With the news that Denny Austad killed what could be the pending world record non typical Elk, many hunters have become outspoken about the way Mr. Austed obtained the tag.  The contention is that the governor’s conservation tag, which was auctioned off for a reported $170,000, is eliminating opportunities for the “everyday Joe Blow blue collar hunter”. It is a vicious debate, that I felt deserved more investigation.

The following excerpt is from an Outdoorlife.com article on the subject of the “spider bull” as he is known.

“Denny Austad didn’t have to draw the super-selective Monroe Mountain tag because he bought a Utah governor’s tag for elk this season, reportedly paying $170,000 for the ability to hunt any open unit in the state. Some hunters are dismissing the achievement because Austad had the ability to hunt with a rifle during a season when other elk hunters were relegated to archery equipment. So what? That’s the appeal of the governor’s tag, and Austad’s investment in the license will go toward elk management in a state that has become the best big-bull destination in the country.”

The purpose for State Wildlife agencies to offer tags to organizations with a proven track record of wildlife conservation and habitat restoration is to raise money to go back into wildlife programs.  Usually this money is raised through auctions of the coveted tags.  Last year, in Utah, Safari Club International received $50,000 for a bighorn sheep permit, $13,000 for a mule deer permit, $13,000 for an elk tag,and $3500 each for two black bear tags.  That is $83,000 for the SCI chapter of Utah to put into habitat and conservation. 

Utah’s Conservation tags are unique in the fact that they are distributed to conservation groups for sale either by sealed bid, live or silent auction.  Organizations that offer the tags for auction include:  Ducks Unlimited, Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Mule Deer Foundation, National Wild Turkey Foundation,  Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, Sportsmen for Habitat, and the Utah Bowmens Association.  For a complete list of Utah Conservation tags, CLICK HERE

The question is raised;  If someone has been applying for an opportunity like this for years, then why is it fair to let someone “Buy their way” to the front of the line?    

Disenfranchised hunters feel that they are priced out of the chance to receive these special tags.  I had the chance to ask the Utah Mule Deer Foundation’s Eric Tycksen about the Utah conservation Tag program and how the Mule Deer Foundation plays a role in the process.  He informed me that state law may preclude raffling tags.

” In Utah and abroad, the decision of where to send the tags is made by MDF headquarters with input from RD’s and Director of Field operations and some volunteers. We are limited on what tags can be raffled versus auctioned by the laws of the state. For example, it is against the rules in Utah to raffle one of the conservation tags so all of them are sold on a live, silent, or sealed bid auction. Geographic areas play a part in where the tags are sold. For example, a Manti, Utah elk tag would be sent to a Nephi banquet. Most of the people that attend that banquet live by that Manti unit.” 

 When I asked him about his feelings on whether he felt that the auction method gave undue advantage to more “well heeled” hunters, he was frank in his response:

 ”Your last question is one for the ages. No I do not think auctioning conservation tags creates an unfair advantage for rich hunters. Anyone can buy these tags. The vast majority of these tags sell for a few thousand dollars or less and some in the hundreds. Yes there are a select few that sell for astronomical amount of money. I would have a better chance of obtaining a tag by saving my money for a few years and buying one at auction than waiting to draw one through the regular state process. A very small percentage of the states tags are carved out and set aside for conservation tags. And the good that they provide through the money raised and projects completed may never be realized by the average person.”

If you ask many hunters about auction tags most will have a definite opinion either in favor of them or against them, but nearly everyone I have encountered has admitted that they are glad that the money funds conservation in an age where budgets are shrinking for the state wildlife agencies.  What many hunters propose is a raffle sale for these premium tags.  We will examine those options in another column to follow.