Idaho Allows Destruction of Game Herds, Then Discounts Tags

[wolfbait]

Idaho Allows Destruction of Game Herds, Then Discounts Tags
http://tomremington.com/2014/07/30/idaho-allows-destruction-of-game-herds-then-discounts-tags/

[idahohuntr]

Lots of fallacies in that link.  The biggest being that game herds in Idaho have been destroyed.  Anybody who hunts or knows anything about Idaho can tell you that IDFG has a very strong predator management program, especially on wolves.  In most every unit and corner of the state game herds are doing quite well. 

Frankly, I say kudos to Idaho for looking for ways to provide sportsmen with more opportunity.  They realize they have surplus tags and surplus game to harvest and they find a workable solution that benefits the state and sportsmen.  Gosh, what a horrible thing that evil IDFG has done.  I mean, I can buy a multiseason tag in WA and still only shoot one deer...or for about the same money I can buy a 2nd deer tag in Idaho and hunt archery, rifle, muzzleloader over a 4 month period...gee...what shall I do? 

I guess it would be helpful if the guys writing these articles ever actually hunted in Idaho 

[wolfbait]

I figured you would be the first to straighten everyone out, after all you do know it all…………….

[idahohuntr]

Trivialize my statements however you want...the fact remains that there is a ton of deer and elk in Idaho.  But I wouldn't expect people who have never been there or hunted there to know that.

[Ranger91298]

Lots of fallacies in that link.  The biggest being that game herds in Idaho have been destroyed.  Anybody who hunts or knows anything about Idaho can tell you that IDFG has a very strong predator management program, especially on wolves.  In most every unit and corner of the state game herds are doing quite well. 

Frankly, I say kudos to Idaho for looking for ways to provide sportsmen with more opportunity.  They realize they have surplus tags and surplus game to harvest and they find a workable solution that benefits the state and sportsmen.  Gosh, what a horrible thing that evil IDFG has done.  I mean, I can buy a multiseason tag in WA and still only shoot one deer...or for about the same money I can buy a 2nd deer tag in Idaho and hunt archery, rifle, muzzleloader over a 4 month period...gee...what shall I do? 

I guess it would be helpful if the guys writing these articles ever actually hunted in Idaho 

Idahohuntr, your not supposed to give away the secrets... your supposed to sell it that the article is correct with there being bad management. That means more elk for the residents!!! I still don't think it will work, but it sounds good. I saw more elk last year than the three years previous. Sure the wolves are there but they are being managed, there are plenty of mountain lion and bears, but they are being managed as well. I wish they would have had those prices last year for the tags, I would have had a 6x6 along with my 5x5 that I got last year. If I shoot an elk early into the season again, I will definitely buy that extra tag. Scott
 

[idahohuntr]

Idahohuntr, your not supposed to give away the secrets... your supposed to sell it that the article is correct with there being bad management. That means more elk for the residents!!! I still don't think it will work, but it sounds good. I saw more elk last year than the three years previous. Sure the wolves are there but they are being managed, there are plenty of mountain lion and bears, but they are being managed as well. I wish they would have had those prices last year for the tags, I would have had a 6x6 along with my 5x5 that I got last year. If I shoot an elk early into the season again, I will definitely buy that extra tag. Scott

Yea, me too! If I would have had 2 elk tags I would have had 2 bulls opening morning last year...I like the discount as well!  My buddies always get mad when I don't stick to the "party line"...yep, them wolves ate em all...haven't seen an elk in here since Roosevelt was president...  

Anyways, whether you have a pair of tags or just one...good luck to ya...I am getting excited for another elk season in Idaho!

[timberfaller]

I used to hunt unit 10 in Idaho,  do you guys know if there is any elk left in there??  I think the name was Jump off Joe canyon, been awhile!!!  Haven't forgotten the "stair case" though!!!

Last time I was there the Moose were taking over.

Sure do miss going in there!

[idahohuntr]

Yea, there are elk there, but not nearly as many as there were in the 80's and 90's.  If they'd let you go back there and log the heck out of that country it would return to some pretty awesome elk hunting!

[bearpaw]

Lots of fallacies in that link.  The biggest being that game herds in Idaho have been destroyed.  Anybody who hunts or knows anything about Idaho can tell you that IDFG has a very strong predator management program, especially on wolves.  In most every unit and corner of the state game herds are doing quite well. 

