Idaho non resident tag quotas for 2021

[andrew_in_idaho]

They show 5600 elk tags left for residents but only about 1200 of them are to capped units where elk actually are huntable.  Idaho might not sell out.  The uncapped units are garbage and no one will hunt those as a non resident for the nearly $1000 license cost.

Boise river and weiser river zone both have tags left. Yea it’s crowded hunting but it’s also big country with a lot of elk and with a little boot leather and or ingenuity a guy can get away and have a good hunt in those 2 zones


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[bearpaw]

They show 5600 elk tags left for residents but only about 1200 of them are to capped units where elk actually are huntable.  Idaho might not sell out.  The uncapped units are garbage and no one will hunt those as a non resident for the nearly $1000 license cost.

Boise river and weiser river zone both have tags left. Yea it’s crowded hunting but it’s also big country with a lot of elk and with a little boot leather and or ingenuity a guy can get away and have a good hunt in those 2 zones


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This is only early December! For over a decade I know for a fact non-res tags and licenses haven't sold this fast. There may be a handful of tags left in some units by this coming summer but many non-resident hunters across the country haven't even thought about where they are hunting next fall yet because they are still hunting in their home states. Many hunters look for their hunts in Jan & Feb, that's the reason the bulk of the outdoor hunting shows occur across the country in Jan/Feb. I will be surprised if there are any non-res elk tags left by this coming summer.

IMO and trying to look at this from IDFG's perspective, this new system will prove to be a great move, the residents will be happy that non-residents are being limited from crowding certain units, the state sells their non-res licenses and tags quicker and can plan budgeting better, and the large non-res price increase was essentially overlooked by non-res customers intent on getting in before tags sold out (marketing genius). It's all a win/win for IDFG. I do see the potential that certain units may be considered for draws in the future, but on the other hand if that is done there will simply be other units that become the quick sellers, so maybe there is nothing to gain by going down that path further. In the short term I think IDFG has accomplished what they wanted to accomplish.

From my perspective, I love their new online sales page, it's extremely easy and quick to navigate, much better than their previous page, one of the best of any state. I would like to see them make a group option so you can add another hunter to your group (up to 4 or 6 hunters) before checking out, it seems they could use a pop up window to somehow do this, I would think it could be done.

Overall, it needs a tweak or two, but good job IDFG!

[dvolmer]

I don't hunt Idaho.  I only hunt Washington, Montana, and Wyoming, but two guys that work at the same plant as I do have hunted for years in Idaho.  These two guys showed up in my office this afternoon wanting to pick my brain on Montana options.  So all I have to say is, these non-resident changes and reductions in Idaho are going to have much more far reaching impacts then just Idaho!  Other western states will be having more applicants due to all of this.  Just like we have seen Washington go in the turbo-toilet these last 5-10 years and massive amount of Washington hunters are throwing in the towel and hitting the out of state road, Getting out of state tags on a regular basis will soon (already is) be a thing of the past.  I have had the luxury of hunting every year in Montana and Wyoming, It will soon be a every other or even a every third year thing!  Price hikes will be the next big thing we will see in all these highly sought after non-resident hunting states.  Enjoy it while you can fellas!!!  Your kids will never be able to do this when they are your age!

[High Climber]

I don't hunt Idaho.  I only hunt Washington, Montana, and Wyoming, but two guys that work at the same plant as I do have hunted for years in Idaho.  These two guys showed up in my office this afternoon wanting to pick my brain on Montana options.  So all I have to say is, these non-resident changes and reductions in Idaho are going to have much more far reaching impacts then just Idaho!  Other western states will be having more applicants due to all of this.  Just like we have seen Washington go in the turbo-toilet these last 5-10 years and massive amount of Washington hunters are throwing in the towel and hitting the out of state road, Getting out of state tags on a regular basis will soon (already is) be a thing of the past.  I have had the luxury of hunting every year in Montana and Wyoming, It will soon be a every other or even a every third year thing!  Price hikes will be the next big thing we will see in all these highly sought after non-resident hunting states.  Enjoy it while you can fellas!!!  Your kids will never be able to do this when they are your age!

