Non-resident hunting!

[spencerhenry]

It will be my last year to hunt Colorado as a resident. Next year I will be a South Dakota resident. South Dakota has opportunity for deer, but the vast majority of the eastern part of the state is private land. So, I am looking at other states, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.
I have been buying points in Wyoming for a few years, I just applied for a deer license. With the cost of the tag, application, credit card fee (can't pay any other way), and conservation stamp, its over $400. Add in the points and the tag is over $600. I've looked at Montana, an elk license is $1000, deer $700, that's before points. Seems like by the time you spend a few years accumulating points, that its quite an expensive proposition to hunt there, a few years in the future!

I will admit, I am cheap, but I don't think I'll do much out of state hunting. I hunted Colorado for over 30 years, the quality of the animals, and quality of the hunt has dropped so much in the last few years, that I find more enjoyment in hunting small game. Is the quality of the hunt in states other than Colorado is better?

I was going to hunt Idaho this year for deer, I found some great country with limited people. But, I missed the day the tags went on sale and they were sold out by the time I realized they had gone on sale. Two days after they went on sale they were all gone. It looked like the quality of the hunt would be good.

I guess hunting, at least out of state hunting, has gotten pretty expensive. Too expensive for me, unless the quality of the hunt is far better than I expect.

 

[Olspark]

Short answer no the quality isn’t better. Ive hunted Colorado as a Nonresident almost as many as you have and agree with your assessment. Stay home and hunt rabbits.

 

[CaptainMal]

Sure agree non-resident hunting is expensive. Oh so many forum members are quite wealthy here and gloss over the huge expense that stops 90% of us from experiencing a good hunt. Sadly, no solution will come soon.

Just the $325 non-resident license in Georgia is expensive to me. Hunting has turned into a rich-man's game.

 

[1K6BRA]

New York of all places I think has the best non-resident hunting license prices out there at $100. That includes a buck tag and a bear tag if you’re lucky enough and see one of those. While it is certainly not a Colorado, Montana ect. experience It is still good nonetheless and there are some huge white tails there. I will probably never go on another western hunt. Like, as stated above, it has become a rich mans sport.

 

[lawman29]

I have been buying points in Wyoming for a few years, I just applied for a deer license. With the cost of the tag, application, credit card fee (can't pay any other way), and conservation stamp, its over $400. Add in the points and the tag is over $600. I've looked at Montana, an elk license is $1000, deer $700, that's before points. Seems like by the time you spend a few years accumulating points, that its quite an expensive proposition to hunt there, a few years in the future!

Sure agree non-resident hunting is expensive. Oh so many forum members are quite wealthy here and gloss over the huge expense that stops 90% of us from experiencing a good hunt. Sadly, no solution will come soon.

You won't get any sympathy from those of us who live in the Rocky Mtn states. It is becoming harder and harder for us to draw resident tags......

 

[JB10]

Its hard here in AZ to get drawn also. Hell still trying to get my daughter drawn for last 3 years in youth hunt for elk. Got drawn for deer last year myself and never even seen 1 buck in my unit. Hunted hard for the whole time.

 

[spencerhenry]

You won't get any sympathy from those of us who live in the Rocky Mtn states. It is becoming harder and harder for us to draw resident tags......

If you will notice, I've hunted as a resident in Colorado for over 30 years. I will not be a resident in 2024. I am well aware of the situation, hence the thread.

 

[std7mag]

You won't get any sympathy from those of us who live in the Rocky Mtn states. It is becoming harder and harder for us to draw resident tags......

Try being drawn on the PA elk lottery!!!
10,000 entries for 140 something tags.

 

[Toddmack]

New York of all places I think has the best non-resident hunting license prices out there at $100. That includes a buck tag and a bear tag if you’re lucky enough and see one of those. While it is certainly not a Colorado, Montana ect. experience It is still good nonetheless and there are some huge white tails there. I will probably never go on another western hunt. Like, as stated above, it has become a rich mans sport.

All of this is probably true because NYC is what makes the news which is what makes most hunters steer clear of NY.

 

[CharlieNC]

No telling how much more difficult and expensive it will become to get tags all over. Doesn't seem right that states with a lot of federal land, like Co, have that degree of control over those lands such that they can nearly block out nonresident hunters who also "own" them. Of course the wokesters want to end hunting!