Idaho IDFG rule changes comment period ends June 20th

[KurtR]

I can appreciate that you have at least a tiny bit of experience behind a thermal... unlike 90% of the people weighing in on the subject.

I agree that pre-dawn, animals will be easiest to spot, especially under ideal conditions (but even pre-dawn, that is not always the case).

However, if you "picked out" a bull elk at 800 yards 2 hours before daylight... I'm calling BS on that. Maybe you have access to higher end equipment than I do, but even using a $5k Bering super yoter under perfect conditions... I can't tell a horse from a deer past 500 yards... let alone see details like antlers... the resolution just isn't there...

However, you CAN at least see that an animal is there... which, can give you a direction to look with your binos once the sun comes up. Helpful? Yes. Gamechanger? No. Why?? Just because you might see a hotspot on a hillside 1000m away 2 hours before daylight isn't as useful as you might think... for example, if you hunt somewhere that has open range cattle... and you assume that what you see is an elk... then you might be quite surprised at daylight when you look with your binos and see a moo cow instead of an elk. If you are in deep mountain country with no bovines... it could be a moose, mountain goat, big horn sheep, deer, bear, lion, wolf... and if you are looking for an elk, there are lots of false positives that you might be looking at. Especially if the animals are laying down or in some sort of cover... you might literally have to be inside of 200 yards to tell definitively what you are looking at...

Aa for their use in snow: if it is a sunny day or a moonlit night, the snow can reflect the sun's thermal waves and will make an often overwhelming amount of visual "noise". Likewise, humid, foggy, Snowy, and rainy conditions can not only dramatically distort what you can see with a thermal, but also can significantly decrease the distance that you can get readings. However... as I've said before... there are certainly times when conditions are quite conducive to seeing if there are animals out there... but those conditions just aren't as frequent as most folks assume.

As I offered to the other gentleman, I'd be happy to take you out to spend some time behind my thermal. I guarantee after you see how many functional limitations there are under the majority of real conditions... you will have a different outlook.

I've said it before... thermals are a useful tool. I'm not advocating for their use, just trying to quell misperceptions about HOW useful they are. I would rather everyone have a realistic understanding of their real capabilities and limitations, because then we can have an educated discussion about how to manage them and whether there are other tools that have an equal to or greater than effect on hunter effectiveness.

My father in law has a pulsar don’t know the brand and we were playing with it the other night and picking deer out from cows at well over 1000 from my deck . He also has one of the monoculars that was good till 500 ish. Think he said it was like 8 grand or something. With way less heat pollution being in the mountains I would be able to pick elk out easy from a distance. Shooting coyotes this winter was really easy to discern different animals.

That said should they be banned hell no they are fun and great for shooting coyotes at night. Shooting a thermal suppressed at night is about the most fun you can have with your clothes on

If people are abusing it that bad out there then you can’t have one hunting if you have a deer or elk tag. Black and white.

 

[packgoatguy]

My father in law has a pulsar don’t know the brand and we were playing with it the other night and picking deer out from cows at well over 1000 from my deck . He also has one of the monoculars that was good till 500 ish. Think he said it was like 8 grand or something. With way less heat pollution being in the mountains I would be able to pick elk out easy from a distance. Shooting coyotes this winter was really easy to discern different animals.

That said should they be banned hell no they are fun and great for shooting coyotes at night. Shooting a thermal suppressed at night is about the most fun you can have with your clothes on

If people are abusing it that bad out there then you can’t have one hunting if you have a deer or elk tag. Black and white.

Stating in the rule that it is illegal to use a thermal if you have a deer tag in your pocket would be 100 times more effective than the way the current rule is worded... As the rule is currently written, it would be legal to use a thermal to hunt wolves during your deer hunt (and even if you are purposely scanning for deer, there is no way for an officer or the law to differentiate... because technically you could always say you were scanning for wolves...)

 

[Gobbler36]

My father in law has a pulsar don’t know the brand and we were playing with it the other night and picking deer out from cows at well over 1000 from my deck . He also has one of the monoculars that was good till 500 ish. Think he said it was like 8 grand or something. With way less heat pollution being in the mountains I would be able to pick elk out easy from a distance. Shooting coyotes this winter was really easy to discern different animals.

That said should they be banned hell no they are fun and great for shooting coyotes at night. Shooting a thermal suppressed at night is about the most fun you can have with your clothes on

If people are abusing it that bad out there then you can’t have one hunting if you have a deer or elk tag. Black and white.

It’s tough because today’s world is always about the fast track easy. So with letting people still use them during any big game season coyotes or other predators people are going to be tempted to abuse it. And in places like Idaho it’s already impossible to enforce so the rulings have to be clear and extreme. If you purchase an ungulate tag you cannot be in possession of a thermal can’t even be in your truck. If caught, first offense is 3 year suspension and if caught again its a lifetime ban….. if i was master of the universe this is what id do

 

[Gobbler36]

Stating in the rule that it is illegal to use a thermal if you have a deer tag in your pocket would be 100 times more effective than the way the current rule is worded... As the rule is currently written, it would be legal to use a thermal to hunt wolves during your deer hunt (and even if you are purposely scanning for deer, there is no way for an officer or the law to differentiate... because technically you could always say you were scanning for wolves...)

So how can we change the wording? Who can we write to ?

 

[packgoatguy]

So how can we change the wording? Who can we write to ?

Too late now. This is why I posted the thread and the link to how to post comments early last week. In the future, go to the commission meetings I guess.

 

[D_wit22]

So this year, 2025 am I allowed to use a cellular camera while hunting elk?

 

[BTH]

So this year, 2025 am I allowed to use a cellular camera while hunting elk?

As of right now yes, but they could make a revision to the rule prior to season making them illegal.


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[Brianacnp]

In case this hasn't been discussed elsewhere:

IDFG has put out the draft of the changes to the big game hunting rules, including bans on the use of "advanced technology" like the use of smart optics, transmitting game cameras, thermal imaging, night vision, or aircraft for the purposes of scouting or hunting big game ungulates.

Docket No. 13-0108-2401: Zero-based Regulation Rulemaking: Rules Governing Taking of Big Game Animals

idfg.idaho.gov

The public has until June 20th to provide written comments.

1st Question: Does Idaho even need more rules? (For example, there is already a rule that bans the attachment of electronic devices to firearms for hunting... so why do we need a rule that bans smart optics attached to a rifle?)

2nd Question: Are the new rules well worded? Easily enforced? Or will the new rules cause confusion and add more unenforceable laws that are unfairly applied?

New rules:
"410. UNLAWFUL METHODS OF TAKE – GENERAL.

No person may take big game animals as set forth in this section, except as determined and specified in IDAPA
13.01.04.304 Rules Governing Licensing, Reasonable Modification Permit Weapons Restrictions...

f. With the use of any aircraft, in accordance with Section 36-1101. Idaho Code.
g. With the use of thermal imaging technology for scouting, hunting or retrieving big game ungulates
from July 1 through December 31.
h. With the use of any smart optics when attached to or incorporated, except scopes with battery
powered, tritium lighted reticles, or as defined by 13.01.04,372 Rules Governing Licensing, Rewl Modifcation
i. With the use transmitting trail cameras for the purposes of hunting and scouting for big game un-
gulates (deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bighorn sheep or Mtn. goats), from July 1 through December 31 on public or
public access property.
j. With the use of night vision technology, mounted as well as handheld equipment, for scouting,
hunting, or retrieving big game ungulates from July 1 through December 31."

Thanks