Idaho General Season Going to Draw for Nonresidents

[kentrek]

I've always wondered how things would play out if every state were on the same page and worked together.  If all states did the same draw system, with the same rules for nonresidents. Every state requiringing you put in by March, notified by May 1st. No refund on tags, no sell/give backs. Must buy a license to apply. I know so many people that play the systems against each other with drawing a tag, giving it back if they draw a different state, blah blah blah. I think there are enough opportunities for everyone to hunt, but not if some guys are taking tags and not hunting. I met guys in MT that would buy 5 doe tags each, go over with 15 deer tags, load up a truck, then disperse them to family when they got home.

No one system is perfect, its really nice having them all... and beings there different you kind if organize based off those differences... this new change will be no different

[MMCCAULEY]

Pretty disappointed in how they are gonna consider your hunt choices. Just like in their limited entry draw, your first choice will be the only one that really matters

This will be interesting for sure.  On the one hand, it might make it a little easier to draw the better general units because not everyone will be able to list it as their first choice.

Why wouldn’t they all be able to list the best unit as 1st choice, with 4 other choices there are plenty of options if you don’t draw the 1st choice. I think the best units are going to be near once in a lifetime odds


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Because, if you list the best choice as your first choice i will anticipate that and list the second best option as my first choice.  Scale that up and you will lose out on all the best choices unless you list your first choice as something you can reasonably expect to draw. 

[baldopepper]

Gotta be careful and not put in any choices for areas we really don't know or want to hunt. Sometimes those 2nd and 3rd choices can be used if they are under applied for as 1st choices. Of course you can always give em back.  These draw only situations really change the complexion of hunting. Wait until you are the only one of your group that draws and friends and family don't wanna go just to be a helper. Outfitters love this, more and more groups will start using them rather than risk breaking up their group Suspect they will see most bookings after the draw
 

[pickardjw]

Wait until you are the only one of your group that draws and friends and family don't wanna go just to be a helper.
 

Why wouldn't you apply as a group in the new format?

[pd]

Looking for information on Idaho.

Honey Holes only please.

I heard the Panhandle zone is good 

 

Really hasn't been for decades now, but folks are just starting to realize it.  And to think that Unit 4 had all those cow tags just a few years ago....

[baldopepper]

Wait until you are the only one of your group that draws and friends and family don't wanna go just to be a helper.
 

Why wouldn't you apply as a group in the new format?

You sure can, it's of course an all  or none thing.  Most I knew in Utah put in individually with the pledge all would go to help who ever drew. That didn't last long for most groups as the helpers kinda petered out after a year or two of not drawing themselves.

[andrew_in_idaho]

Pretty disappointed in how they are gonna consider your hunt choices. Just like in their limited entry draw, your first choice will be the only one that really matters

This will be interesting for sure.  On the one hand, it might make it a little easier to draw the better general units because not everyone will be able to list it as their first choice.

Why wouldn’t they all be able to list the best unit as 1st choice, with 4 other choices there are plenty of options if you don’t draw the 1st choice. I think the best units are going to be near once in a lifetime odds


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Because, if you list the best choice as your first choice i will anticipate that and list the second best option as my first choice.  Scale that up and you will lose out on all the best choices unless you list your first choice as something you can reasonably expect to draw.

You’ve got 5 choices, you can put the best choice first and anticipate the ones nobody will put in for starting at 3rd choice to ensure you have a tag. Trust me this is how I ended up with a Nevada 111-115 tag with 4 points this year when you have 5 options you always shoot for the moon with the 1st choice


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[Karl Blanchard]

Pretty disappointed in how they are gonna consider your hunt choices. Just like in their limited entry draw, your first choice will be the only one that really matters

This will be interesting for sure.  On the one hand, it might make it a little easier to draw the better general units because not everyone will be able to list it as their first choice.

