Outfitter's Tag and Rates

[TurkeyRookie]

from 1990 to 2002 charged $1000 cash to purchase one of his allotted tags each year.

I suspect he charged cash because there's no where on the books to write in "sold a moose tag"

[trimmer21]

It is illegal for outfitters to sell or charge money for their tags. They have to be offered free of charge as part of a package. They are given the tags free from the Gov't to attract hunters who possibly may not be able to enter the draw. The $$ for the outfitter is from the cabin rental, flights, guiding, etc.

Sorry,but,that's simply not true. That's the way it's supposed to be,in theory,but,in the real world.......

Outfitters definitely do charge for tags. If you just want to use their camp and you have your own tag it's one price for your group. If you need a tag you'll be paying at least $2000 to 2500 per tag as well.

100% correct. The outfitter we went to in wmu 39 from 1990 to 2002 charged $1000 cash to purchase one of his allotted tags each year. We bought 5 in the 12 years we hunted with him.

That's the way it ACTUALLY works. The cost is hidden in the lodging/guiding fees. Did you ever NOT fill a tag? What happened to the tag you "paid" for when you left camp? You returned it to the outfitter because he said it had to be "accounted for",right? Were you issued a "credit" for the unused tag? Just asking........

[redd foxx]

Originally Posted by redd foxx
It is illegal for outfitters to sell or charge money for their tags. They have to be offered free of charge as part of a package. They are given the tags free from the Gov't to attract hunters who possibly may not be able to enter the draw. The $$ for the outfitter is from the cabin rental, flights, guiding, etc.

Sorry,but,that's simply not true. That's the way it's supposed to be,in theory,but,in the real world.......

Sorry...but it is true. The outfitters may hide the cost or openly charge for tags in the "real world" but that doesn't make it legal. Report them to the MNR. They are ripping off their guests, not to mention turning the sport into a rich man's hunt.

[redd foxx]

I heard somewhere that the outfitter allocation is around 10% of available tags.

[shawnj]

I heard somewhere that the outfitter allocation is around 10% of available tags.

Is it not true that the outfitter pays a steep fee for the quota/shares? And they have to have a certain number of shares in order to get one tag, and even if they have close to enough for a 2nd tag they don't get it. Also, they can purchase shares from another outfitter in same WMU ? Just a question, must be an outfitter on here that can shed some light. One camp I know of, gets one tag, and everyone in the camp for opening week, get there name put into a hat and is drawn.

[trimmer21]

Is it not true that the outfitter pays a steep fee for the quota/shares? And they have to have a certain number of shares in order to get one tag, and even if they have close to enough for a 2nd tag they don't get it. Also, they can purchase shares from another outfitter in same WMU ? Just a question, must be an outfitter on here that can shed some light. One camp I know of, gets one tag, and everyone in the camp for opening week, get there name put into a hat and is drawn.

Tags are allocated to an outfitter depending on how many clients he/she has staying at the lodge at any given time. Because it's illegal to sell a tag,it costs the outfitter nothing. They "charge" the client by inflating the daylights out of lodging fees if the client doesn't have there own tag(s).That way,they can legally say they haven't "sold" tags. Unfilled tags are returned to the outfitter for the next set of clients and the process is repeated. Refunds or credits are not usually returned to unsuccessful clients. After the season is over,any unfilled outfitter tags are supposed to be returned to the OMNR. This system is rife with loopholes which need to be slammed shut.

[redd foxx]

As mentioned above, my understanding is that outfitters get shares in the system based on the # of clients they can accommodate. The # of tags each gets depends on the # of tags available to outfitters and the # of outfitters sharing the tags and the # of shares each outfitter has. In the north there are(were) outfitters that got many adult tags. In the south.... fewer. The outfitter does not have to pay for the shares or tags I believe.

[gowbushkon]

Hey Trimmer21 you must be an outfitter, tags are issued according to how many shares you have. when a guest gets a tag it is registered in his name at MNR and is non transferable. Why would an outfitter refund you for an unsuccessful hunt, does the MNR give you back your money when you don't get a moose.

[werner.reiche]

Outfitters definitely do charge for tags. If you just want to use their camp and you have your own tag it's one price for your group. If you need a tag you'll be paying at least $2000 to 2500 per tag as well.

Agree - and there is no attempt to conceal this by the outfitters. They are pretty open about it.

[SK33T3R]

Our group has used outfitter supplied tags a few times in the past - The tags were issued to one of our guys (our choice). When an outfitter tag is issued that individual remains in POOL 1 for the following year. Our tags were written and carried by the hunter. I don't think there was any way for the outfitter to play tags games with it if we didn't put it on a moose!

The only way for an outfitter to keep the tag would be to tell you to hunt on your calf tag - shoot a cow or bull - then issue the tag real quick and back date it. I'm sure it's happened BUT it's a game or Russian roulette for all involved! A death sentance for the outfitter involved! BUT $ makes people do strange things!

The real fly in my bonnet was last year - finding out that the MNR took out tags for the northern draw and only actually had one northern applicant! The rest of the left over northern allotment tags went to SURPLUS for the speed dialing contest.

Hunters in the regular draw that APPLIED never even had a a sniff at those tags.

I called the MNR and offered a suggestion - have the northern draw 1st and unclaimed tags go back into the regular draw for the rest of the applicants!

anyway my gripe for the day!