The turkey hunting road trip my brother and I took in 2018 that cost just exactly $500 in gas money..............would cost me $1050 if I took it today.
I believe the next few years, NR license sales are going to drop substantially just because of fuel costs ..........including airfares.
Meanwhile all over the place is seeing record numbers of people apply for tags etc. We topped last year's record number of applicants for deer tags.
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Yep, gas and the cost of living is going to take its toll on many.
I would like to add this. Maybe for the first turkey tag keep it reasonable and or at current rates. For the second or 3rd tag though, maybe thats where the state substationally increases the cost. Like make it $400+.
This way there is no discrimination against youth, seniors, or other low/fixed income individuals and everyone can participate. Then the state can capitalize on someone who has to shoot more than 1 bird and that extra revenue can be used for studies, habitat, and projects.
Ultimately, I think we have to put our egos aside and put the bird first. It would be different if populations were at all time highs, but in alot of areas there not. 1 bird is plenty, and for the ones that it's not, put up the money.
Which brings me to another question, what is a mature tom worth to you?
Quote from: nativeks on June 09, 2022, 10:48:09 PM
Meanwhile all over the place is seeing record numbers of people apply for tags etc. We topped last year's record number of applicants for deer tags.
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I think alot of that is just the dream aspect. I put in for bighorn sheep and some of the top muledeer units. I dont even really like deer hunting, and as cool as a bighorn is, not sure id actually shoot one if I drew a tag. The odds a super steep so I'm not to worried about it. With that said I continue to put in for them every year. But in the back of my mind, I really hope I never draw. But it is fun to kinda day dream about it. Kinda like playing the lotto, you know you'll never win, but you do it anyway and dream about how you would spend the money.
With many states lowering the bird limits, it wouldn't be a good time for most states to raise license fees. Add in the doubling of gas prices and I think some states will see lower OOS hunters next spring.
Quote from: 2flyfish4 on June 09, 2022, 11:04:42 PM
Which brings me to another question, what is a mature tom worth to you?
Lots of variables here................
In my own state ?? I think I pay around $25 for a second bird. This year ?? I'd have paid $500 for a 3rd tag and would have bought a 4th at the same price if I could. But, I get the fever BAAAAAD sometimes.
But OOS.............still depends. I don't think $300 would be out of line for the licensing to take a bird. I've spent that much on dumber things. Some of the sub-species I'd pay even more for. I did a pair of Gould's birds 15 years ago for the same $$$ as a western elk hunt. Crazy ?? Not if you'd rather hunt turkeys than elk ANY day. And just sent in my deposit for an Ocellated hunt. We won't go there.................. :z-dizzy: :help: :z-dizzy:
Quote from: 2flyfish4 on June 09, 2022, 11:04:42 PM
Which brings me to another question, what is a mature tom worth to you?
For me personally, I'm not sure I have been priced out of the market yet in terms of what nonresident licenses cost in any state. Just to throw out a number, I am willing to spend upwards of $300 for an opportunity to kill a single gobbler. However, spring gobbler hunting is where I want to spend my discretionary income. In addition, turkey hunting is not about multiple bag limits for me. I always look at it as an opportunity to hunt somewhere different, perhaps, and also challenge myself in a place I am not familiar with.
Having said that, I, like many others here I suspect, am not your average turkey hunter in terms of what I am willing to spend on it. For every one of us that's willing to spend that kind of money, there are dozens that don't want to,...and their voice in terms of setting license fees is going to drown out ours,...and rightfully so.
Like all things, there is a balance to be had. Finding that balance that makes everybody happy is often the tricky part.
Quote from: Tail Feathers on June 09, 2022, 11:29:56 PM
With many states lowering the bird limits, it wouldn't be a good time for most states to raise license fees. Add in the doubling of gas prices and I think some states will see lower OOS hunters next spring.
Fewer OOS hunters is exactly what I want to see, in my home state and elsewhere. I would gladly pay more money to reduce crowding and increase the quality of hunts.
Quote from: St. Augustine Strutter on June 10, 2022, 09:12:05 AM
Quote from: Tail Feathers on June 09, 2022, 11:29:56 PM
With many states lowering the bird limits, it wouldn't be a good time for most states to raise license fees. Add in the doubling of gas prices and I think some states will see lower OOS hunters next spring.
Fewer OOS hunters is exactly what I want to see, in my home state and elsewhere. I would gladly pay more money to reduce crowding and increase the quality of hunts.
Not saying I'm for or against limits or higher fees on non res hunters but I bet the guy that owns a motel or restaurant or gas station/sporting goods/ grocery store in turkey country might have something to say about it. As a resident of the state, them turkeys belong to him as well as Joe Turkey Hunter. I think most hunters seem to forget that fact. Every non res hunters that gets chased away because of lowered limits/ higher fees is possible money out of his pocket. Sucks that natural resources get monetized but it's nothing new and many rural service industry businesses stake their livelyhoods on it.
I would say that in most states the harvest number each year (whether it is turkey's, deer etc.) is a "Guesstimate" at best. This is because you are on an honor system and a lot of people fail to fill out their "Report Cards" if the state even has those.
Well if your all looking for a place to hunt it might be MN in a few years. Just reading in my paper this morning they are thinking of a two bird limit for MN. It's talk on there part. And it's all about the money to generate more interest means more money. Might be only a seven day hunt for gun hunters, but anyone a little good might get his two birds for a few years. But they will for sure hunt out areas. I don't mind the nonresident hunter hunting my state, I hunt others also. I just wish there was a match on license sale cost. MN cheep and next to nothing for youth starting out. But it is still a turkey shot and gone for the next person. Just wish we match what ever the state you live in charges.
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Quote from: ddturkeyhunter on June 11, 2022, 09:59:05 AM
Well if your all looking for a place to hunt it might be MN in a few years. Just reading in my paper this morning they are thinking of a two bird limit for MN. It's talk on there part. And it's all about the money to generate more interest means more money. Might be only a seven day hunt for gun hunters, but anyone a little good might get his two birds for a few years. But they will for sure hunt out areas. I don't mind the nonresident hunter hunting my state, I hunt others also. I just wish there was a match on license sale cost. MN cheep and next to nothing for youth starting out. But it is still a turkey shot and gone for the next person. Just wish we match what ever the state you live in charges.
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Like the worst environment ever for a state to increase its limit. MN will definitely cash in on increased NR license sales!
This war the current Administration has put against the people of the USA is far from over this is just the beginning of inflation, gas and grub are going through the roof with no limits. Glad I did my Elk hunt in 19. Buckle up it,s gonna be a bumpy road for sure. :firefighter:
It's just my opinion but if non-resident hunting fees go up the resident hunting fees should go up also, this is the US not the USSR