Idaho 10a deer hunting

[3nails]

I can understand both sides, however with non resident wt tags selling out anyway, I don't think there will an appreciable difference in wt hunting success, quality of bucks in the unit or whitetail population in 10a. What may make an impact is closing the season nov 20th, since probably you best chance at a mature buck is th 20th through dec 1. My guess is, if any change, this will increase kills of 1 1/2 & 2 1/2 yo bucks and less mature bucks, I've always hunted the week and half before thanksgiving and you'll rattle in and glass young bucks early in the trip and then usually Monday of thanks giving week the switch flips and the mature bucks start moving. I'm sure on the the last couple days those spikes and forkies are gonna be looking a lot better than tag soup since hunters don't have thanksgiving week to hold out for. I wasn't in 10a for 2017 but in the couple years prior there certainly was no shortage of wt

Funny, the largest bucks I've rattled in in 10A have been before the 20th. I have had the opposite experience of yours.

[freezerfull]

I can understand both sides, however with non resident wt tags selling out anyway, I don't think there will an appreciable difference in wt hunting success, quality of bucks in the unit or whitetail population in 10a. What may make an impact is closing the season nov 20th, since probably you best chance at a mature buck is th 20th through dec 1. My guess is, if any change, this will increase kills of 1 1/2 & 2 1/2 yo bucks and less mature bucks, I've always hunted the week and half before thanksgiving and you'll rattle in and glass young bucks early in the trip and then usually Monday of thanks giving week the switch flips and the mature bucks start moving. I'm sure on the the last couple days those spikes and forkies are gonna be looking a lot better than tag soup since hunters don't have thanksgiving week to hold out for. I wasn't in 10a for 2017 but in the couple years prior there certainly was no shortage of wt

Funny, the largest bucks I've rattled in in 10A have been before the 20th. I have had the opposite experience of yours.

My experience definitely isn't the rule and you've definitely got many more years than I have spent in that area, that's just what I've seen along with a few other folks that I know and or hunt with over there with in the few years I've gone. I'm surprised the locals wouldn't support something like no second deer tag for the area, along with a rule to manage better quality bucks. Along the lines of 4pt minimum or antlerless with the current season length. The sentiment of most locals that I've visited with and ran into hunting have been under the mindset of letting the younger bucks live and if your in it for meat, take a doe. Not sure if that's the best management style but I think people should harvest whatever they would like as long as that is legal and taken in an ethical manner with respect for the wildlife. Not sure on where others are hunting but if you get off the quad trails, etc most week days I'll never see another hunter. I know some areas are crowded but compaired to states and areas with a 10 day season it's hardly so.

[idahohuntr]

I can understand both sides, however with non resident wt tags selling out anyway, I don't think there will an appreciable difference in wt hunting success, quality of bucks in the unit or whitetail population in 10a. What may make an impact is closing the season nov 20th, since probably you best chance at a mature buck is th 20th through dec 1. My guess is, if any change, this will increase kills of 1 1/2 & 2 1/2 yo bucks and less mature bucks, I've always hunted the week and half before thanksgiving and you'll rattle in and glass young bucks early in the trip and then usually Monday of thanks giving week the switch flips and the mature bucks start moving. I'm sure on the the last couple days those spikes and forkies are gonna be looking a lot better than tag soup since hunters don't have thanksgiving week to hold out for. I wasn't in 10a for 2017 but in the couple years prior there certainly was no shortage of wt

Funny, the largest bucks I've rattled in in 10A have been before the 20th. I have had the opposite experience of yours.

I've only hunted that area for a few decades, and my observation is closer to yours 3nails.  This is why I don't think the shortened season will result in more quality bucks...just more crowded hunting. 

[bigbullshedhunter]

Looking into the harvest stats for 10 A, I can't see what the problem is that people think needs fixing?  Here is the last 15 years of total harvest in 10 A.

2017 ---- 3322 deer
2016 ---- 3250 deer
2015 ---- 3586 deer
2014 ---- 3131 deer
2013 ---- 2664 deer
2012 ---- 2842 deer
2011 ---- 2640 deer
2010 ---- 2529 deer
2009 ---- 2429 deer
2008 ---- 2429 deer
2007 ---- 2613 deer
2006 ---- 2416 deer
2005 ---- 2497 deer
2004 ---- 2361 deer
2003 ---- 2034 deer

So last year was the second largest harvest in the last 15 years and there is a problem? And the harvest was 900-1000 deer more than most of the previous years? It sounds to me like the hunting is hot there right now. And the harvest rate per hunter is about 10-12% higher than most of those earlier years?  My guess is that there are some people out there who are jealous of people who can afford to pay the extra cost of buying a second tag and they pushed this, because based on harvest stats, this wasn't needed.

Every person that lives here wld say your absolutely wrong. The deer population isn't half of what it use to be. And the amount of hunters that are getting drawn to the area is making it 10x worse. Idaho is pretty good at devastating numbers of wildlife by giving out to many tags as most  know by now. I live here and can tell you this needs to happen immediatly. There also worried about the class of the deer. There use to be a large number of giants killed over 160 ever year. That has turned into 130 basket  buck.  I also know some of the best she hunters in that area. They also agree with the season change due to lack of deer this winter, worst they have ever seen it.