Why wouldn’t they all be able to list the best unit as 1st choice, with 4 other choices there are plenty of options if you don’t draw the 1st choice. I think the best units are going to be near once in a lifetime odds


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Because, if you list the best choice as your first choice i will anticipate that and list the second best option as my first choice.  Scale that up and you will lose out on all the best choices unless you list your first choice as something you can reasonably expect to draw.

You’ve got 5 choices, you can put the best choice first and anticipate the ones nobody will put in for starting at 3rd choice to ensure you have a tag. Trust me this is how I ended up with a Nevada 111-115 tag with 4 points this year when you have 5 options you always shoot for the moon with the 1st choice


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you're comparing peas and carrots. NV considers all your choices before moving onto the next applicant. ID will consider all applicants first choices before moving onto anyone's second choice. They are completely different beasts. Majority of tags will be awarded to first choices.

[andrew_in_idaho]

Pretty disappointed in how they are gonna consider your hunt choices. Just like in their limited entry draw, your first choice will be the only one that really matters

This will be interesting for sure.  On the one hand, it might make it a little easier to draw the better general units because not everyone will be able to list it as their first choice.

Why wouldn’t they all be able to list the best unit as 1st choice, with 4 other choices there are plenty of options if you don’t draw the 1st choice. I think the best units are going to be near once in a lifetime odds


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Because, if you list the best choice as your first choice i will anticipate that and list the second best option as my first choice.  Scale that up and you will lose out on all the best choices unless you list your first choice as something you can reasonably expect to draw.

You’ve got 5 choices, you can put the best choice first and anticipate the ones nobody will put in for starting at 3rd choice to ensure you have a tag. Trust me this is how I ended up with a Nevada 111-115 tag with 4 points this year when you have 5 options you always shoot for the moon with the 1st choice


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

you're comparing peas and carrots. NV considers all your choices before moving onto the next applicant. ID will consider all applicants first choices before moving onto anyone's second choice. They are completely different beasts. Majority of tags will be awarded to first choices.

True, but if 90% of applicants apply for 3 zones on their first choice, there will be a lot of tags to go around on the 2nd and 3rd pass. I mean Lolo and Selway will both be able to be had as 5th choice I would assume


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[pd]

It's the influx of people who have MOVED TO IDAHO that are causing the overall increase in hunting pressure.

This is the crux of the matter. 

For about a decade now (first in the years leading up to COVID, then after the disaster) there has been a significant increase in hunting pressure.  It used to be "them out-of-staters" (which, to be fair, were mostly Washington State plated vehicles, but you did see plates from everywhere, Texas, Minnesota, etc.).  But, in the past couple of years there has actually been a shift--most people don't seem to realize this.

It is certainly true that the large increase in Idaho's population in the past few years has been concentrated around the Treasure Valley (what the folks in Boise call "them Californians")--this is undeniable.  But there has been a smaller number of transplants, mostly from Washington.  This is the key point.  Those folks from WA are by & large gun owners, hunters.  In essence, the formerly large number of non-resident hunters has morphed into resident hunters.

It is so noticeable that my clan is now pushing for a change with IDF&G (nobody is serious, just belly-aching) whereby "long term residents get hunting priority over new comers..."  Ain't going to happen, of course, but you know it is bad when Idaho hunters ask F&G for more restrictive hunting regulations!

[MMCCAULEY]

Pretty disappointed in how they are gonna consider your hunt choices. Just like in their limited entry draw, your first choice will be the only one that really matters

This will be interesting for sure.  On the one hand, it might make it a little easier to draw the better general units because not everyone will be able to list it as their first choice.

Why wouldn’t they all be able to list the best unit as 1st choice, with 4 other choices there are plenty of options if you don’t draw the 1st choice. I think the best units are going to be near once in a lifetime odds


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Because, if you list the best choice as your first choice i will anticipate that and list the second best option as my first choice.  Scale that up and you will lose out on all the best choices unless you list your first choice as something you can reasonably expect to draw.

