Unofficial WY app numbers

[shb]

I fear my days of paying for the regular are over. It burns me that it's just a money thing and it keeps people out, but that's the current system so I'll use it. $600 for an antelope every year is pricey; hope the doe tags don't go up.

Well be buring points on doe tags before you know it.

 

[Schaaf]

Resident increases I can buy that. NR increases not so much. If I am concerned about my finances and livelihood I am not traveling across the county to kill a couple lopes. Now a sheep is another story .....

Crazy to me. I held off on most of my out of state apps this year.

 

[antelopedundee]

I expect the leftover draw to be more competitive as well. The number of buck and doe tags for the area I will hopefully get was reduced by 100 each.

 

[rmyoung1]

Crazy to me. I held off on most of my out of state apps this year.

Same here. Our business was sucking wind right through the Colorado/Nevada app deadlines. I stayed on the sidelines. I’m honestly surprised my experience/decision wasn’t more widespread. Hopefully, that’s a good thing for our economy. Or maybe just the hunters burning their last dollars.

 

[Pucky Freak]

I’d guess a significant factor is the “Fresh Tracks” effect. More media and info on DIY Western hunting than ever before has cut a lot of barriers for R’s and NR’s from jumping into the game. Great news for the long-term mission of creating NA public land advocates. But in order to catch the bug and get the passion to be an advocate, you first have to experience the wonder of Western big game hunting. That means short-term growing pains of more competition, and increased tag competition, which is acutely felt by folks who’ve been at it a long time. If we can gradually translate public land advocacy into more public access, and higher game numbers, we all win. If we gripe about the growing pains we are a circular firing squad.

Some people still gripe about the added publicity and promotion of Western hunting, but the cat’s out of the bag now. If in some parallel universe it had been kept on the DL, maybe locals would have enjoyed the glory days longer, only to see it taken away for future generations due to not enough allies and advocacy. See case studies of basically every other nation.

 

[Pucky Freak]

Personally, I really enjoy doe hunts, which (for now) are still a cheap and easy way to hunt all over the place, enjoy the outdoors, and tromp around in new places. It’s all stars and rainbows. But if horn-hunting is your main game, I can see why the ever-growing challenge to get a good tag is a major frustration.

 

[thomas89]

I’d guess a significant factor is the “Fresh Tracks” effect. More media and info on DIY Western hunting than ever before has cut a lot of barriers for R’s and NR’s from jumping into the game. Great news for the long-term mission of creating NA public land advocates. But in order to catch the bug and get the passion to be an advocate, you first have to experience the wonder of Western big game hunting. That means short-term growing pains of more competition, and increased tag competition, which is acutely felt by folks who’ve been at it a long time. If we can gradually translate public land advocacy into more public access, and higher game numbers, we all win. If we gripe about the growing pains we are a circular firing squad.

Some people still gripe about the added publicity and promotion of Western hunting, but the cat’s out of the bag now. If in some parallel universe it had been kept on the DL, maybe locals would have enjoyed the glory days longer, only to see it taken away for future generations due to not enough allies and advocacy. See case studies of basically every other nation.

My fear with this mentality is people don't truly "understand" the why. It is excellent to get people out, but in my opinion access is only touching the surface. Hard to explain, but I'm thinking (and hope I'm wrong) that the increase in these numbers is just superficial to the big game hunting world. Once these tags get really hard to draw, how many are going to stick around and continue to care about the public lands "community" and all the issues that outdoorsmen are facing?

I think this movement of new western big game hunters is absolutely lacking in the woodsman ship skills that were a foundation to my and probably many others outdoor experiences. Personally that is what really led me to my passions for the outdoors. Of all the outdoor channels there seems to be very little by way of basic woodsman ship skills information and teaching. Perhaps it was more important as a midwestern whitetail hunter growing up to read sign and track than is necessary in the west. I can't help but think that foundation is what got into my blood. When most of the content leads you to believe that all you need to do is buy gucci gear and workout hardcore and get OnX for hunting success.

I know for sure I've seen this in the waterfowl community, largely in part to the social media age, but it's no longer about the ducks. It's about making a pile and d*ck measuring. When public land is tough to come by or difficult to access, the answer seems "just find a lease". Can't help but think that this is where big game hunting is heading...throw some money at it and you'll still be able to pursue it. The care doesn't seem to be on the game itself, it's on the reacts you get.

 

[Zach]

Colorado had a huge resident fishing license increase. 208,000 people bought licenses, 70,000 more than in 2019. I think people are looking for new things to do.