Yep I’m seriously looking at Montana this year for the first time because Idaho. The deer hunting isn’t good enough for the price at least where I’ve been the last few years... WA with just a few less people and a few more SxS

[idaho guy]

I don't hunt Idaho.  I only hunt Washington, Montana, and Wyoming, but two guys that work at the same plant as I do have hunted for years in Idaho.  These two guys showed up in my office this afternoon wanting to pick my brain on Montana options.  So all I have to say is, these non-resident changes and reductions in Idaho are going to have much more far reaching impacts then just Idaho!  Other western states will be having more applicants due to all of this.  Just like we have seen Washington go in the turbo-toilet these last 5-10 years and massive amount of Washington hunters are throwing in the towel and hitting the out of state road, Getting out of state tags on a regular basis will soon (already is) be a thing of the past.  I have had the luxury of hunting every year in Montana and Wyoming, It will soon be a every other or even a every third year thing!  Price hikes will be the next big thing we will see in all these highly sought after non-resident hunting states.  Enjoy it while you can fellas!!!  Your kids will never be able to do this when they are your age!

 

The best and most dedicated whitetail hunter that I personally know is archery hunting Washington as a non resident and killing better bucks in Washington than Idaho  :panhandle whitetail hunting probably isn’t worth the price or hassle. I don’t know but it’s pretty interesting. We hunted all of our old “good” spots and found 3-4 mature bucks over a week of hard hunting. That’s not at all like it used to be and wouldn’t be worth the non resident price and hassle to me. I think some Mule deer areas definitely would still be worth it.

[idaho guy]

I don't hunt Idaho.  I only hunt Washington, Montana, and Wyoming, but two guys that work at the same plant as I do have hunted for years in Idaho.  These two guys showed up in my office this afternoon wanting to pick my brain on Montana options.  So all I have to say is, these non-resident changes and reductions in Idaho are going to have much more far reaching impacts then just Idaho!  Other western states will be having more applicants due to all of this.  Just like we have seen Washington go in the turbo-toilet these last 5-10 years and massive amount of Washington hunters are throwing in the towel and hitting the out of state road, Getting out of state tags on a regular basis will soon (already is) be a thing of the past.  I have had the luxury of hunting every year in Montana and Wyoming, It will soon be a every other or even a every third year thing!  Price hikes will be the next big thing we will see in all these highly sought after non-resident hunting states.  Enjoy it while you can fellas!!!  Your kids will never be able to do this when they are your age!

Yep I’m seriously looking at Montana this year for the first time because Idaho. The deer hunting isn’t good enough for the price at least where I’ve been the last few years... WA with just a few less people and a few more SxS

   

Deer population in Montana compared to Idaho is night and day. I don’t know the actual numbers but feels like 10-20 deer in Montana for every 1 deer in Idaho. I think when you do find that big mule deer it’s better trophy quality though. Whitetail Montana is way better in populations and size

[Stein]

For sure, Montana deer (and elk for that matter) are managed for opportunity.  Basically, how can they give the most people the opportunity to hunt them?

My crystal ball says that it always stings when a state makes it harder and more expensive for less opportunity, but that sting doesn't last as long as the memories of past hunts and the dreams of what the future holds.  At the end of the day, there are limited opportunities and we will stand in line however long is necessary and pay whatever they are asking for the chance to hunt.  Sadly, some will be priced out, but they will be replaced at least 1:1 if not more by people that found or have a way to afford it.

A few years ago, MT did a huge price increase and people thought and talked about ID and now the pendulum is going the other direction to some degree, but ID is still a closer drive and lower cost so I wouldn't bet on a mass exodus.

[Machias]

I don't hunt Idaho.  I only hunt Washington, Montana, and Wyoming, but two guys that work at the same plant as I do have hunted for years in Idaho.  These two guys showed up in my office this afternoon wanting to pick my brain on Montana options.  So all I have to say is, these non-resident changes and reductions in Idaho are going to have much more far reaching impacts then just Idaho!  Other western states will be having more applicants due to all of this.  Just like we have seen Washington go in the turbo-toilet these last 5-10 years and massive amount of Washington hunters are throwing in the towel and hitting the out of state road, Getting out of state tags on a regular basis will soon (already is) be a thing of the past.  I have had the luxury of hunting every year in Montana and Wyoming, It will soon be a every other or even a every third year thing!  Price hikes will be the next big thing we will see in all these highly sought after non-resident hunting states.  Enjoy it while you can fellas!!!  Your kids will never be able to do this when they are your age!

 

The best and most dedicated whitetail hunter that I personally know is archery hunting Washington as a non resident and killing better bucks in Washington than Idaho  :panhandle whitetail hunting probably isn’t worth the price or hassle. I don’t know but it’s pretty interesting. We hunted all of our old “good” spots and found 3-4 mature bucks over a week of hard hunting. That’s not at all like it used to be and wouldn’t be worth the non resident price and hassle to me. I think some Mule deer areas definitely would still be worth it.

