Idaho mule deer draws

freebird

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Here's my question?
You have two choices when you put in for a draw. How many have ever gotten their 2nd choice over their first choice??
 

downthepipe

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If you look at the prior year draw odds, you can see what hunts could have been drawn 2nd choice —- those would be the hunts where number of first choice apps are less than total number of tags. These are normally antlerless.
 

87TT

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They do have a second draw but you have to reapply. It is for any leftover tags that are not picked up by a certain date. Not the second choice just a second chance.
 
OP
freebird

freebird

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I understand the 2nd draw. On the first draw you have a 1st choice and a 2nd choice. Very seldom are any good tags left for the 2nd draw. I had always put unit 40 as my first choice and unit 22 as my 2nd choice. But if they don't look at your 2nd choice then why even put one down.
 

Dioni A

Basque Assassin
Shoot2HuntU
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Here's my question?
You have two choices when you put in for a draw. How many have ever gotten their 2nd choice over their first choice??

The second draw option is a joke. Unless it's a doe tag or a tag nobody wants they draw out all the tags way before they get through first choice applicants.
 

87TT

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Shot in the dark but it doesn't cost anything to write a number in.
 

GregB

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So the computer randomly selects applicants based on their first choice. Once that is done it will go through and fill any hunts that still have openings based on applicants second choice. So you can't really draw a second choice over a first, you only draw you second choice if you did not draw on your first, and the second choice hunt still has openings. There is also a second drawing in August for any controlled hunt tags that were left over or not picked up. If you look at the drawing odds on the IDFG website that will give you an idea of which controlled hunts people have historically been able to draw as second choice. Hope I didn't make that too confusing.
 

Ben RT

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I have used the 2nd choice for "unlimited" controlled archery hunts (pronghorn). I put what I really want as my first choice, but if that fails i'll still get a tag.

I usually just hunt in the regular deer tag if i don't draw my first choice, but your 2nd choice could be succesfully used (guaranteed) for deer hunts 1085, 1086, 1087, 1088, or 1103 (2017-18 Regs). It wouldn't work for the "1st choice unlimited" hunts like 1089.

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bigdesert10

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I have used the 2nd choice for "unlimited" controlled archery hunts (pronghorn). I put what I really want as my first choice, but if that fails i'll still get a tag.

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This is about the only good reason to even bother with the second choice. You have to watch though, because if I remember, some of the unlimited controlled hunts require you to select them as your first choice in the first draw to be eligible.
 

excaliber

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I'm one who does not like the way Idaho does their draw with the two choices. Lets say you get a low computer generated number ie: 27. Lets say with your first choice you put in for a hunt with only 10 tags and all of them are filled before they get to 27. They should look at both choices as you might have another high demand hunt that you would likely draw with your second choice and that low number. They way they do it now is they will just pass you by.
Why do they even have two choices if there is no way to draw your second choice?
 

87TT

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I'm one who does not like the way Idaho does their draw with the two choices. Lets say you get a low computer generated number ie: 27. Lets say with your first choice you put in for a hunt with only 10 tags and all of them are filled before they get to 27. They should look at both choices as you might have another high demand hunt that you would likely draw with your second choice and that low number. They way they do it now is they will just pass you by.
Why do they even have two choices if there is no way to draw your second choice?
It could be worse. If they did a preference point system for example. I say don't mess with it. All methods have a down side. I would rather have the same odds on my one choice as the next guy every year rather than keep trying to build points. I don't think your method would work or be any better because all the rest of the "low number " guys would still be ahead of you as more people would put in for more choices. My $.02
 

excaliber

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Preference points systems suck. I'd rather have a bonus point system like Nevada has than our system any day of the week. I don't think you understand how looking at both of our choices before moving on to the next hunter would work.

Drawing computer generated number 27 might not get you one super hard to draw hunt you put in for your first choice but it sure as hell would give you an excellent chance at drawing your second choice. Now you have no second choice at all even if you were lucky to get a low number. Why even have a second choice?
It could be worse. If they did a preference point system for example. I say don't mess with it. All methods have a down side. I would rather have the same odds on my one choice as the next guy every year rather than keep trying to build points. I don't think your method would work or be any better because all the rest of the "low number " guys would still be ahead of you as more people would put in for more choices. My $.02
 

elkguide

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While I don't like "the luck of the draw" that Idaho does...…. it's way better than ANY point system out there!

There is no point in having a "second choice" option when every draw unit is oversubscribed with applications.
 
Joined
May 12, 2019
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Idaho
I drew my second choice last year. I usually will put in for my ideal first choice hunt (usually has low draw odds) and then on my second choice will do a high draw odds hunt.

Most draw hunts in Idaho extend the season past the general hunt season. For this reason I always put a second choice that way if I do happen to draw out I have a longer season to hunt.
 
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