Idaho Fish & Game In-person Tag Sales Strategy

[87TT]

I kinda like the idea. But, how is a pure random draw (ala the reduced price/doe/fawn tags in WY) not fair?

You have the same chance as anyone else for a premium unit. Couldn't turn back in a tag you decided you didn't want. Units wouldn't not get sold as in no left over tags for people with more money to buy up. Actually not serious about this but it is the only totally fair option.

 

[steelheadmike]

As is Idaho's controlled hunt process, which by the way, is still available to nonresidents for '24.

Basically, yes. Except a lot of raffles, you generally don't know what prize you're getting. If I drop $100 in tickets at a RMEF/DU/Full Draw raffle, I don't know if I'm getting a sweet rifle or a hat.

 

[ez_willie]

Negative. We know how many are set aside for outfitters, but there is no way of knowing how many are bought out of the general nr pool.

Postive. I’ve been beating this dead horse for years and no body cares. Brandt was able to tell someone was using 70 devices LAST YEAR, guarantee a high percentage of the same people have hunted the top 3 zones every year the last 3.

 

[steelheadmike]

Postive. I’ve been beating this dead horse for years and no body cares. Brandt was able to tell someone was using 70 devices LAST YEAR, guarantee a high percentage of the same people have hunted the top 3 zones every year the last 3.

Nah…let’s keep this system in place. Ugh.


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[ez_willie]

Nah…let’s keep this system in place. Ugh.


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Exactly, but I’m tired of hunting diamond creek every year and hearing bugles every morning right off the highway! I wanna work for it and keep hammering. (If I say specific zone the thread gets locked right?)

 

[steelheadmike]

Exactly, but I’m tired of hunting diamond creek every year and hearing bugles every morning right off the highway! I wanna work for it and keep hammering. (If I say specific zone the thread gets locked right?)

Nice try. You’re about 7 pages too late to drop a specific zone name.


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[Beendare]

Exactly, but I’m tired of hunting diamond creek every year and hearing bugles every morning right off the highway! I wanna work for it and keep hammering. (If I say specific zone the thread gets locked right?)

That bugle was from all the hunters crawling all over themselves

 

[ez_willie]

Does anyone that bought multiple tags at a vendor know roughly how many minutes it was taking in between buying multiple tags ??

 

[FlareBlitz91]

Does anyone that bought multiple tags at a vendor know roughly how many minutes it was taking in between buying multiple tags ??

30 seconds? They’re fast.

 

[ez_willie]

30 seconds? They’re fast.

Really? So as quick as you could put in your info if was able to print? Took me about 10-15 minutes per tag to print last year but this year seemed fast watching online.

 

[LFC911]

Next year 12/1/24 is on a Sunday, will the draw happen that day or some other? I’ve only done this twice and both times were weekdays.

 

[ez_willie]

Next year 12/1/24 is on a Sunday, will the draw happen that day or some other? I’ve only done this twice and both times were weekdays.

Good question. I’ll ask IDGF when they get here in the morning, I’m already camping in the back of the Boise office, they just don’t know it yet.

 

[87TT]

I'll bet it will happen on a Saturday if that's the 1st. They don't change seasons starts for weekends or holidays.

 

[Wrench]

Does anyone that bought multiple tags at a vendor know roughly how many minutes it was taking in between buying multiple tags ??

I was 4th in line. My tag printed at 10:02. Two diamond and pioneers ahead of me.

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

With the threads (and experiences) regarding the recent Idaho nonresident tag sale fresh in people's minds, I'd like to start a discussion regarding an effort in which I have been engaged with the Idaho Fish and Game Commission since last fall. Sorry if this is going to be a long post, but I hope to garner support from Idaho resident and nonresident hunters alike in my effort to convince the Idaho Department of Fish and Game that it needs to eliminate its fundamentally unfair practice of allowing one individual to purchase tags for other individuals who are not physically present at the point of sale. This is not an effort to prevent proxy purchases, which I contend are totally legitimate and should continue to be allowed. Heck, my wife has stood in line for me and purchased tags in the past when I've been out of town. My proposal is that the Department allow the sale of one tag (of however many species desired) for one person physically present and this should be the Department's in-person tag sales practice going forward. This is also not an effort to address the significant (think 2022) issues the Department has had with its contractor who handles its online sales. Rather, mine is an effort to eliminate tag purchase abuses at points of sale that are (primarily) administered by the Department in its physical offices. I know this suggestion won't sit well with the folks who have been making money by acting as brokers to purchase 20 tags for others who are "too busy" to stand in line or live in locations they can't make it to Idaho for the tag sales event or those who think they are exercising social responsibility to "get theirs" and let our fellow hunters standing in line for hours (or days) behind them go to hell because the Department allows people to buy multiple tags for hunters who aren't present and have no skin in the game. I contend that both of these practices are fundamentally unfair. If you haven't had the pleasurable experience of literally standing in line for days for a tag sale, it is a sacrifice.