This will increase again with the new numbers having to purchase a license to access SWA's. Increase in dollars for CPW but won't be a true representation of people actually hunting/fishing.

 

[NoWiser]

Every year people try to explain application increases and point creep with a variety of reasons. The fact is, they all pale in comparison to youtube, Internet forums, GoHunt, and OnX. Increases like this year are to be expected every single year for the foreseeable future. Plan accordingly.

 

[shootbrownelk]

Colorado had a huge resident fishing license increase. 208,000 people bought licenses, 70,000 more than in 2019. I think people are looking for new things to do.

I thought everyone from Colorado fished in Wyoming.

 

[Pucky Freak]

Undoubtedly the increase in participation is driven by the image presented by hunting media of matching camo, gizmos, technology, shortcuts, horn porn, social media bragging/approval, and bro culture, or some variation thereof. Outdoor channels exist that showcase ecosystems, learning skills, heritage, conservation, etc, but unless you can slap some $ on those subjects and monetize with ads, sponsors, etc., these efforts maintain a small scope of influence.

Are the ends worth the means to promote something like MtOps, which has no actual value? Does the new glitzy outdoorsperson become interested in advocacy once they spent more time in natural places that matter? I hope some do. When I take people out I talk about the angle the sun travels through out the day, the contents of a galliform’s crop, and energy expenditures of deer dependent on snow conditions. Most people are bored but a few take interest.

 

[Bigjay73]

I thought everyone from Colorado fished in Wyoming.

Someone has to support those dirt farmers

 

[Bigjay73]

This will increase again with the new numbers having to purchase a license to access SWA's. Increase in dollars for CPW but won't be a true representation of people actually hunting/fishing.

Solid point

 

[oilcan]

I fear my days of paying for the regular are over. It burns me that it's just a money thing and it keeps people out, but that's the current system so I'll use it. $600 for an antelope every year is pricey; hope the doe tags don't go up.

When the odds dictate it I always apply in the special draw.i would much rather have a tag then a few hundred extra $ in my bank account.

 

[shb]

I’d guess a significant factor is the “Fresh Tracks” effect. More media and info on DIY Western hunting than ever before has cut a lot of barriers for R’s and NR’s from jumping into the game. Great news for the long-term mission of creating NA public land advocates. But in order to catch the bug and get the passion to be an advocate, you first have to experience the wonder of Western big game hunting. That means short-term growing pains of more competition, and increased tag competition, which is acutely felt by folks who’ve been at it a long time. If we can gradually translate public land advocacy into more public access, and higher game numbers, we all win. If we gripe about the growing pains we are a circular firing squad.

Some people still gripe about the added publicity and promotion of Western hunting, but the cat’s out of the bag now. If in some parallel universe it had been kept on the DL, maybe locals would have enjoyed the glory days longer, only to see it taken away for future generations due to not enough allies and advocacy. See case studies of basically every other nation.

That's a fair point but there's never going to be less demand, or more land. Or more animals.

Thats a pipe dream.

No one realizes the tipping point we've reached.

 

[Shangobango]

That's a fair point but there's never going to be less demand, or more land. Or more animals.

Thats a pipe dream.

No one realizes the tipping point we've reached.

Animal populations change almost every year. To say there will never be more animals seems rather inaccurate.

I’m still green when it comes to western hunting, western species, and conservation issues pertaining to both, but I really hope as I continue down the paths I don’t succumb to a doom and gloom attitude about them.

 

[grosventre]

This seems to be the common theme across the west. I know Nevada was way up too.

 

[Steve Petersen]

Well I because an official WY resident this year. My 2 sons and I all got antelope tags. Will be getting my boys each youth gen elk & MD tags. I’m happy to be part of that increase in numbers. HOWEVER I’d love to see more stats for youth hunters.

 

[Keeptrying]

Resident increases I can buy that. NR increases not so much. If I am concerned about my finances and livelihood I am not traveling across the county to kill a couple lopes. Now a sheep is another story .....

People are sick of their wives, kids, and houses. Traveling with friends to drink, camp(hotel for most), and shoot stuff probably sounds like a great idea.

 

[ClearCreek]

People are sick of their wives, kids, and houses. Traveling with friends to drink, camp(hotel for most), and shoot stuff probably sounds like a great idea.

Actually quite a few of those antelope hunters will have their wives (or girl friends), and/or kids with them when they travel to antelope country to hunt.

ClearCreek