Here goes idaho

[James]

If they just would allow us to get tags as a party and close some loopholes I would be happy with the current system.

A backcountry backpack elk hunt is a real situation if you are the only one of your buddies that was able to get a tag.

[2MANY]

Idaho is 63% Public ground.

Big Brother needs money.

[dreamingbig]

Can't say I blame them.  How many Washington hunters are now looking towards Idaho for their hunting opportunities now that Washington is so mismanaged.   They also have to respond to their boost in residents now that Washington is so uninhabitable.

Thank you for this opinion, although it is probably wildly unpopular with the WA homies. But it is common sense. Our state has become inundated with new resident transplants.

For the others here? 
Take your crying elsewhere. Your state has pissed it's own system down the drain, and you and others gaining an unfair advantage due to proximity is about to end.  Good on Idaho. Always cracks me up to see the whining about our system (and subsequent changes) from those whose states have virtually destroyed their own resource and offer virtually NOTHING to those of us in neighboring states.

how about almost single handedly funding your game department which allows you to have hilariously low tag costs as well as dumping MILLIONS into Idahos local economies. 

My question for you is why are you whining about a potential change to the NON RESIDENT allocation of tags which has no effect on Idaho resident opportunities 

He bashes anyone who complains about Idaho nonresident issues.  Don’t take it personally.  It was only a matter of time until he showed up with his opinion.


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[andrew_in_idaho]

Honestly, why wouldnt it?   I can't imagine a resident opposing it, except maybe a store owner

I will oppose it. Our legislators are out of control and need to get out of the wildlife management game and allow the IDFG commission to manage wildlife. They also proposed a bill recently which would give outfitters sheep, goat or moose tags if they kill a wolf


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[BUTTER]

Well said Andrew, I think most would oppose it. Idaho seems to understand that more rules means less opportunity. You let them take anything away you won't get it back. Washington has made this mistake far to many times.

[Broomd]

My question for you is why are you whining about a potential change to the NON RESIDENT allocation of tags which has no effect on Idaho resident opportunities 

Oh, I'm happy as a clam. 
And the simple answer is: Less *Washington* hunters.... more opportunity for other hunters across the U.S. (who have to learn the system and units that WA hunters have down to a "T" starting with gaming the draw system.) Overall less opp for those from WA who take advantage of this state on an annual basis.
It's not personal, it's business.


"Millions"......Most of those who come here (literally on our very gravel road) spend dick here, they buy their lic and tag and spend dick here beyond that.

[Broomd]

Can't say I blame them.  How many Washington hunters are now looking towards Idaho for their hunting opportunities now that Washington is so mismanaged.   They also have to respond to their boost in residents now that Washington is so uninhabitable.

Thank you for this opinion, although it is probably wildly unpopular with the WA homies. But it is common sense. Our state has become inundated with new resident transplants.

For the others here? 
Take your crying elsewhere. Your state has pissed it's own system down the drain, and you and others gaining an unfair advantage due to proximity is about to end.  Good on Idaho. Always cracks me up to see the whining about our system (and subsequent changes) from those whose states have virtually destroyed their own resource and offer virtually NOTHING to those of us in neighboring states.

how about almost single handedly funding your game department which allows you to have hilariously low tag costs as well as dumping MILLIONS into Idahos local economies. 

My question for you is why are you whining about a potential change to the NON RESIDENT allocation of tags which has no effect on Idaho resident opportunities 

He bashes anyone who complains about Idaho nonresident issues.  Don’t take it personally.  It was only a matter of time until he showed up with his opinion.


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Yep, the same opinion you would have if the situations were reversed.  Great to see that things are finally changing to 'fair', most here hoped they would in time.

[dreamingbig]

Washington state still has OTC tags for nonresidents with no limit, no draw and no December 1st madness.  100% of our draw permits can be drawn by nonresidents.  No 90/10 split, no 80/20 split, no 84/16 split and no you have to hunt with an outfitter split.  It might suck and it  does cost but they do let everyone come and play.


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[andrew_in_idaho]

Washington state still has OTC tags for nonresidents with no limit, no draw and no December 1st madness.  100% of our draw permits can be drawn by nonresidents.  No 90/10 split, no 80/20 split, no 84/16 split and no you have to hunt with an outfitter split.  It might suck and it  does cost but they do let everyone come and play.


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Yes, that is a fact, but the reality is that Washington’s big game herds suck so bad that the influencers and research services don’t push Washington as the last place to get OTC mule deer tags. Even they see no use in those OTC deer tags you guys get


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[Magnum_Willys]

Idaho: Don’t change a thing please!  Current system works well for my hunting group.   If you do change add points so we can plan on every other year like MT.

[bearpaw]

Idaho Non-Resident Tag Numbers
The total number of non-resident elk tags and deer tags sold in Idaho each year was set long ago, the number of tags has not increased or decreased for nearly 30 years. None of the recent actions by F&G have changed overall non-resident tag numbers.