On that happy (and potentially contentious) note, here we go. Tag demand for all of Idaho's big game species has been growing substantially since 2018 (according to Department Public Information Specialist Roger Phillips) and it is unlikely this trend will diminish. I've been playing this stand-in-line game for tags off and on for ten or so years. One year, I went to a merchant that was in possession of one of the terminals connected to the Department's database for license and tag sales. I waited for a few hours and was the first person in line. Just prior to 10 AM, the owner of the business came in and took over the operation of the terminal from the clerk I had been chatting with while waiting. When he (the owner) started securing tags from a list of people he had written on a piece of paper in his hand, I asked him what was happening. This man let me know in no uncertain terms that I was first in line after he secured tags for the people on his list. And, if I didn't like it, I could leave. I assumed that he was purchasing tags for friends or relatives, but it was more than mildly frustrating to stand there while that occurred. Another time, I went to a different merchant and was third or fourth in line and something similar occurred. In this instance, the person operating the terminal told the first guy in line that he had failed to "get on the list" with his $100 donation to the business for this early tag sales service. These sort of shenanigans won't likely be eliminated by my proposal, but I hope people smarter than me can figure out mechanisms to narrow these abuses as well in the planned changes to the Department's online sales system that are underway. This new system should theoretically account for outfitters who have legitimate reasons for the purchase of third party tags for business purposes.

Think of it this way: the first five guys in line at a Department facility with ten names each can virtually eliminate any potential for the multitude of people standing behind them in line to have the opportunity to purchase high demand tags (think Sawtooth Zone elk) by tying up all of the Department's available computer terminals before the tags sell out. I'll say right up front that the Department's license sales representatives make a tremendous effort to service everyone as quickly as they can and they do an exceptional job. But, they can't work miracles and magically increase the number of tags for sale.

Here's what I hope folks consider: if you believe my effort to eliminate the Department's practice of selling tags to one person for third parties who are not present at the point of sale is a valid one, get involved! Communicate your sentiments with the appointees on the Idaho Fish and Game Commission relative to this issue. I've been doing so (via email) since September and I traveled to Lewiston from Boise last month to have the opportunity to speak at the public meeting that occurred the night before the Commission's quarterly scheduled meeting. I had the opportunity to speak to a few of the Commissioners after the meeting and through those contacts, I was able to determine that my position was an issue that the Commission had discussed in the past with the Department and its Director. The next Idaho Fish and Game Commission meeting is scheduled for January 26, 2024, in Boise and the public meeting where people will have an opportunity to communicate with the Commission will occur the previous day at 7 PM at the Department's Headquarters Office at 600 South Walnut Street. There is a three-minute time limit for public presentations, but written statements can be submitted to the Commissioner prior to the public meetings for presentation at that forum.

If you believe in this effort, please don't be apathetic. Send an email to the Commissioners to express your thoughts.

Below are the names of the Commissioners and their email addresses if you'd like to communicate with them on this (or any other) subject pertaining to Idaho's fish and game:

Chairman - Don Ebert, Weippe, Idaho (Clearwater Region) - [email protected]
Vice-Chairman - Ron Davies, Clayton, Idaho (Salmon Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Dave Bobbitt, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (Panhandle Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Tim Murphy, McCall, Idaho (Southwest Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Greg Cameron, Rupert, Idaho (Magic Valley Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Jordan Cheirrett, Lava Hot Spring, Idaho (Southeast Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Derick Attebury, Idaho Falls, Idaho (Upper Snake Region) - [email protected]

Copies of communications can also be sent to Idaho Department of Fish and Game Director Jim Fredricks at [email protected].

