App fee increase bill

[jimss]

Currently it's possible to apply for tags for a relatively cheap application fee without buying pref pts...to avoid pref pt fees.

It seems like hunters that don't have enough pts to draw the tag or tags they want could save some $ by just purchasing pts rather than having to pay for applications plus pref pt fees?

If I had the choice and wasn't serious about drawing a tag, I'd rather put $ towards pref pts than horrible draw odds for the same $. Those that apply for tags plus pref pts are hammered twice for fees!

I certainly hope the WG&F puts to good use this additional revenue if it passes!

 

[WapitiBob]

If I had the choice and wasn't serious about drawing a tag, I'd rather put $ towards pref pts than horrible draw odds for the same $. Those that apply for tags plus pref pts are hammered twice for fees!

I certainly hope the WG&F puts to good use this additional revenue if it passes!

there is no application fee when buying points

 

[jimss]

I guess I should rephrase my last post. Those that apply for tags plus pref pts are hammered twice for fees....Once for the application fee when applying for a tag and a 2nd time for a pref pt if a tag isn't drawn. If Wyo increases the application fee it may be worth cutting your expenses by just applying for a point and not apply for a tag.

It's almost getting to the point that Wyo and other states are pricing out the Average Joe Hunter....which is pretty sad! My guess is that outfitters are all in favor of this because more of their wealthy clients will possibly draw high demand tags. Outfitters were all in favor of the Special tag price increase and I'm sure they are all in favor of anything that raises the price for tags in the public draw.

 

[TOGIE]

I guess I should rephrase my last post. Those that apply for tags plus pref pts are hammered twice for fees....Once for the application fee when applying for a tag and a 2nd time for a pref pt if a tag isn't drawn. If Wyo increases the application fee it may be worth cutting your expenses by just applying for a point and not apply for a tag.

It's almost getting to the point that Wyo and other states are pricing out the Average Joe Hunter....which is pretty sad! My guess is that outfitters are all in favor of this because more of their wealthy clients will possibly draw high demand tags. Outfitters were all in favor of the Special tag price increase and I'm sure they are all in favor of anything that raises the price for tags in the public draw.

you never gain a point in the draw. can only buy them after the draw

 

[jimss]

You are right, they are separate. It's possible to purchase pts without applying for a tag and paying the tag application fee. If a hunter is on a tight budget, he can actually apply for pts every other year without losing his points.

 

[Lost Arra]

This proposal is a way to pull more money from the huge pool of unsuccessful applicants that Wyoming's system has knowingly created. They want more of your money but you get nothing in return. The amount doesn't look large by itself but it's just another way for WGF to increase their juice or vig from a larger group of people. It is an extension of the point system that produces $20M and gives the buyer really nothing of value. Buyer dies, points gone. Buyer forgets to buy a point for a year or two, points gone.

Increasing tag fees will always cause complaints but at least you have a tag and are going hunting. You have purchased something of value. Their next ploy will be to charge a fee for NOT applying for either a tag or a point.

 

[Cheese Curd]

I wonder how long it will take them to make you buy a point every year or you lose your points.

 

[Neighwp]

Why not just auction off everything on an Ebay Like auction platform. Let actual supply and demand dictate the tag costs. The great tags would be stupid expensive and the garbage tags would be a few hundred bucks.

 

[JAG]

I wonder how long it will take them to make you buy a point every year or you lose your points.

2 years of not buying points, you lose them.

 

[Big Fin]

If Wyoming is serious about raising this kind or revenue, add it to the point purchase price rather than the app fee.

Lots of points being bought for people who will likely never hunt, rather their points will be used for folks who want to average points with them. Make those folks pay more, not the people who are actually applying and intending to hunt.

More money raised, given only about 20% of the people who have points actually applying each year. Charging that fee across 5-10x as many transactions (point purchases) will either raise 5-10x as much money or raise the same money with 1/5 to 1-10 of the proposed price.

Any state wanting to see how to raise $20+million per year without a single additional animal being taken and not a single additional hunter in the field, Wyoming has written the game plan for how to do it. Very smart in their part, proven by the 195K non-residents currently in their elk point system.

 

[5yearcoueshunter]

If Wyoming is serious about raising this kind or revenue, add it to the point purchase price rather than the app fee.

Lots of points being bought for people who will likely never hunt, rather their points will be used for folks who want to average points with them. Make those folks pay more, not the people who are actually applying and intending to hunt.

More money raised, given only about 20% of the people who have points actually applying each year. Charging that fee across 5-10x as many transactions (point purchases) will either raise 5-10x as much money or raise the same money with 1/5 to 1-10 of the proposed price.

Any state wanting to see how to raise $20+million per year without a single additional animal being taken and not a single additional hunter in the field, Wyoming has written the game plan for how to do it. Very smart in their part, proven by the 195K non-residents currently in their elk point system.

Agreed! To me an App fee should really be to cover administrative costs of running the draw, paying vendors etc. If Wyoming goes this route to raise app fees for revenue, I'd rather them just either increase the cost of points or do like other states and make people buy a general license to apply. At least with the license, folks can potentially use it to go hunt grouse or fish if they don't draw any tags.