzzH]

From the article:

"That includes organizations willing to help ranchers recoup losses for such things as forage eaten by wildlife and damage to ranch property, without requiring public access in return, she [Jess Johnson] said.

I have a pretty good idea of what crop damage payouts look like in WI regarding the elk herd in the Jackson County area. Can anyone provide some context or numbers to what it looks like in WY?

Should I tell you or let you do your own digging...heard a smart assed answer like that somewhere.

 

[Archer86]

This is why I am planning a move to WY in the very near future, just need to sell our house. Anyone else can do the same.

This is a very common statement this time of year. It's funny how many people are going to move because they can't get elk tags every year in wyoming.

 

[Dan-06]

This is a very common statement this time of year. It's funny how many people are going to move because they can't get elk tags every year in wyoming.

I’m sure glad most don’t. Leaves me plenty of room. I usually hunt general in the wilderness. See some one else about every other year . Usually a lost outta stater.

 

[hank4elk]

It's funny.
I could not give away a tag for my unit 10 years ago. Outfitters paid $1500-3000. Bull,Any Weapon.
A couple state records in the unit changed all that. That and odds dropping to a hope and a prayer.

 

[rjthehunter]

You missed the part where we do not have a elk population problem. Atleas least not an under population problem.

If you read the headlines, we have too many. We have an access problem. But in reality access is not horrible in most cases.

You hunt twice the elk, twice the tags and half the land and let me know how it goes for you.

Access decreases as the price to hunt and imaginary prestige of elk, deer, antelope, goes up.

More people get involved when it affects them personally. Like it or not, if a guy can only hunt wyoming once every 6-10 years, do you think they'll put much effort into access? Now what if they were hunting it every couple of years? I bet more would be inclined to help.

I could direct my money and efforts to access initiatives in states that have potential to impact me every year or two. Access is gained with popularity. More hunters leads to more effort being put towards access opportunities and conservation. "the best conservationists are hunters"

 

[Archer86]

More people get involved when it affects them personally. Like it or not, if a guy can only hunt wyoming once every 6-10 years, do you think they'll put much effort into access? Now what if they were hunting it every couple of years? I bet more would be inclined to help.

I could direct my money and efforts to access initiatives in states that have potential to impact me every year or two. Access is gained with popularity. More hunters leads to more effort being put towards access opportunities and conservation. "the best conservationists are hunters"

You can hunt wyoming every year if you put in a little effort. I could easily have a bull elk tag every year if I didn't live in a western state its not as easy as it was 5 years ago but you guys complaining because you cant hunt the state of your choice on the drop of a hat is funny.

 

[Buschy]

This is a very common statement this time of year. It's funny how many people are going to move because they can't get elk tags every year in wyoming.

I hope I am not misunderstanding something. I have never had a problem getting or filling elk tags. We average two to three bulls a year at our house, in multiple states usually.

WY hunting is a significant factor in our decision to move, so is the absolute, uncontrolled insanity that is the state of Colorado.