Agree!!

 

[PMcGee]

Would they though? If you make it easier to apply, then that 60-80K could become 100K. When more people apply, your odds decrease.

I can tell you for a fact that if you went to a draw, the Diamond Creek unit would see an additional three applicants every year. I am one person, in one town, in state and I know of three people that would apply for that unit. Expand that out and tell me how odds would increase by going to a draw?

The problem with going to a draw is that the system you currently have is basically a draw. So people are saying we should fix the current draw system by going to a draw system. Its like taking 20 bucks from you left hand and putting in your right and saying you are richer.

The only good thing with a draw is you would have to choose a unit for the draw. You can’t just buy any tag that’s left. I’d be willing to bet a lot of these tags aren’t even hunted. People just buy tags to say they got a tag.


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[PNW CAMPER]

My opinion is for NR hunters only. I am sure I will get roasted for this as getting tags is a very personal, passionate process. Everyone has their own ideas and unique situations that might vary from year to year. I do not believe it is possible to make a system that works for everyone. The process has to be fair, the rules must be published so that everyone knows how the system works. People are going to get butt hurt every year no matter what, but if the system is fair for everyone, that goes a long way towards easing everyone's feelings, knowing that they had just as much opportunity as the next NR.

I could get behind a straight up NR draw for some tags. My idea of a straight draw for NR's would be:
1) Separate draws for NR Elk and Deer tags
1) A hard deadline date to submit for each draw, no exceptions.
2) The draw would be for NR's only, no out fitters drawing out of the NR pool of tags, it would also be for specific units if that is how Idaho wants to run it.
3) Have a provision for "Party" (group hunts), ie allow at least 2-5 hunters to submit one draw package for the party. Limit party hunts to a certain percentage of the unit to what is fair and does not detract from the other NR applicants chances or overwhelm the unit with hunters.
4) NO POINTS systems, NO ACCUMULATION of points, everyone starts over from scratch every year on equal footing so to speak. Its a simple random draw.
5) After the draw results, NR's have a hard deadline to purchase hunting license and tags. What ever that dead line is, it has to be within time to put the unsold/unclaimed tags back in the pool in plenty of time for others to have the opportunity to pick up those tags.

Again, I am not complaining, you asked for opinions, here's mine. Since I live in the state next door, I will keep looking for NR tags every year until it becomes too expensive, I am too old or the system becomes to much of a head ache to deal with.

 

[IdahoBeav]

I think Oregon has it right on party apps- no limit on number of members, but they do not break up the party or add additional tags. If there aren't enough tags available at the time the app number comes up, the entire application is unsuccessful and it's on to the next app in line until the issued tag number is met. Idaho caps it at 4 members, but they will add tags to fill an app if necessary.

 

[sasquatch]

I think Oregon has it right on party apps- no limit on number of members, but they do not break up the party or add additional tags. If there aren't enough tags available at the time the app number comes up, the entire application is unsuccessful and it's on to the next app in line until the issued tag number is met. Idaho caps it at 4 members, but they will add tags to fill an app if necessary.

If they limit it to 4, your not talking about much tag addition. At max it’s 3 more tags than the set quota. I don’t think that is worth changing it up.

Now, when there’s no limit to the members, yes it then makes sense to set it up like that. If not, you could essentially rig the system, every single person just apply as one group, then everyone would get tags.


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[Beendare]

Good question. I’ll ask IDGF when they get here in the morning, I’m already camping in the back of the Boise office, they just don’t know it yet.

Ha!
You are going to have a lot more guys to hang out with next year as this strategy has now gone very public.

The guys chiming in saying no line…guess what…there was not much of a line at the outfit I went to last year…this year there were 24 guys. By my informal head count, 27 of the 77 people on my plane were flying in to buy tags- I talked to 10 of them.

Thats what happens when this gets blabbed all over the internet. Look at Wapiti Bobs post where most tags were sold by computer…..as IDFG’s computer system gets faster the tags are going lightning fast…….its already getting to where guys in person didnt get the tag they wanted as they sell out so fast- myself included and I was first in line!