A landowner tag is what gives a hunter the ability to forgo the draw in select states, which then presents hunters with an opportunity to hunt some of the nicest units that are otherwise hard to come by. The hunter who buys this tag must also redeem the voucher and pay state fees as well as tag fees.
Many state wildlife agencies issue Landowner Vouchers to the landowners as compensation for wildlife damage claims. While there are many benefits to landowner voucher programs within individual states, along with ones unique to each state, there are also regulations that come along with these programs.
Colorado
While there are only two types of Landowner Vouchers in the state of Colorado, some regard it as having one of the best voucher programs in the West.
Qualifications for landowners must have at least 160 continuous deeded acres that are also inhabited by wildlife, or the landowners must posses an agricultural cropland. Landowners apply for specific landowner vouchers that are good for only specific seasons. The Unit Wide Vouchers gives hunters not only the ability to hunt the otherwise private property under the given tag, but also any public ground found inside that unit. The second tag is the Private Land Only Voucher, which again, gives hunters the freedom to hunt on the private property listed for their tag.
Arizona
Arizona has no Landowner Voucher program and will not have one in the foreseeable future.
Nevada Landowner Tags/vouchers
In the Silver State Landowner Tags are Unit Wide Tags/Vouchers. For the hunters of Nevada, this means that not only can they hunt in within the unit under their given tag, but that they can also roam onto the property of the land owner who is under that tag.
Utah
Utah has a somewhat complicated Landowner Voucher program. The state issues Landowner Vouchers to landowners during general-season deer units if they have a 640 continuous acres of land. Each landowner has to apply for these vouchers each year in spring with the Utah division of wildlife.
This State, like Some Others Has Two Kinds of Landowner Vouchers:
Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit Tags are strictly Private Land Landowner Vouchers — These vouchers are good only for the specific CWMU ranch they were issued for. Utah-resident hunters can apply for these tags through the Utah limited entry draw or purchase them directly from the CWMU ranch operator.
The other is a Unit Wide Landowner Voucher which gives the hunter more freedom and the ability to hunt the entire unit and property that was issued under the certain voucher. These types of landowner vouchers can prove of some good for the private property for which they were issued, as well as public lands throughout the unit they were issued in.
Utah also offers conservation permits that allow hunters who purchase them from conservation groups to hunt some of the state’s popular and limited entry units.
New Mexico
This may also be considered one of the better Landowner Voucher programs in the west.
Some larger landowners work with biologists to better determine the number of animals using their perspective land each year.
These biologists determine the number of landowner vouchers issued to these landowners each year. The number of Landowner Vouchers come consistently each year. Smaller contributing ranches, however, enter a lottery draw to determine what tags if any they will receive each year. There are two types of Landowner Vouchers in New Mexico.
The most common, and popular are the Unit Wide Landowner Vouchers that allow hunters to hunt public land as well as any private land of a landowner who is issued any Unit Wide Landowner Vouches that year. The second Landowner Voucher is a ranch-only tag which only allows hunters to hunt the specific ranch for which the tag was issued.
Oregon Landowner Vouchers/tags
Oregon has Private Land Only Landowner Tags/Vouchers for elk and deer. The state also has Outfitter Allocated Tags/Vouchers for elk and deer.
What Is a Trespass Hunt?
A Trespass Hunt is a self-guided hunt, which can prove to be a helpful and interesting alternative for hunters who may be working on a budget. New Mexico, Idaho, Utah and Colorado offer these less-expensive hunts.
Cwmu Hunts in Utah?
Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit in Utah has given access to over some two million acres worth of private land over to the public. With the CWMU, the state receives numerous advantages within its financial system and wildlife. Landowners may want to keep holding onto their various private lands, though. Wildlife are not overrun in these areas, it is just their habitat. This can also be good for sportsmen, giving them better odds and little amount of other hunters to take on.
9 Comments
Greg Pedersen
12/8/2021, 5:48:35 AM
Thank you for this article it was very useful in describing landowner tags and the different types of these tags. However, can you guys do an article on how to obtain these tags? How do these landowners distribute these tags? I've heard craigslist in New Mexico? What about the other states? How have you guys obtained these tags? That's what I'd like to see in this article.
James Felder
12/13/2020, 8:30:39 PM
Utah is very confusing. I have a friend who recently purchased 2600 acres in Utah that holds Elk. What steps do I as a non land owner need to take for the ability to hunt that land?
Dennis Lee
1/14/2020, 1:24:37 AM
Jim Y. Every landowner is different especially if it's Unit Wide tags or Private Land Only. Make sure you check with the landowner you are looking to buy from what the stipulations might be. Remember even when you buy a landowner tag you still have to validate the tag with the state it is issued from and pay their cost as well. Hope that helps but if you have further questions feel free to shoot me an email. dennis@gohunt.com