Utah fees increase: keep applying?

[Alabama]

With the new fee increases this year and the potential of significant increases in the future, what are your plans?

I know I may be the minority here, but the actual tag fee increases don't really bother me. I'll pay good money for a tag that has the potential to be a great hunt. It's the non-refundable license and app fees (for terrible odds that keep getting worse) that bother me the most.

If you choose to walk away, leave a response on how many points you have currently. I'm choosing to apply this year (with last year's license) but if they go all the way ($240 license and $32 per app) then i will at least scale back my apps or consider walking away after 14 years.

 

[cgasner1]

Utah application started as a cheap fun gamble for me. I have drawn a rag and I know people who have drawn some crazy tags. I’ll probably keep applying for a few years just to see how things work out. Hopefully by spending more money it brings more value to the points because they aren’t worth a lot anyway right now.

 

[utah400elk]

I feel that most western states are racing to the bottom…so to speak. I believe they will eventually loose some people but the truth is that there will always be people willing to pay their fees. It’s sad, but the fee increases have changed my application strategy. As I am much closer to retirement, I am leaning more towards a great fishing location (Florida or Hawaii) and will sadly probably be forced to stop hunting most big game. I really believe that in the years to come the gouging of the NR will hurt the future hunters. Western elk hunts are going to become out of reach for a lot of people.

 

[Mallardsx2]

I feel that most western states are racing to the bottom…so to speak. I believe they will eventually loose some people but the truth is that there will always be people willing to pay their fees. It’s sad, but the fee increases have changed my application strategy. As I am much closer to retirement, I am leaning more towards a great fishing location (Florida or Hawaii) and will sadly probably be forced to stop hunting most big game. I really believe that in the years to come the gouging of the NR will hurt the future hunters. Western elk hunts are going to become out of reach for a lot of people.

The days of applying to a dozen states are slowly coming to a halt for a lot of us. Quickly.

 

[cgasner1]

The days of applying to a dozen states are slowly coming to a halt for a lot of us. Quickly.

That’s probably a very sad reality when people start looking at the math of what they spend and realize they could just go hunt a ranch guaranteed every few years and spend the same amount of money

 

[Mallardsx2]

Agreed.

The amount of money that I’m spending for me, my wife and daughter to accumulate points across states is definitely knocking on the door of a Landowner tag.

For sure, as I started looking at that option 5 years ago but still have not gotten to that point of frustration yet.

 

[Bowhuntrben]

Utah seemed low on the priority list for me when I quit applying several years ago with 7 points. Sounds like it was a good decision back then. I haven't looked back and don't regret it.