geetar
Well-known member
How much do you guys normally spend on tags and applications per year? Trying to decide what all I’m putting in for this year and was just curious.
Tag application budget ?
- Thread starter geetar
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D
Deleted member 28227
Guest
That's a number I don't actually want to calculate
geetar
Well-known member
Understandable. I’m trying to be a bit more responsible with money than I have in the past and actually know what I am spending and where my money goes. That’s why I started calculating everything myself.
greatwhitebuffalo
Active member
I've spent well north of $3,000 before; and I regret it. In retrospect, I wish I'd set a cap of around $500 for application fees and maybe $1,500 (all-in/final) for tags.
geetar
Well-known member
I think that might be a good number on app fees. That was the range I was thinking. Tag cost could vary a lot if you pull a big 3 tag.
D
Deleted member 38069
Guest
I set aside an "all things hunting" budget. I usually set aside $75-100 bucks a month.
As for tags, usually it is around $500 if I draw! If I don't, I look to buy something towards hunting with that $$.
As for tags, usually it is around $500 if I draw! If I don't, I look to buy something towards hunting with that $$.
D
Deleted member 38069
Guest
Usually another gun...
LCH
Well-known member
I won't add it up, but I'd guess $1k average for points/fees. Tag costs vary wildly for me from year to year.
greatwhitebuffalo
Active member
Beware the Big Three Bait!
The existence/availability of a tag doesn't always equate to overall quality. I'd spend some time reading the Montana Unlimited thread if you want a frame of reference.
Addicting
Well-known member
I am struggling with this as well. I am going onto a retirement paycheck in April and need to pay more attention to a budget. I am going to be Hunting with Hero’s this year in Wyoming so I don’t have to apply for elk there. I’m still putting in for deer and a antelope doe tag.
I told my wife I was just doing points in AZ and rolling the dice in NM for elk.
However application season is hard to just keep putting in for points when you have enough points for a reasonable chance to draw.
I will probably end up putting in for just glory tags, who the heck knows.
I told my wife I was just doing points in AZ and rolling the dice in NM for elk.
However application season is hard to just keep putting in for points when you have enough points for a reasonable chance to draw.
I will probably end up putting in for just glory tags, who the heck knows.
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D
Deleted member 28227
Guest
I try to limit myself to applying only for things that A. I will hunt this year B. Will hunt in the next 2-3 years and need pref points and C. Are super cheap to apply for and there for kinda a lotto situation
Addicting
Well-known member
That lotto feeling is what drives most of us to exceed any budget we might set.
D
Deleted member 28227
Guest
Fair, to give a specific example I apply in AK for a couple of hunts, if I don't draw I will still be hunting OTC therefore I getting the base hunting license prereq to apply... so applying for a long odds moose hunt is $5.
I don't apply for the big three in states that require a base license that I'm not applying for elk or deer and/or planning to hunt that year anyway. So for instance this year my calendar is packed so I'm not applying for long odd tags in New Mexico.
@BuzzH has said this a dozen or so times, you are an idiot if you build points without a plan
geetar
Well-known member
I would agree with that last statement. That’s main reason I’m asking advice of guys who’ve done this longer than me. Thanks for the input so far.
elkantlers
Well-known member
Never say that number out loud.
geetar
Well-known member
It leads to angry wives lol
NEWHunter
Well-known member
@geetar here’s another way to think about it that may or may not offer more insight depending on your perspective. I am spending about 0.75% of our annual gross household income on tags and apps. That includes hunting licenses/points around home, my “western” points, and currently a WY antelope tag. I have two young kiddos and a wife that stays home with them. That’s about all I can justify given our current financial picture and the fact that the cost of an out of state antelope tag is more than just the cost of the tag - cause I’m going to spend a few bucks to use that tag.
I framed it that way as $1,000, for example, for tags/applications is probably a lot for a young guy making $40K/year. But that same $1,000 is probably nothing for some of these older guys around here making a few hundred thousand a year.
This is also coming from a guy who is far more responsible with his money than 90% of Americans. And I do acknowledge that my hunting spending is probably a bit more conservative thatn it needs to be, but that’s the case with all of our spending. FWIW.
I framed it that way as $1,000, for example, for tags/applications is probably a lot for a young guy making $40K/year. But that same $1,000 is probably nothing for some of these older guys around here making a few hundred thousand a year.
This is also coming from a guy who is far more responsible with his money than 90% of Americans. And I do acknowledge that my hunting spending is probably a bit more conservative thatn it needs to be, but that’s the case with all of our spending. FWIW.
Addicting
Well-known member
I disagree that folks are idiots for doing it. Plans change as life goes on. I for one never expected to meet the folks in WY that I did. Never even knew about some of their programs for disabled Vets. Now that I am retiring and qualify for them it has thrown my plan all to hell. But, I have points in 3 states that I set up to do a rotating hunt schedule. I have come to really enjoy WY and with a donated tag it’s hard to justify not going. When you can only do one trip, what am I to do? Decline a donated tag in a place I know and love for a hunt in a different state. Or just keep building points for a great hunt some day. Or cut my losses and give up those points.
I can honestly say I am struggling with that right now, doesn’t make me a idiot.
geetar
Well-known member
I could be wrong but I don’t think he’s calling you an idiot but more or less saying if he just threw money all over the place with no plan whatsoever to eventually draw and make the hunts happen and maximize the opportunities by applying for multiple species in states that require purchasing the license that he would be an idiot. No plan is perfect but some plan is better than no plan and just blindly giving money to the government that will yield you no return.