Had the same experience this year, very little daytime rut activity and only a couple of decent bucks on my trail cameras all fall.

[idaho guy]

I don't hunt Idaho.  I only hunt Washington, Montana, and Wyoming, but two guys that work at the same plant as I do have hunted for years in Idaho.  These two guys showed up in my office this afternoon wanting to pick my brain on Montana options.  So all I have to say is, these non-resident changes and reductions in Idaho are going to have much more far reaching impacts then just Idaho!  Other western states will be having more applicants due to all of this.  Just like we have seen Washington go in the turbo-toilet these last 5-10 years and massive amount of Washington hunters are throwing in the towel and hitting the out of state road, Getting out of state tags on a regular basis will soon (already is) be a thing of the past.  I have had the luxury of hunting every year in Montana and Wyoming, It will soon be a every other or even a every third year thing!  Price hikes will be the next big thing we will see in all these highly sought after non-resident hunting states.  Enjoy it while you can fellas!!!  Your kids will never be able to do this when they are your age!

 

The best and most dedicated whitetail hunter that I personally know is archery hunting Washington as a non resident and killing better bucks in Washington than Idaho  :panhandle whitetail hunting probably isn’t worth the price or hassle. I don’t know but it’s pretty interesting. We hunted all of our old “good” spots and found 3-4 mature bucks over a week of hard hunting. That’s not at all like it used to be and wouldn’t be worth the non resident price and hassle to me. I think some Mule deer areas definitely would still be worth it.

Had the same experience this year, very little daytime rut activity and only a couple of decent bucks on my trail cameras all fall.

 

dang! that blows my 2021 plan b out of the water. I was thinking of heading your way next year  It was a strange year for sure i have hunted unit 2 and 3 almost 30 years and I dont know that i will ever hunt 2 for deer again.3 is pretty big but  is marginal on how much time I will spend there. Its like it fell off a cliff but we did get locked out of some juicy timber propertys this year due to new land purchases so that was a factor too.
On a bright note it has led to me doing a lot more trapping this fall! 

[Magnum_Willys]

Looks like almost everything sold out for NR elk - only 643 tags left in zones.  But the overall NR quota still has 5019 tags so looks like IDAHO is going to sell 4,376 FEWER NR Elk tags under this new system the way I see it ?

1/3 less NR so will be less crowded which was their goal but less $ means

[Dhoey07]

Looks like almost everything sold out for NR elk - only 643 tags left in zones.  But the overall NR quota still has 5019 tags so looks like IDAHO is going to sell 4,376 FEWER NR Elk tags under this new system the way I see it ?

1/3 less NR so will be less crowded which was their goal but less $ means

Can they still be bought as second tags by residents?

[idahohuntr]

Looks like almost everything sold out for NR elk - only 643 tags left in zones.  But the overall NR quota still has 5019 tags so looks like IDAHO is going to sell 4,376 FEWER NR Elk tags under this new system the way I see it ?

1/3 less NR so will be less crowded which was their goal but less $ means

I doubt Idaho will see less $...they raised prices substantially to offset fewer tags.  Between second tag options for residents, higher NR fees on tags and stamps, higher controlled app fees...I don't see them having less money than previous years...probably more. 

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Looks like almost everything sold out for NR elk - only 643 tags left in zones.  But the overall NR quota still has 5019 tags so looks like IDAHO is going to sell 4,376 FEWER NR Elk tags under this new system the way I see it ?

1/3 less NR so will be less crowded which was their goal but less $ means

I doubt Idaho will see less $...they raised prices substantially to offset fewer tags.  Between second tag options for residents, higher NR fees on tags and stamps, higher controlled app fees...I don't see them having less money than previous years...probably more.

If those non res tags get sold to residents as second tags, this whole charade won't have done anything to ease crowding. It will just make it more of a resident problem, (crowding).  And will probably make things worse. Residents will have local knowledge and more time to scout ahead of season and be more likely to be on the elk right off the get go.

[luvmystang67]

I do have a question on deer tags.  Take the panhandle area.

Who would voluntarily buy a whitetail tag for the panhandle, when they can shoot either a mule deer or a whitetail with the regular tag, assuming there is quota available for both?  Seems a little odd to me.

There are even tags in the mountains where both species more readily coexist, where there are still any deer tags available, but still some people have selected the whitetail tags. 

Am I missing something or are people just dumb?

[bobcat]

Don't the whitetail tags have a later season, in November?