Frankly, I say kudos to Idaho for looking for ways to provide sportsmen with more opportunity.  They realize they have surplus tags and surplus game to harvest and they find a workable solution that benefits the state and sportsmen.  Gosh, what a horrible thing that evil IDFG has done.  I mean, I can buy a multiseason tag in WA and still only shoot one deer...or for about the same money I can buy a 2nd deer tag in Idaho and hunt archery, rifle, muzzleloader over a 4 month period...gee...what shall I do? 

I guess it would be helpful if the guys writing these articles ever actually hunted in Idaho 

Trivialize my statements however you want...the fact remains that there is a ton of deer and elk in Idaho.  But I wouldn't expect people who have never been there or hunted there to know that.

More of the same old misconstrued statements by the self proclaimed Idaho expert! These sort of misleading statements which seem to convey that wolves do not impact herds is why most knowledgeable hunters and outfitters disagree with your comments which sound like sound bites from a Defenders of Wildlife wolf movie.

Yes, there are numerous units which have not been impacted by wolves "yet" and hopefully the aggressive predator management demanded by the residents of Idaho will prevent more herds from declining and will help recover herds in wolf decimated units. The real fact of the matter is that even IDFG admits there are numerous units below management objective and below needed calf recruitment levels in great part due to wolf/predator impacts. This is documented and verifiable on the IDFG website in their wolf and elk management plans. FACT

Many non-resident hunters quit going into the backcountry where wolves have decimated elk herds, so IDFG needs revenue. I don't see a problem with the second tags as the overall herd numbers are in good shape. You are wise to avoid some of those wolf infected units though. It's wise to review the elk plan to determine the best units to hunt elk. 

I commend IDFG for listening to their customers, recognizing wolf impacts, and implementing necessary predator management! 

[idahohuntr]

Bearpaw- Its fine if you want to start your post with condescending and snide remarks directed at me.  But it is somewhat discouraging to see that everyone else who has posted thus far in this thread has focused on the article linked and the content of that article.  Why you decide to focus on me personally when we are talking about Idaho's game herds is confusing. 

Either way, it does not change my statement that there is a ton of good deer and elk hunting in Idaho.  If my statements are soundbites for DoW movies then your outfitter website must be run by the DoW because it sure talks an awful lot about how good the elk hunting is in Idaho  :chuckle Finally, I don't understand why you and wolfbait want to criticize IDFG for offering discounted 2nd tags when they have the deer/elk numbers to support selling them.  Seems like a win-win for sportsmen and the resource and I don't know anybody besides you guys who doesn't like the idea of giving hunters a break on extra tags when there are leftovers.

Again, I am left baffled at your desire to attack me personally, attack the idea that sportsmen should have additional opportunity, and attack the idea that there is good elk hunting in Idaho.    

[bearpaw]

Bearpaw- Its fine if you want to start your post with condescending and snide remarks directed at me.  But it is somewhat discouraging to see that everyone else who has posted thus far in this thread has focused on the article linked and the content of that article.  Why you decide to focus on me personally when we are talking about Idaho's game herds is confusing. 

Either way, it does not change my statement that there is a ton of good deer and elk hunting in Idaho.  If my statements are soundbites for DoW movies then your outfitter website must be run by the DoW because it sure talks an awful lot about how good the elk hunting is in Idaho  :chuckle Finally, I don't understand why you and wolfbait want to criticize IDFG for offering discounted 2nd tags when they have the deer/elk numbers to support selling them.  Seems like a win-win for sportsmen and the resource and I don't know anybody besides you guys who doesn't like the idea of giving hunters a break on extra tags when there are leftovers.

Again, I am left baffled at your desire to attack me personally, attack the idea that sportsmen should have additional opportunity, and attack the idea that there is good elk hunting in Idaho.   

I looked at what I wrote before I posted it and did not consider it any sort of personal attack but rather numerous factual statements. I never called you any names and feel I proved your comments to be misconstrued as I stated.

Contrary to your claims that I criticized sportsmen or IDFG I actually said I agree with the second tags and praised IDFG for listening to their customers, recognizing wolf impacts, and implementing necessary predator management! Please read my post again!

[bearpaw]

Who is condescending?

Lots of fallacies in that link.  The biggest being that game herds in Idaho have been destroyed.  Anybody who hunts or knows anything about Idaho can tell you that IDFG has a very strong predator management program, especially on wolves.  In most every unit and corner of the state game herds are doing quite well. 

