Looking to Rifle Hunt Elk in Idaho in 2023

[7mmfan]

The only way you can count on going to Idaho as a group is if they decide to change to an actual drawing instead of this stupid random number queue BS they have going on for individual hunters now. Idaho was so appealing for so long because it was over the counter and the hunting was quite good. Now all they're succeeding in doing is catering to solo hunters and dismantling established hunting groups. As long as they're selling out of tags every year in a matter of hours or days though, they will have no motivation to change anything.

You can put in as a group in every other state, I hope ID keeps things the way they are. I got not-selected in every draw I put in for last year, its nice to have one option that's a little different. And hopefully people will slow down a little next year with the credit card spending, and it wont be so cut throat. I cant be the only one affected by groceries and gas doubling

I don't want to have to start over in another state. We have a great area in Idaho that we've invested a lot of time and resources into learning. My Dad is 65 and admits he probably only has a handful of years left doing the backcountry hunting we so enjoy, I don't want to spend that learning new ground. I want him to spend it hunting the ground he knows. Idaho has broken the group up though so the likelihood of that happening now is slim.

[Magnum_Willys]

Idaho was better hunting this year for those that got a tag.  Their system is working, just not so much for nonres groups. 

[huntnnw]

That whole waiting room thing is stupid and a broken system. The other issue is some don’t have the luxury of weekday 10am and sit on the phone or online!  I don’t hunt in a group and don’t have a problem , but it needs to change. They need to do a draw for general tags. Whatever is not drawn out will become first come first  serve.

[Magnum_Willys]

A draw would be nice in that you don’t have to wait - you could fill out your list of accepted zones in order and when you are drawn you are assigned the first available zone in you list.  Plus could handle group apps.   
Until then just hope you are one of first 6000 drawn not the last 16,000.