idaho non resident tag decrease, fee increase

[buglebrush]

If it's not true then nobody would be killing elk and tags wouldnt be selling out

Notice I especially referenced Backcountry.  The numbers aren't as affected nearer to civilization.  I'm killing elk every year too, but there's far less than 10 years ago.  I currently have 11 game cameras out in Idaho year round, all of them a long hike from any road.  Most of my cameras have been out for at least five years, and they're in multiple areas.  The number of elk is decidedly less.  I actually don't know anyone who's been hunting archery elk in Idaho for 20+ years that doesn't completely agree about the Backcountry decline. 

[meatwhack]

I think that wolfs have played a major part in the population change of backcountry elk and mule deer much more than the areas closer to civilization. They’ve also caused a lot of the animals to leave some of their traditional areas as there’s too much wolf activity. The reason the wolfs have had a much larger effect in these areas is because they’re simply too hard to get to and effectively manage their numbers. So most remote backcountry areas aren’t receiving any trapping pressure on wolfs and very minimal hunting pressure.

[kentrek]

If it's not true then nobody would be killing elk and tags wouldnt be selling out

Notice I especially referenced Backcountry.  The numbers aren't as affected nearer to civilization.  I'm killing elk every year too, but there's far less than 10 years ago.  I currently have 11 game cameras out in Idaho year round, all of them a long hike from any road.  Most of my cameras have been out for at least five years, and they're in multiple areas.  The number of elk is decidedly less.  I actually don't know anyone who's been hunting archery elk in Idaho for 20+ years that doesn't completely agree about the Backcountry decline.

I dont completely disagree with you, I know wolves have hammered things....the game has changed for sure...but I spent a good 150 days in the field in 5 different states in 2019...theres very few younger people hunting....and to me that's a bigger issue then the wolves changing the dynamics of backcountry hunting idaho

[outdooraddict]

$68 increase just to hunt archery or muzzleloader, give me a break. i wish my wages would increase at the increments that "cost" of hunting does

[idaho guy]

If it's not true then nobody would be killing elk and tags wouldnt be selling out

Notice I especially referenced Backcountry.  The numbers aren't as affected nearer to civilization.  I'm killing elk every year too, but there's far less than 10 years ago.  I currently have 11 game cameras out in Idaho year round, all of them a long hike from any road.  Most of my cameras have been out for at least five years, and they're in multiple areas.  The number of elk is decidedly less.  I actually don't know anyone who's been hunting archery elk in Idaho for 20+ years that doesn't completely agree about the Backcountry decline.

   

  that’s a fact. We get elk every year too but that’s the wrong point. Is there a lot less elk in traditional elk country? The answer is yes and probably not even half of what they were. My most recent Idaho elk was 5 minutes from town. Easiest elk I have taken in Idaho maybe I should be happy I don’t have to drive and then hike for hours. It actually makes me sick because it’s not where Idaho elk belong and when I go too my old honey holes in the backcountry there is almost no elk. Back to original topic it’s way past time Idaho increased fees for non residents. Idaho has been by far the cheapest western state with good hunting. It’s also the only state where you would actually want to hunt that you can buy non resident otc tags. They aren’t reducing the overall number of non resident tags but they should. Karl’s point of thousands pouring in ever year to be residents is true and exactly why they will need to reduce non red residents tags FIRST. The total number of hunters is just increasing too fast. Any non resident complaining just needs to stay home or go elsewhere. Idaho has provided WAY more opportunities at a lower cost to out of staters for decades. As our resident population explodes we need to charge a lot more and reduce hunter congestion it’s just reality. I don’t know of one resident hunter that wouldn’t pay quite a bit more for a resident tag with the promise of reducing out of staters. We have one of the best products out there and have been selling it a wal Mart prices. It’s gets really old when non resident hunters of any state proclaim how screwed the state would be without all there out of state dollars. That’s crap Idaho is not a state of peasants we can figure out how to fund our fish and game without a million non resident hunters. You will all mostly pay the increases anyways.

[idaho guy]

This still just cracks me up. Thousands upon thousands of people move into idaho monthly and many of those are hunters but yeah it's the fault of the capped non resident hunter numbers🤦‍♂️

You got that right Karl.  And to top it off it's been several years since all the capped deer tags have been sold out before Aug 1st when they when they are released to be sold as second tags for anyone who wants them, resident and non resident. In fact a lot of the "second tags" are sold to residents so there are even less non residents hunting now than in the past.  If they reduce the number of non res deer tags, they will actually be reducing resident opportunity in the form of those second tags as there will be less extra tags unless Idaho completely loses their minds with the new tag prices.

