Utah fees increase: keep applying?

[cgasner1]

But it's a topic in the thread touching on a recurring theme.

You see a sentiment that the cost of points and non refundable fee's is becoming the reason hunting out west is no longer sustainable. What they mean to say is this: the cost of applying in 15 states is no longer sensible or sustainable. Very different. One could argue it never was, but it depends on your goals.

The crux of the issue is we have an ever increasing demand on a struggling and decreasing supply. The market is reflecting that. It's not the market that concerns me for the future, it's the supply.

Using those fee's on landowner tags instead is not immoral or irrational IMO. Me? I'd rather use that chunk of change to go to alaska and throw money at the special draw in wyoming.

The future is not bright because the market for widespread, multiple state, western hunting is becoming unsustainable, the future is not bright because of the reasons the market is doing that.

So I’d assume you have zero points in Utah?

 

[TOGIE]

Even with one state it is though.

I had an older gentlemen give me a call a few weeks ago that is a friend of a friend and the call came because he was told I go out west hunting a bunch. He is 60 and just retired and wants to experience elk hunting once in his life.

The first thing I asked him was how important seeing or shooting a bull was and he said that it was important so unfortunately that significantly changes what I could recommend to him.

Next up was budget and guided or not. He said for sure not guided because he couldn't afford it as he could only budget about $2000 for the trip.

I went thru his options across the states and at a minimum he is spending nearly $900 on just the bull license and with gas alone he already gets close to his budget. I told him NM deadline was coming and he should put his name in the hat for a great tag there at about a $100 raffle ticket cost and he thought that was absurd let alone having to front the tag cost.

There is a very large population of people that dont live out west that are priced out of being able to experience the wonderful joy of chasing an elk. I did tell him he could just go with a camera and get almost the same experience without the type 2 fun involved after the kill!

But it’s never been easy or cheap. Maybe easier and cheaper. But never easy.

It’s always been a logistical struggle requiring good financial and temporal priorities and planning.

There has always been a population of people that couldn’t make it happen because of what it took. Same story different day/year/decade if you ask me.

I mean, it just is what it is.

 

[WIbiggame]

The first thing I asked him was how important seeing or shooting a bull was and he said that it was important so unfortunately that significantly changes what I could recommend to him.

Great post and explanation but I think this part is the "problem".

Just because you want something in this case to shoot a bull doesnt mean you should be able to get it. There's a lot of things I want and cant get bc of price or time or any other factor.

Like you mentioned and applaud you for telling him. He can have the same experience capturing a "kill" on a camera every year for the cost of gas.

If he truly wanted to elk hunt there are several very good hunts cow/calve/spike hunts that can be had every year for way less than hos $2000 budget. He will see and do all the same things with the only thing he wouldnt get is antlers for wall.

He wants a bull and he needs to realize its a limited resource and supply and demand state if he truly wants it gonna need to find sacrifices to up his budget.

 

[brymoore]

It took me 17 years to draw a B grade Utah tag last year. I drew random. Based on the trend, 19 years applying was the draw year.

Would I do my past 17 years again? Yes. Am I doing it again, probably no. I’m in the penalty box for a few years. Would I pay the $2,200 for the tag right now? Yes. It was one of my favorite elk hunts, and I hunt elk a lot.

My only thought is you never draw if you’re not in the drawing. I’ve drawn enough random tags to keep trying in some circumstances.

 

[cgasner1]

It took me 17 years to draw a B grade Utah tag. I drew random. Based on the trend, 19 years applying was the draw year.

Would I do my past 17 years again? Yes. Am I doing it again, probably no. I’m in the penalty box for a few years. Would I pay the $2,200 for the tag right now? Yes. It was one of my favorite elk hunts, and I hunt elk a lot.

My only thought is you never draw if you’re not in the drawing. I’ve drawn enough random tags to keep trying in some circumstances.

I know a guy that pulled a sheep tag on 3 as a nr. I drew my buck tag at 4 in the random was a 15 year guarantee at the time if I remember correctly

 

[TheGrayRider]

Love me some Utah!

2026 - UTAH LIMITED-ENTRY - Spring Black Bear Results​

Choice 1: BR7016 - Wasatch Mtns, West-Central - Mar 28 - May 25, 2026 - Spring - Any Legal Weapon, No Bait- SUCCESSFUL

Get the hounds and boot leather ready. Hunting with the old lever-action “Dirty 30” again.

Good luck and happy hunting to all, TheGrayRider a.k.a Tom

 

[Khunter]

My wife and I out of pocket spent $5947.46 on applications and license fees that weren't for otc hunts. We received two antelope buck tags in SD and a mule deer tag in CO.

Right now I'm negotiating and trying to get 2 bull elk land owner tags in NM for not a lot more. This may be my last year applying and playing the game across the states

a nonrefundable $5947?

 

[Treeshark]

Too many Utah points to turn back now. That’s how they getcha…

 

[Matthew57]

I think i'm going to apply this year in Utah, but I strongly suspect I'll drop off after drawing a decent general deer tag, or whatever I get lucky enough to draw. That elk hunting experience sure is tempting though lol we'll see. I'm hoping to start a family soon so I'm betting my priorities are going to change a little when it comes to big game hunting. I basically wanted a good excuse to explore Utah but with the price increases I think I'd almost rather do that with a camper and a fly rod.

