12% increase

[juan trueno]

12% increase in elk hunter numbers in my unit last year. Looks Ike’s like comparable increase in the other units in my zone- never mind which one it is, needless to say it’s not a fan favorite. Success went down across the whole zone though, thankfully, not just as a percentage represented against hunter numbers- the number of bodies that hit the ground was down about 10% despite the additional guys chasing them. Tags are going faster for sure this year- and not just in the units that you expect

 

[swampokie]

12% increase in elk hunter numbers in my unit last year. Looks Ike’s like comparable increase in the other units in my zone- never mind which one it is, needless to say it’s not a fan favorite. Success went down across the whole zone though, thankfully. Tags are going faster for sure this year- and not just in the units that you expect

Hunting is a dying sport...

 

[Fatcamp]

Hunter numbers are declining.

 

[Rmauch20]

We need to recruit more hunters!

 

[Chucklehead]

Western state hunters/applications are up. Overall hunter participation numbers are down.
Eastern hunter # slant the stats that direction.

 

[Fullfan]

I saw that The Salmon Zone in Idaho Sold out of NR B tags in Jan. Up until about 5-6 years ago it never sold out. The last time I gun hunted that zone, it was a circus Camps at every wide spot on the road. I thought no big deal I will just push back and be alone. Ya right hunters everywhere, archery season is not quite as bad but lost of hunters. To say that elk hunting is a dying sport, does not seem to be the case in OTC zones.

 

[Brett8133]

I hunted the salmon zone last year for archery the elk population seems very spread out hardly any bugling at all . We hunted from 9-9 thru 9-19 herd 3 bugles the whole time . Never seen a wolf or bear track and not a lot of people . I wasn’t impressed


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[sneaky]

Since Idaho NR tags are capped it means a 12% increase in your zone means a decrease in another zone or two. Did your zone get some press somehow? Every time Eastmans does an article, or Huntin Fool, some units end up getting swamped. Not saying that's the case, but something happened to shift numbers to your zone.

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[juan trueno]

Negative no mention- and it has sold out the last couple years but what it means is that less second tags got sold and that there were more people present than in earlier years when it sold out. Even though all the NR tags are selling out- a lot of those are selling as second tags still, but that number is getting smaller each year.

 

[Mike 338]

What State?

 

[Elkhntr08]

Love the term “my unit”. Public land is supposed to be for all the public. Hunting anywhere is not what it was 10 years ago and some of it’s our fault. We have to post the “trophy pictures “ on every social media and forum saying look what I shot in Idaho or wherever.
The new record whitetail was shot just north of our farm and it’s already starting. People are getting caught driving the farm and my brother and I are getting calls for permission.
Not sure what the answer is, but I try to use the actions of other hunters to my advantage. Watch the hunters and hunt the elk.

 

[juan trueno]

In conversation, I don’t know what else to call the unit that I hunt but “my unit.” Calling it the “the unit in which i elk hunt on federallly owned land” is clunky. I’m sorry you and your brother are in that predicament, I hope it all works out ok.

I’m not worried about more people. I’m not worried about lower success rates- none of that has any impact on whether or not I’ll punch my ticket. In fact, my unit was selected based on access to anadromous fish during elk and deer season, not elk or hunter numbers etc. Legitimately Pressure oft n makes it easier as it narrows down the places to find elk, more people rules out more terrain. If it weren’t for all those people the elk could be almost anywhere.


I thought those statistics were interesting considering they come out of an area that doesn’t get hyped- at all- certainly not the kind of hassle a world record whitetail
Would bring but indicative that it’s getting more crowded even in places that the hunting isn’t that great

 

[HookUp]

Most of the crowd that chases success percentages are not good hunters and you will see the unit success number drop when they show up. I hunt low-mid percentage units and talk to people who never see animals and say they are never coming back and are looking for the next "hot" unit.

 

[tdhanses]

Most of the crowd that chases success percentages are not good hunters and you will see the unit success number drop when they show up. I hunt low-mid percentage units and talk to people who never see animals and say they are never coming back and are looking for the next "hot" unit.

Yup over I always chuckle when I talk to someone that says in over a week they haven’t seen an elk. I just say yeah that sucks. They always say their not coming back.

 

[ChrisAU]

I'd bet there's a lot of hunters who do see elk but then if asked...nope, no elk here. Just wolves, grizzlies, and an orange army...

 

[ChrisAU]

And if you really wanna help the pressure in your unit, just start a thread on each of the major forums..."Unit X in State X was awful...25 trucks at every trailhead, didn't see elk sign much less elk in 10 days of hunting from the truck to umpteen miles in, more hunters than elk turds, locals really have this place wrapped up."

I smile when researching and find a post of someone just dogging a unit, and laugh when its accompanied by "yet somehow I got this 300" + 6x6, had to race 17 other hunters through the valley to get to it" like they can't help but show off their honey hole while trying to keep people out of it at the same time.