Idaho Bonus point system

[willfrye027]

Big bucks are scarce almost everywhere regardless of management strategy.

This. Talked to some guys who hunted a “super premium” draw hunt this year in Idaho and it was tough. 200” bucks were not running across every hillside. And it felt crowded because of the road system and the intensity of the guys hunting it hard. They were pretty down in the mouth about the whole deal.

@WRO have you had any “good” draw tags lately? Was the hunt that much better than you’re seeing on OTC? Mule deer are down, it’s tough right now..changing the draw system isn’t going to make things drastically different but it will limit the opportunity to actually be hunting and make your own luck.

 

[IdahoBeav]

Perhaps if you don't like the hunting hunt somewhere else. You don't need to ruin it for people who do enjoy it.

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Why is it that NR Idaho hunters rarely accept this in regards to the NR OTC tag sale system?

 

[Grundy53]

Why is it that NR Idaho hunters rarely accept this in regards to the NR OTC tag sale system?

Have you participated in that system the last couple of years?

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[Raghornklr]

Why is it that NR Idaho hunters rarely accept this in regards to the NR OTC tag sale system.

That's a false statement. A lot and I mean a lot of NR Idaho hunters do accept it and get tags every year. It's the ones who can't get tags that whine about an easy button because they won't put in the effort.

 

[Grundy53]

I wouldn't mind if they kept it how it is. I do think they need to clean it up a bit.

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[IdahoBeav]

Have you participated in that system the last couple of years?

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Yes, not for my tag because I am a resident, but I have NR buddies that I hunt with.

 

[WRO]

This. Talked to some guys who hunted a “super premium” draw hunt this year in Idaho and it was tough. 200” bucks were not running across every hillside. And it felt crowded because of the road system and the intensity of the guys hunting it hard. They were pretty down in the mouth about the whole deal.

@WRO have you had any “good” draw tags lately? Was the hunt that much better than you’re seeing on OTC? Mule deer are down, it’s tough right now..changing the draw system isn’t going to make things drastically different but it will limit the opportunity to actually be hunting and make your own luck.

I’ve a couple easy draw tags in other states the last couple years that were good, the quality and quantity were better, definitely perceived running into less people on public land.

Daughter had a good draw tag 2 seasons ago in Idaho, found several good deer just getting her to execute lead to lowered standards, if an adult had that tag who could’ve hunted, we would have had a buck over 200” on the ground. We did have one buck get killed out from under us on that one.

 

[WRO]

Perhaps if you don't like the hunting hunt somewhere else. You don't need to ruin it for people who do enjoy it.

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I’m just expressing my opinion, even though its contrary to many others on this thread, I still like to hear them and value their opinions.

 

[IdahoBeav]

@Raghornklr I agree with you on the sale, but there either aren't nearly as many of us as them or we didn't voice our support loudly enough to IDFG.

 

[idahodave]

If a person can’t find ways to be successful on large animals in Idaho with OTC tags,….my sincere suggestion is to work harder. This is coming from a 53yo with two artificial knees and about 30 pounds over my fighting weight.

Mortgaging my son’s future chances at a controlled hunt tag isn’t the answer though.

Then again, he does pretty well on OTC tags as well.

 

[Dioni A]

I will agree that they could clean up the nonresident process. As much as I’ve taken advantage of it trying to get tags for friends you should not be able to have 10 computers logged in. You should also not be able to buy tags for 5+ people, having said that I’ve done a little bit of both.

At minimum they should make you log in then assign the same random number you would have gotten anyways.

 

[WRO]

I will agree that they could clean up the nonresident process. As much as I’ve taken advantage of it trying to get tags for friends you should not be able to have 10 computers logged in. You should also not be able to buy tags for 5+ people, having said that I’ve done a little bit of both.

At minimum they should make you log in then assign the same random number you would have gotten anyways.

I think it should be a license purchase up front and a draw, there would be significantly more revenue, and guys who want to hunt together could apply together vs the current shitshow.

And yes I’ve stood in line, with my phone and iPad logged in on different devices trying to get buddies tags.

There’s definitely a secondary market right now with some dealers to “buy” your spot in line and outfitters who abuse the system as well.

 

[Grundy53]

I will agree that they could clean up the nonresident process. As much as I’ve taken advantage of it trying to get tags for friends you should not be able to have 10 computers logged in. You should also not be able to buy tags for 5+ people, having said that I’ve done a little bit of both.

At minimum they should make you log in then assign the same random number you would have gotten anyways.

I would be happy to stay in the current system with these minor changes.

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[wapitibob]

With the diversity of draw systems across the West, it seems to me the easy button is to pick the ones you like and forget the others vs trying to make changes when you have no voice or influence. Plenty of opportunity to hunt E/D/A every year if you want to without the angst.

 

[IdahoBeav]

. . . trying to make changes when you have no voice or influence.

I don't agree that this is the case. IDFG has made, and is actively making more, changes as a result of the whining masses.

 

[WeiserBucks]

as a result of the whining GASHES.

Fixed it for you.

 

[Raghornklr]

If they got rid of proxy sales Idaho would honestly have the most fair and best system in the west. Going to a draw is the opposite of a solution, its adding another problem.

 

[Dioni A]

I think it should be a license purchase up front and a draw, there would be significantly more revenue, and guys who want to hunt together could apply together vs the current shitshow.

And yes I’ve stood in line, with my phone and iPad logged in on different devices trying to get buddies tags.

There’s definitely a secondary market right now with some dealers to “buy” your spot in line and outfitters who abuse the system as well.

What if when you logged in you were able to add up to three additional members but they would have to get the same hunt. That would allow people to hunt together. If you were lucky and got a low number that’s the same as a draw without having extra expense or complication.
I just hate to see the further bastardization of a system.
I wish it would’ve gone back to what it was five years ago. There wasn’t as much demand when it was something that people could buy any day of the year and just hunt. Nonresidents weren’t the problem People like to make it out to be. Resident hunters are lazy. This is true in every state. The people that are willing to throw down the money for NR tags spend the vacation and travel expense always try harder. Residents see their success and blame nr for their own short comings.

It’s the same problem with the sawtooth elk zone. As soon as they made it capped people thought it was better than it actually was.

artificial demand creates a hysteria and people who would normally sit on the sidelines now have to be active participants. Making a draw is only gonna bring more people into the system and tags harder to get adding points exacerbates it worse. Then you can't afford to sit out a year. Anyone remotely interested is in every year.

 

[IdahoBeav]

I wish it would’ve gone back to what it was five years ago. There wasn’t as much demand when it was something that people could buy any day of the year and just hunt. . . artificial demand creates a hysteria and people who would normally sit on the sidelines now have to be active participants.

How much of this is caused by IG posts of huge Idaho bucks, magazine covers, podcasts, etc.?

 

[idelkslayer]

How much of this is caused by IG posts of huge Idaho bucks, magazine covers, podcasts, etc.?

I think in this case it had more to do with Idaho setting unit quotas for NR. NR could buy a tag and hunt any unit prior to that change. NR tags always went on sale on Dec 1, but the rush to buy came about because NR wanted to make sure they got one of the limited number of tags for the specific unit they wanted to hunt.