The move by IDFG in 2021 establishing non-resident deer tag quotas in each unit was due to non-resident hunter crowding in certain units. The total number of tags sold statewide remained the same but unit quotas force more even non-resident hunter distribution across all units in the state by limiting non-res hunters to 10%-15% in each unit, thereby reducing non-resident crowding in certain units where it was a problem.

IMO: Non-resident deer and elk tags are already essentially on a draw in Idaho, when you get in line at sales locations your position in line determines if you will get tags, when you are placed in the waiting room online your randomly assigned number dictates if you will get a tag or not get a tag. Due to increasing numbers of non-residents wanting to hunt Idaho the F&G has tried to come up with a system to provide non-residents a fair chance without implementing a draw, I commend them for that. But with ever increasing numbers of non-residents wanting to hunt Idaho I think HB 587 has a good chance of becoming law. With ever increasing numbers of non-residents wanting tags a draw may actually be a fairer way to distribute non-resident tags and F&G will likely increase funding through increased license and application sales associated with a draw, so they may support the bill, that is an unknown at this time. However, I think these are only band-aids for smaller issues, there's a much larger problem that IDFG faces!

The Real Elephant In The Room:

1,391,802...Idaho Population in 2004
1,964,726...Idaho Population in 2023
572,924 Population Increase From 2004 to 2023 (41% increase)

USFWS says 15.9% of people in Idaho hunt. A recent survey revealed that 1 in 10 people moving to Idaho cited a primary reason was for hunting. I couldn't find an exact number of resident licenses sold in 2023, but these two metrics suggest there may be anywhere from 57,000 to 91,000 more resident hunters in Idaho today than there was in 2004.

Eventually F&G will be forced to limit resident hunters in some manner and I have been told by people who would know that its already being discussed.

[andrew_in_idaho]

Idaho Non-Resident Tag Numbers
The total number of non-resident elk tags and deer tags sold in Idaho each year was set long ago, the number of tags has not increased or decreased for nearly 30 years. None of the recent actions by F&G have changed overall non-resident tag numbers.

The move by IDFG in 2021 establishing non-resident deer tag quotas in each unit was due to non-resident hunter crowding in certain units. The total number of tags sold statewide remained the same but unit quotas force more even non-resident hunter distribution across all units in the state by limiting non-res hunters to 10%-15% in each unit, thereby reducing non-resident crowding in certain units where it was a problem.

IMO: Non-resident deer and elk tags are already essentially on a draw in Idaho, when you get in line at sales locations your position in line determines if you will get tags, when you are placed in the waiting room online your randomly assigned number dictates if you will get a tag or not get a tag. Due to increasing numbers of non-residents wanting to hunt Idaho the F&G has tried to come up with a system to provide non-residents a fair chance without implementing a draw, I commend them for that. But with ever increasing numbers of non-residents wanting to hunt Idaho I think HB 587 has a good chance of becoming law. With ever increasing numbers of non-residents wanting tags a draw may actually be a fairer way to distribute non-resident tags and F&G will likely increase funding through increased license and application sales associated with a draw, so they may support the bill, that is an unknown at this time. However, I think these are only band-aids for smaller issues, there's a much larger problem that IDFG faces!

The Real Elephant In The Room:

1,391,802...Idaho Population in 2004
1,964,726...Idaho Population in 2023
572,924 Population Increase From 2004 to 2023 (41% increase)

USFWS says 15.9% of people in Idaho hunt. A recent survey revealed that 1 in 10 people moving to Idaho cited a primary reason was for hunting. I couldn't find an exact number of resident licenses sold in 2023, but these two metrics suggest there may be anywhere from 57,000 to 91,000 more resident hunters in Idaho today than there was in 2004.

Eventually F&G will be forced to limit resident hunters in some manner and I have been told by people who would know that its already being discussed.

I am personally a big proponent that we need deer zones like our current elk zone system. Continues to allow all residents to hunt but limits the amount of unit hopping that people can do. Some zones with quotas, others unlimited. The most important thing to me is to continue to allow each resident to continue to hunt deer each year. As an aside, leave the whitetail tags as is and unlimited in number so maybe more people will be encouraged to shoot whitetails if their favorite mule deer zone sells out


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[Taco280AI]

Do you really want to continue down that slippery slope? More restrictions? Which will later become even more.

[highcountry_hunter]

Idaho: Don’t change a thing please!  Current system works well for my hunting group.   If you do change add points so we can plan on every other year like MT.

Between the 3 different forums I’ve seen this bill posted, this is the first comment out of a couple hundred that’s been Pro Points system lol


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[andrew_in_idaho]

Do you really want to continue down that slippery slope? More restrictions? Which will later become even more.

Yes, I would prefer we make a change now that may be slightly more restrictive rather than waiting until a large change such as draw only for residents is on the table


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