If Idaho does lose non resident revenue, it will have to be made up by resident hunters.

   

Resident hunters will gladly do it. This is first year I didn’t buy leftover second they went too fast! They are not reducing the total number of non resident tags anyways but they should. The goal is to cap certain areas that weren’t before since many have gotten overcrowded. The price increase is way overdue on non resident tags. Idaho was giving away tags compared to other western states

[kentrek]

Lol so in one hand your saying the hunting is sucking so the restrictions are justified then in the other your saying the product is way undervalued to justify the increase in price 

I really dont care either way but that is pretty funny position to be fighting for

[Magnum_Willys]

Non-residents in Idaho are contributing about 85% of the elk tag revenues generated for the State...... so resident tag prices would need go go up 5 fold to offset....

[idaho guy]

Lol so in one hand your saying the hunting is sucking so the restrictions are justified then in the other your saying the product is way undervalued to justify the increase in price 

I really dont care either way but that is pretty funny position to be fighting for

 

Idaho hunting is still good to great depends on where you are. Some of the best habitat and hunting historically has been screwed I think by wolves. Is it still ten times better than some other states probably. Increase in resident and non resident hunters combined with smaller herds means Idaho needs to do something and they have been below other states for years why is that a hard position? Some places like frank church the elk herds have been destroyed other places the elk are growing but that leads to even more overcrowding

[Karl Blanchard]

I don't disagree with you Idaho Guy. The increases are well within line with other states and justifiable. It is frustrating as a NR because it is expensive and many guys are like me and really scrimp and save to be able to go hunt greener pastures. At the end of the day, I'm still gonna pay it. May have to sell another cord of wood or work a few days of OT to swing it but if it's important you'll find a way. As a WA resident who really depend on out of state hunts to have a fulfilling season, we seem to be getting pounded with increases from every direction. My original remark was simply that it's not the NR doing the over crowding. We've been capped for a long time. The big change has been in the influx of residents.

 I do think that the $70 or whatever it is for an archery or muzzy permit is silly. I also think the jump in youth prices are a bit silly but we've gone down that rabbit hole already.

Basically its California's fault

[Karl Blanchard]

Also, be careful what you wish for Idaho residents. When you create zones for the NR deer hunters, those droves who can't get 39,43 tags are gonna be looking for a place to hunt and itll pour over into the areas who really get very little NR hunters 

[idaho guy]

I don't disagree with you Idaho Guy. The increases are well within line with other states and justifiable. It is frustrating as a NR because it is expensive and many guys are like me and really scrimp and save to be able to go hunt greener pastures. At the end of the day, I'm still gonna pay it. May have to sell another cord of wood or work a few days of OT to swing it but if it's important you'll find a way. As a WA resident who really depend on out of state hunts to have a fulfilling season, we seem to be getting pounded with increases from every direction. My original remark was simply that it's not the NR doing the over crowding. We've been capped for a long time. The big change has been in the influx of residents.

 I do think that the $70 or whatever it is for an archery or muzzy permit is silly. I also think the jump in youth prices are a bit silly but we've gone down that rabbit hole already.

Basically its California's fault

 

  definitely California s fault  I absolutely love this state and it has been good to me but the population growth is out of hand and it’s going to change a lot about the hunting here over time. I agree the archery/muzzy permits are ridiculous too. I pay out of state fees in Montana and sometimes other states so I feel your pain!

[fishngamereaper]

I'm confused... should I move to Idaho in a few years or not. .all this makes my head hurt... I'll pay a few more NR dollars to hunt Idaho..been hunting it since 98ish...cause I know in about 5 years I'll be paying resident prices...

Not sure about the required unit choice though. I sometimes hunt 2-3 unit's in one day because of how they are layed out. 

[JimmyHoffa]

Interesting.  From a couple posts up, I looked at the population growth and it shows Idaho has doubled since the early 80's.

[Magnum_Willys]

Interesting.  From a couple posts up, I looked at the population growth and it shows Idaho has doubled since the early 80's.

Only takes 2.4% growth to double in 30 years.