Frankly, I say kudos to Idaho for looking for ways to provide sportsmen with more opportunity.  They realize they have surplus tags and surplus game to harvest and they find a workable solution that benefits the state and sportsmen.  Gosh, what a horrible thing that evil IDFG has done.  I mean, I can buy a multiseason tag in WA and still only shoot one deer...or for about the same money I can buy a 2nd deer tag in Idaho and hunt archery, rifle, muzzleloader over a 4 month period...gee...what shall I do? 

I guess it would be helpful if the guys writing these articles ever actually hunted in Idaho 

Trivialize my statements however you want...the fact remains that there is a ton of deer and elk in Idaho.  But I wouldn't expect people who have never been there or hunted there to know that.

[idahohuntr]

You started your post with a condescending sarcastic remark about me personally that I am the "self proclaimed Idaho expert".  I have never made such claim, it was clearly sarcastic and condescending and has no bearing on the issues being discussed in this thread.   

But, if you meant no harm by it, then water under the bridge. 

Now that you amended your original post to add in more details supporting IDFG I see we are in agreement on the great idea of the discounted 2nd tags, and by default you and I can agree that the linked article is off base in criticizing the implementation of the 2nd tag discount 

I also notice in your amended post that you and I agree the overall herds are in good shape, but there are certainly a few that are not, which I mentioned already.

[idahohuntr]

Who is condescending?

Lots of fallacies in that link.  The biggest being that game herds in Idaho have been destroyed.  Anybody who hunts or knows anything about Idaho can tell you that IDFG has a very strong predator management program, especially on wolves.  In most every unit and corner of the state game herds are doing quite well. 

Frankly, I say kudos to Idaho for looking for ways to provide sportsmen with more opportunity.  They realize they have surplus tags and surplus game to harvest and they find a workable solution that benefits the state and sportsmen.  Gosh, what a horrible thing that evil IDFG has done.  I mean, I can buy a multiseason tag in WA and still only shoot one deer...or for about the same money I can buy a 2nd deer tag in Idaho and hunt archery, rifle, muzzleloader over a 4 month period...gee...what shall I do? 

I guess it would be helpful if the guys writing these articles ever actually hunted in Idaho 

Trivialize my statements however you want...the fact remains that there is a ton of deer and elk in Idaho.  But I wouldn't expect people who have never been there or hunted there to know that.

None of that is remotely condescending.  It is not condescending to point out fallacies in an article.  It is not condescending to say that people who have not been to or hunted Idaho would not know the status of game in Idaho.
On the linked article, the author Tom Remington...the first two lines about him say this:
Tom Remington was born and raised in the state of Maine. In recent years he relocated to Largo, Florida

Now, if I had said to YOU, that "if you had ever been to Idaho"...that would be condescending because I obviously know that you hunt/guide in Idaho.

It is not condescending to disagree or point out why someone may have bad information...in this case I am making the observation that the author in Maine and Florida may not be the best source for Idaho elk herd status. 

I hope that you see the point here...I fully support your efforts to run a civilized website, disagreement in itself is not automatically a personal attack/condescending/rude etc.  Its when folks cross the line from talking factually about the subject (even if we disagree) to going completely off topic to talk about individuals when it has no bearing on the topic at hand.

Either way, this thread is shot and I'm done.  Looks like you've had a good week on bears...a buddy of mine got a little cinnamon bear last night over the hill from my place...can't believe how many bears I've seen these last few days!      

[bearpaw]

You started your post with a condescending sarcastic remark about me personally that I am the "self proclaimed Idaho expert".  I have never made such claim, it was clearly sarcastic and condescending and has no bearing on the issues being discussed in this thread.   

But, if you meant no harm by it, then water under the bridge. 

Now that you amended your original post to add in more details supporting IDFG I see we are in agreement on the great idea of the discounted 2nd tags, and by default you and I can agree that the linked article is off base in criticizing the implementation of the 2nd tag discount 

I also notice in your amended post that you and I agree the overall herds are in good shape, but there are certainly a few that are not, which I mentioned already.

No worries! 

IDFG has not sold any more tags, there is and has been a quota on non-res tags for many years, IDFG is simply selling the surplus left over non-res tags each year beginning on Aug 1. It's a great opportunity for everyone!