Alaska doubling all nonresident license and tags for 2017

[JLS]

If AKFG can maintain license revenue, but yet sell half the number of tags to NR hunters, I really doubt that the general AK populous is going to give a rat's hiney about it.  The outfitter lobby is strong, but I'm pretty certain that AK citizens in general are tired of competing with NR hunters.

My take as well, swarms of them hunting up there and in Idaho.  I look to see ID NR tags increase again soon.

Not me.  The price of a NR license in MT has tripled since the early 2000's.

ID doesn't sell out all of their NR licenses.  There are always leftover elk licenses that resident hunters can buy at NR pricing.  A friend of mine in Boise buys two tags every year.

[pianoman9701]

We are seeing another increase coming up and what I said was that a combination of poor predator management, poor forest management, lost public hunting access, and increased fees (for fewer opportunities) will lead to lower hunter participation and lost revenue.

Especially because of what Obamacare has done to health costs for the self insured middle class, increases in any expenses are being carefully considered for their cost/benefit balance. I know in my family, I'd considered doing some late season archery and goose hunting this year but due to the fact that late season archery is so restrictive and almost requires a hunter to pay to play, it just didn't pencil out for us. I doubt we're alone in this. The WDFW must figure out how to retain more hunters if it plans to continue the revenue stream we create. I have real questions about whether everyone on the commission is, in fact, working to keep hunting strong in our state. If they are, they've got a funny way of showing it.

[Stein]

If AKFG can maintain license revenue, but yet sell half the number of tags to NR hunters, I really doubt that the general AK populous is going to give a rat's hiney about it.  The outfitter lobby is strong, but I'm pretty certain that AK citizens in general are tired of competing with NR hunters.

My take as well, swarms of them hunting up there and in Idaho.  I look to see ID NR tags increase again soon.

Not me.  The price of a NR license in MT has tripled since the early 2000's.

ID doesn't sell out all of their NR licenses.  There are always leftover elk licenses that resident hunters can buy at NR pricing.  A friend of mine in Boise buys two tags every year.

MT doesn't sell out and they increase their prices as well.  In the last report, they noted that they were now right below $1,000 for the combo and there was a psychological barrier - but someone will break it.

Say you offer 1,000 licenses at $950 and only sell 800 for $760,000.

If you raise the same 1,000 licenses to $1050 and sell 750, you make $787,500.

You don't have to sell out or even maintain the number sold to increase revenue.

[JLS]

You don't have to sell out or even maintain the number sold to increase revenue.

I fully understand that.  That's what I said in my first post.

[DaveMonti]

Pman gentlemen  hunting will be OK just like fly fishing is OK in all circles. Bird hunting with a dog will always be around because it falls in the same category. Meat hunting however will be looked down upon because so few people have any connection with thier food what so ever...

I would disagree with your statement on meat hunting.  I think if anything, it is making a marked resurgence.

I definitely agree with this.  I see a significant difference in the attitudes towards hunting by the younger crowd, and the concept of going out and hunting for their own meat is a very trendy thing right now.  I suspect there will be a surge in hunting in the next few years, complete with complaints from the old school about how these millennials are ruining their sport.

[lokidog]

My WI archery deer license/tag was only $80... but then I also have private land to hunt.

The AK increase will make justifying a deer or black bear trip harder.:-(

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[Chesapeake]

I hunt Alaska every few years. The prices will make it harder to tag up the kids, but I likely will. Mostly it makes the king stamp a no-go, and will push me from annual fishing to day licenses. I'll still spend about the same in the end, just have to make some sacrifices.

I don't think the reduction in out of state hunters/fisherman will impact local economies much. Alaska already has a big issue with retaining natural resource derived monies.


Using Elk tags cause I had it due to a recent conversation. Folks always say hunter numbers are declining in Washington. Maybe, but the elk tags purchased don't seem to reflect that trend. The trend looks more to follow the perceived state of the economy to me.

Elk tag purchases:
2015 = 97,671
2014 = 94,881
2013 = 97,436
2012 = 94,590
2011 = 99,446
2010 = 102,350
2009 = 108,199
2008 = 107,915
2007 = 105,347
2006 = 103,395
2005 = 100,561
2004 = 98,542
2003 = 96,209
2002 = 97,444
2001 = 97,732
2000 = 101,176