 

[Khunter]

Too many Utah points to turn back now. That’s how they getcha…

True. How many is too many for you? would think anything less than a dozen or so per species, maybe more would be a reasonable number to abandon if fee expense was getting to a guy.

Because I have drawn good deer elk and lope (and bear which is absurdly hard to draw) tags in recent years so I am under 10 for each and well over 20 for MSG.
I doubt Utah will be on my application list in a couple years, not sure just yet.

 

[seeth07]

a nonrefundable $5947?

Non refundable plus those three tag costs i listed between the two of us

 

[npaden]

One of the first states I started applying for when I got back into hunting was Utah. Pretty much the only state that I still haven't ever drawn a tag in. Up to 16 points for elk.

I'm going to keep applying, maybe when I'm retired in 5 or 6 years I can spend some time on a really good hunt.

If my spreadsheet is up to date (I'm not super religious on getting the exact $ perfect for fee increases each year) in 2025 I spent $2,486.47 on nonrefundable licenses and fees for my son and I. That includes credit card fees for states like Wyoming that don't allow you to pay any other way. That doesn't include points for Wyoming since they are now separate from the drawing so I guess that's an extra couple hundred bucks (don't pay for sheep or moose points) so just under $3,000 a year nonrefundable for both of us.

 

[Drake4]

Haven't added it up but bet I'm less than $1k in non-refundable + bonus point fees in the 5 out of states I do.
Obviously more than that when I draw one, but happy to pay that tag cost for a primo tag.

 

[WapitiBob]

It costs ~ $125 for E/D/P points in WY and almost nothing to apply (point fees may change this year).
AZ is $100 to apply and get a point (2 years w/1 license).
UT is about $90 to apply and get a point (2 years w/1 license).
I draw in WY every year, have drawn AZ 3 times, UT once but should draw again in 3ish years.

Conversely, ID is $200 and you get nothing for it. Having hunted it several times in the 80's, I'm not missing anything by not going now.
NM is ~ $100, no points, and 5% odds. I used to hunt 34 on $3000 LO vouchers, quit when they hit $3500 and they're $8000 now.

I'll continue to apply in WY and AZ till I can't hunt. I'll continue with UT till I draw then stop.
I'm done with NM, and I may apply in ID one time, as the partner wants to hunt Pronghorn there but I would rather not.

 

[Treeshark]

True. How many is too many for you?

I believe I’m at 10 each for DEA.

It is interesting to observe the changing tenor towards landowner tags on Hunt Talk lately.

 

[cgasner1]

I believe I’m at 10 each for DEA.

It is interesting to observe the changing tenor towards landowner tags on Hunt Talk lately.

Don’t mistake me for being for them in any way shape or form. Im just pointing out that if someone has to feel like they get a physical return on their money it’s worth considering. I enjoy the anticipation of waiting for draw results and like to think my money is help funding wildlife somewhere. I’d much rather be looking at spread sheets on GOHUNT than complaining about fuel prices.

 

[BuzzH]

The typical crying by the typical people.

Its always funny too, because those crying the most, have applied the least.

I'm on year 27 in Utah, drawn nothing yet.

Utah was always on my long term plan, like @brymoore has done with Utah, so that's largely on me.

A lot of people don't even realize that in many states 15-20 years ago you needed to front the tag fees in almost every State. You needed to apply by paper application. Between my wife and I we would have 15-20k splashing around in the various states draws every year.

What has driven this apply everywhere mentality is how easy it is, and largely how cheap it is. A credit card a few hours of time you can apply in every western state.

I have no sympathy for the crying, apply or dont, it's a privilege and a luxury to hunt out of state.

Lots of affordable hunts still to be had even for NR hunters.

There is no way to make it affordable to everyone and IMO, if a person waits until they retire then they really didn't want to do it that bad from the get-go.

I've been a bit "lucky" drawing tags and have done hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of quality hunts very affordably, pennies on the dollar.

I'll keep applying and of all the money I spend in a given year on everything else, my licenses and applications do the most benefit to wildlife, habitat, hunting, and fishing. I don't need a tag to feel good about supporting same. Obviously others expect a bigger ROI, I don't.

 

[Gr8bawana]

If you don't like the fees then don't apply, it that simple.
All these people accumulating points would never have started if you still had to pay for tags and application fees up front, then wait for a refund if they didn't draw.
Ask yourself how many states and species of game animals you could afford to apply for if you had to pay all the fees upfront.

 

[npaden]

Just looking back at my spreadsheet and if it is accurate I would have to say the nonrefundable costs have not even kept up with inflation.

In 2012 my nonrefundable costs were $1,076.25 to apply in Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado Nevada and Idaho. Refundable up front costs were $17,449.

Inflation during that time frame was 42% so that would equate to $1,581.34 today. Times 2 since I'm applying for my son now and that would be $3,162.68.

Actual nonrefundable costs for both of us was $2,486.47 so a decent amount below the overall inflation on everything else. Now I apply for Alaska as well but haven't applied in Idaho for a few years so that is pretty close to a wash.

I think the issue is that prices on licenses and fees tend to stay the same for a long time then make a big jump up so it seems more painful but reality says they haven't gone up any more than everything else has.