[trophyhunt]

Looking into the harvest stats for 10 A, I can't see what the problem is that people think needs fixing?  Here is the last 15 years of total harvest in 10 A.

2017 ---- 3322 deer
2016 ---- 3250 deer
2015 ---- 3586 deer
2014 ---- 3131 deer
2013 ---- 2664 deer
2012 ---- 2842 deer
2011 ---- 2640 deer
2010 ---- 2529 deer
2009 ---- 2429 deer
2008 ---- 2429 deer
2007 ---- 2613 deer
2006 ---- 2416 deer
2005 ---- 2497 deer
2004 ---- 2361 deer
2003 ---- 2034 deer

So last year was the second largest harvest in the last 15 years and there is a problem? And the harvest was 900-1000 deer more than most of the previous years? It sounds to me like the hunting is hot there right now. And the harvest rate per hunter is about 10-12% higher than most of those earlier years?  My guess is that there are some people out there who are jealous of people who can afford to pay the extra cost of buying a second tag and they pushed this, because based on harvest stats, this wasn't needed.

Every person that lives here wld say your absolutely wrong. The deer population isn't half of what it use to be. And the amount of hunters that are getting drawn to the area is making it 10x worse. Idaho is pretty good at devastating numbers of wildlife by giving out to many tags as most  know by now. I live here and can tell you this needs to happen immediatly. There also worried about the class of the deer. There use to be a large number of giants killed over 160 ever year. That has turned into 130 basket  buck.  I also know some of the best she hunters in that area. They also agree with the season change due to lack of deer this winter, worst they have ever seen it.

Thank you, man it's like a breath of fresh air when I hear the truth !

[idahohuntr]

Looking into the harvest stats for 10 A, I can't see what the problem is that people think needs fixing?  Here is the last 15 years of total harvest in 10 A.

2017 ---- 3322 deer
2016 ---- 3250 deer
2015 ---- 3586 deer
2014 ---- 3131 deer
2013 ---- 2664 deer
2012 ---- 2842 deer
2011 ---- 2640 deer
2010 ---- 2529 deer
2009 ---- 2429 deer
2008 ---- 2429 deer
2007 ---- 2613 deer
2006 ---- 2416 deer
2005 ---- 2497 deer
2004 ---- 2361 deer
2003 ---- 2034 deer

So last year was the second largest harvest in the last 15 years and there is a problem? And the harvest was 900-1000 deer more than most of the previous years? It sounds to me like the hunting is hot there right now. And the harvest rate per hunter is about 10-12% higher than most of those earlier years?  My guess is that there are some people out there who are jealous of people who can afford to pay the extra cost of buying a second tag and they pushed this, because based on harvest stats, this wasn't needed.

Every person that lives here wld say your absolutely wrong. The deer population isn't half of what it use to be. And the amount of hunters that are getting drawn to the area is making it 10x worse. Idaho is pretty good at devastating numbers of wildlife by giving out to many tags as most  know by now. I live here and can tell you this needs to happen immediatly. There also worried about the class of the deer. There use to be a large number of giants killed over 160 ever year. That has turned into 130 basket  buck.  I also know some of the best she hunters in that area. They also agree with the season change due to lack of deer this winter, worst they have ever seen it.

What's a 130" basket buck? 

[idaho guy]

Looking into the harvest stats for 10 A, I can't see what the problem is that people think needs fixing?  Here is the last 15 years of total harvest in 10 A.

2017 ---- 3322 deer
2016 ---- 3250 deer
2015 ---- 3586 deer
2014 ---- 3131 deer
2013 ---- 2664 deer
2012 ---- 2842 deer
2011 ---- 2640 deer
2010 ---- 2529 deer
2009 ---- 2429 deer
2008 ---- 2429 deer
2007 ---- 2613 deer
2006 ---- 2416 deer
2005 ---- 2497 deer
2004 ---- 2361 deer
2003 ---- 2034 deer

So last year was the second largest harvest in the last 15 years and there is a problem? And the harvest was 900-1000 deer more than most of the previous years? It sounds to me like the hunting is hot there right now. And the harvest rate per hunter is about 10-12% higher than most of those earlier years?  My guess is that there are some people out there who are jealous of people who can afford to pay the extra cost of buying a second tag and they pushed this, because based on harvest stats, this wasn't needed.

Every person that lives here wld say your absolutely wrong. The deer population isn't half of what it use to be. And the amount of hunters that are getting drawn to the area is making it 10x worse. Idaho is pretty good at devastating numbers of wildlife by giving out to many tags as most  know by now. I live here and can tell you this needs to happen immediatly. There also worried about the class of the deer. There use to be a large number of giants killed over 160 ever year. That has turned into 130 basket  buck.  I also know some of the best she hunters in that area. They also agree with the season change due to lack of deer this winter, worst they have ever seen it.

