Idaho New Tag Allocation - Pressure

[dreamingbig]

And still a thousand times better than Washington

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100,000 times better!


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[friczech]

And still a thousand times better than Washington

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And maybe not a thousand times better but significantly better than Oregon.

 

[Muzzprong]

I think a year or 2 is hard to judge pressure buy. I’ve hunted the same zone for over 25 years and non resident pressure has always fluctuated. I’ve had some game wardens and non resident hunters tell us that some biologists give non residents specific locations that are good and others keep it pretty broad to keep pressure spread out. Unfortunately the areas we hunt are sometimes the ones that are told to the hunters and we are over ran. Then the very next year we can have it all to ourselves.

 

[Trap]

I think a year or 2 is hard to judge pressure buy. I’ve hunted the same zone for over 25 years and non resident pressure has always fluctuated. I’ve had some game wardens and non resident hunters tell us that some biologists give non residents specific locations that are good and others keep it pretty broad to keep pressure spread out. Unfortunately the areas we hunt are sometimes the ones that are told to the hunters and we are over ran. Then the very next year we can have it all to ourselves.

I have a few long term hunting spots like that. Non residents and residents will flood in for a year or 2. Decide it’s WAY too crowded and then I will have it to myself again. It’s weird. I just bounce around hunting spots depending on what the year is like

 

[IdahoHntr]

I think a year or 2 is hard to judge pressure buy. I’ve hunted the same zone for over 25 years and non resident pressure has always fluctuated. I’ve had some game wardens and non resident hunters tell us that some biologists give non residents specific locations that are good and others keep it pretty broad to keep pressure spread out. Unfortunately the areas we hunt are sometimes the ones that are told to the hunters and we are over ran. Then the very next year we can have it all to ourselves.

I have a few long term hunting spots like that. Non residents and residents will flood in for a year or 2. Decide it’s WAY too crowded and then I will have it to myself again. It’s weird. I just bounce around hunting spots depending on what the year is like

I agree with this perspective. I think this is more the “added pressure” people feel. Honey holes don’t exist like they used to. Just because people started showing up in your honey hole doesn’t mean there is more pressure everywhere. Mapping software and the wealth of info on the internet has made it easier for any person to find those holes. People who have hunted the same spot for years suddenly see a few hunters show up that they haven’t seen in the past and think pressure is crazy everywhere. It’s just easier for people to find good spots than it used to be.

I have hunted multiple zones, including the one mentioned in this thread, and have never felt like there were too many hunters to handle. I have spent 80% of my days hunting without seeing another hunter and when I do it very seldom ruins my hunt. I don’t count on honey holes though. I used to get upset about pressure too when the place I hadn’t seen a person for several years was all of sudden crawling with hunters, but I’ve realized it’s just part of the eb and flow of modern day hunting. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket and you will seldom find yourself inundated with too much pressure, resident or nonresident. Move on to the next spot and you’ll find the animals avoiding the pressure just like you are.

P.s. If your honey hole starts from a trailhead or end of the road, it will get found by someone else. Not a matter of if, but when. Don’t be so surprised when it happens.

 

[BK Ammenwerth]

The area I hunt, which I don’t think is that great and has sold slowly the last two years, has seen marked increase in archery pressure the last 5 years IMO. I would say I see 80:20-90:10 res to non res pressure. A lot of people will tell you they have started archery hunting in the last few years. The other thing I have noticed is a lot of the new guys have no shame with hunting right on top of you, moving in on bulls you’re working, taking crummy shots, etc

Yup total BS, and they are really easy to call in. Lol

 

[SEIdaho Hunter]

For me, I noticed a drastic decrease in pressure. With that being said, the most popular spots were still busy but it was much easier to find a trailhead with no trucks or campers.

 

[dturbin22]

I hunted elk in Idaho in 2019 and 2020, took last year off but will be heading back here in 2022.

In 2019 we hunted two different spots. The first spot we didn't see a single person in 3 days. In the second spot there were 8 trucks around the trail head but only ran into 3 locals day hunting in 3 days. To me that wasn't a lot of pressure.

In 2020 it was a shorter trip of only 4 days total and we stuck in our second spot from 2019 because of the elk sign. During those 4 days we ran into 3 total hunters. But there were more trucks at the trailhead.

In 2021 did people notice pressure decrease with the limitation of tags?

No there is still a ton of pressure between hunters and predators.