You’ve got 5 choices, you can put the best choice first and anticipate the ones nobody will put in for starting at 3rd choice to ensure you have a tag. Trust me this is how I ended up with a Nevada 111-115 tag with 4 points this year when you have 5 options you always shoot for the moon with the 1st choice


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

you're comparing peas and carrots. NV considers all your choices before moving onto the next applicant. ID will consider all applicants first choices before moving onto anyone's second choice. They are completely different beasts. Majority of tags will be awarded to first choices.

True, but if 90% of applicants apply for 3 zones on their first choice, there will be a lot of tags to go around on the 2nd and 3rd pass. I mean Lolo and Selway will both be able to be had as 5th choice I would assume


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I guess it'll be interesting to see the applicant behavior.  While participating in the draw the last few years, my top choice just like everyone else would be the DC zone.  However, in the draw i'm pretty sure that won't be my first choice because i assume the odds will be slim and i still want a good tag.  I suppose we'll see what the draw odds end up being this December. 

[baldopepper]

Bottom line- I don't think many will like the draw system.  Sure, it's probably more fair but I think you'll see most of the preferred units will be about at least a 10-15 to one chance of drawing.  Having to buy a license first will slow some down, but it's offset by those who couldn't license under the current system but will put in for a drawing.  There are those who will have their wife and kids put in hoping someone in the family draws and those who will select the better units because they never thought they had a chance before.  I don't know of any strategy that worked for us when Utah started it, but do know our group of 12 only saw one or two draw and we really weren't applying for one of the preferred units. Guess it was fair, but didn't seem that way.

[Karl Blanchard]

Bottom line- I don't think many will like the draw system.  Sure, it's probably more fair but I think you'll see most of the preferred units will be about at least a 10-15 to one chance of drawing.  Having to buy a license first will slow some down, but it's offset by those who couldn't license under the current system but will put in for a drawing.  There are those who will have their wife and kids put in hoping someone in the family draws and those who will select the better units because they never thought they had a chance before.  I don't know of any strategy that worked for us when Utah started it, but do know our group of 12 only saw one or two draw and we really weren't applying for one of the preferred units. Guess it was fair, but didn't seem that way.

kids don't need to apply. You can just purchase their tags. They have no unit restrictions either.

UT draw is also a different beast than this draw. ID took a machete to the NR issue when all they needed was a scalpel  I hope I'm way off on how this draw plays out but I'd bet a dollar I'm not :'(

[baldopepper]

Not totally aware on the Idaho system, but believe it's much more driven by outfitters and other pay to hunt situations. Utah draw is also for residents and many of us believe it is driven more by cwmu interests and, of course, sfw who thinks all big game should be hunted by the highest bidder. 

[muleyslayer]

It's the influx of people who have MOVED TO IDAHO that are causing the overall increase in hunting pressure.

This is the crux of the matter. 

For about a decade now (first in the years leading up to COVID, then after the disaster) there has been a significant increase in hunting pressure.  It used to be "them out-of-staters" (which, to be fair, were mostly Washington State plated vehicles, but you did see plates from everywhere, Texas, Minnesota, etc.).  But, in the past couple of years there has actually been a shift--most people don't seem to realize this.

It is certainly true that the large increase in Idaho's population in the past few years has been concentrated around the Treasure Valley (what the folks in Boise call "them Californians")--this is undeniable.  But there has been a smaller number of transplants, mostly from Washington.  This is the key point.  Those folks from WA are by & large gun owners, hunters.  In essence, the formerly large number of non-resident hunters has morphed into resident hunters.

It is so noticeable that my clan is now pushing for a change with IDF&G (nobody is serious, just belly-aching) whereby "long term residents get hunting priority over new comers..."  Ain't going to happen, of course, but you know it is bad when Idaho hunters ask F&G for more restrictive hunting regulations!

I hear this analogy a lot, Idaho population has increased significantly since Covid, but that doesn’t necessarily mean, a lot more hunters. I think it’s just something to complain about. There was a slight spike in 2020, but hunter numbers are lower then when Idaho had banner mule deer populations(2015-2016).