Thank you, man it's like a breath of fresh air when I hear the truth !

X2 

[idelkslayer]

Looking into the harvest stats for 10 A, I can't see what the problem is that people think needs fixing?  Here is the last 15 years of total harvest in 10 A.

2017 ---- 3322 deer
2016 ---- 3250 deer
2015 ---- 3586 deer
2014 ---- 3131 deer
2013 ---- 2664 deer
2012 ---- 2842 deer
2011 ---- 2640 deer
2010 ---- 2529 deer
2009 ---- 2429 deer
2008 ---- 2429 deer
2007 ---- 2613 deer
2006 ---- 2416 deer
2005 ---- 2497 deer
2004 ---- 2361 deer
2003 ---- 2034 deer

So last year was the second largest harvest in the last 15 years and there is a problem? And the harvest was 900-1000 deer more than most of the previous years? It sounds to me like the hunting is hot there right now. And the harvest rate per hunter is about 10-12% higher than most of those earlier years?  My guess is that there are some people out there who are jealous of people who can afford to pay the extra cost of buying a second tag and they pushed this, because based on harvest stats, this wasn't needed.

Every person that lives here wld say your absolutely wrong. The deer population isn't half of what it use to be. And the amount of hunters that are getting drawn to the area is making it 10x worse. Idaho is pretty good at devastating numbers of wildlife by giving out to many tags as most  know by now. I live here and can tell you this needs to happen immediatly. There also worried about the class of the deer. There use to be a large number of giants killed over 160 ever year. That has turned into 130 basket  buck.  I also know some of the best she hunters in that area. They also agree with the season change due to lack of deer this winter, worst they have ever seen it.

The number of deer has grown according to the harvest data but the % of 5 pt bucks has been trending downward since 2011 having gone from 27% in 2010 to 16% in 2017.   

[Naches Sportsman]

Since I work in the heart of 10a, I will add some observations.

I went out for a bike ride on Tuesday as Tuesdays were the days I would do buck counts. On tuesday, I saw 29 bucks on my 1 mile out and back bike ride. Half of those bucks had racks past their ears. There were 3 that Wil be mashers this year.

The bucks around here will be bigger than last year as this crop was fairly young last year. Same goes with the whole area. There were lots of 3 points and 4 points last year and not many super bucks as in 6 points+. I've only been out here for a week so far so haven't had much time to see what the numbers are in my go to areas. There are definitely quality bucks around and they are smart. Biggest ones I have seen have been up high and in lodgepole and subalpine.

As far as habitat goes, I think the usfs should do more thinning to open up the forest floor to allow grass growth. That will help the elk and moose out as well. I've seen more elk than last year so far (wolves haven't been around for a few weeks) and seen about the same number of moose even though locals are saying the population keeps declining. 

As far as predators go, I've seen wolf crap on every road I have been on this year. Wolf season on state and usfs land needs to be open year round.

I've heard there's a petition to close down whitetail hunting for a few years, but I haven't seen it to see what it entails.

[ribka]

And another former decent hunting area ruined by the internet



What a shame

I’m not a ID resident but would not
Mind if ID started limiting number of non Rez tags. Used to be great hunting in ID bit quality, due to greed , has really changed hunting there

Looking into the harvest stats for 10 A, I can't see what the problem is that people think needs fixing?  Here is the last 15 years of total harvest in 10 A.

2017 ---- 3322 deer
2016 ---- 3250 deer
2015 ---- 3586 deer
2014 ---- 3131 deer
2013 ---- 2664 deer
2012 ---- 2842 deer
2011 ---- 2640 deer
2010 ---- 2529 deer
2009 ---- 2429 deer
2008 ---- 2429 deer
2007 ---- 2613 deer
2006 ---- 2416 deer
2005 ---- 2497 deer
2004 ---- 2361 deer
2003 ---- 2034 deer

So last year was the second largest harvest in the last 15 years and there is a problem? And the harvest was 900-1000 deer more than most of the previous years? It sounds to me like the hunting is hot there right now. And the harvest rate per hunter is about 10-12% higher than most of those earlier years?  My guess is that there are some people out there who are jealous of people who can afford to pay the extra cost of buying a second tag and they pushed this, because based on harvest stats, this wasn't needed.

Every person that lives here wld say your absolutely wrong. The deer population isn't half of what it use to be. And the amount of hunters that are getting drawn to the area is making it 10x worse. Idaho is pretty good at devastating numbers of wildlife by giving out to many tags as most  know by now. I live here and can tell you this needs to happen immediatly. There also worried about the class of the deer. There use to be a large number of giants killed over 160 ever year. That has turned into 130 basket  buck.  I also know some of the best she hunters in that area. They also agree with the season change due to lack of deer this winter, worst they have ever seen it.

[Mr Mykiss]

Without looking at any statistics whatsoever I’m gonna guess that one unit probably twice as many deer harvested as as any whitetail unit in WA. That being said, what would the numbers look like if it was in fact a “decent” unit? Heck, what would a “great” unit look like?
Just wondering.