Idaho proposed special season open sight centerfire

[Formidilosus]

I get that and agree, but if we truly want to get more opportunity, making hunting harder, keep more animals on their feet, etc…why stop at rangefinders?

Because electronic RF’s and mapping software are the two greatest contributors to finding and killing animals. They are the two pieces of technology that have dramatically changed the landscape. Thermals are the next.

But to your point- all of the weapons have gotten out of hand. Archery is laughable now- that’s outside of crossbows which is insane that they are allowed in “archery”.
Muzzleloader aren't “primitive” in any way- the way in which almost all states agreed to have a “muzzle loader” season; they are just front loaded modern rifles now.

Do binocs and spotters not provide an advantage?

Not any substantive way. The amount of people that sit and truly pick apart a hillside with glass is minuscule. People walk until they see animals, and they look at them with glass to determine if they will shoot. Well, most just see animals with the naked eye, then use the scope to look at and shoot them.

In any case, standard binos and spotters do not materially move the needle either way on numbers of animals killed.

 

[HunterGatherer]

As I understand the issue, the proposed changes are to decrease success rates without taking away opportunity. They can either just start dropping tags or they can make the tags harder to fill through equipment restrictions. Which would you prefer ?

As I said, mule deer are hurting. Stop looking at this is someone trying to take away “muh freedoms” and look at it as rule changes with a lot of hunter input to let people continue to hunt while addressing declining animal populations

 

[flyfisher117]

I'm generally in favor of limiting technology in locations where game is particularly vulnerable to hunter success and I do like non-magnified centerfires as an option. I'm with you on allowing red-dots or non-magnified scopes for the eyesight impaired to not screw over a specific subset of existing hunters.

I commented in favor of adding more Muzzy seasons. I even commented in favor of adding iron sight seasons. I also got the chance to talk to my regional director while out fishing and running into him randomly. But yeah I don’t want to see guys forced out of hunting just because their eyes can’t focus properly with a 3 plane sighting system.

It’s wild we can’t even remove handheld thermals first. I know they’re trying but the F4WM and their posse is crying because “it’s a critical wolf hunting tool” and “it’s a critical tool for tracking wounded game”. Meanwhile we have guys cruising ridgelines at 4 am scanning with thermals and locating game.

 

[HunterGatherer]

I commented in favor of adding more Muzzy seasons. I even commented in favor of adding iron sight seasons. I also got the chance to talk to my regional director while out fishing and running into him randomly. But yeah I don’t want to see guys forced out of hunting just because their eyes can’t focus properly with a 3 plane sighting system.

It’s wild we can’t even remove handheld thermals first. I know they’re trying but the F4WM and their posse is crying because “it’s a critical wolf hunting tool” and “it’s a critical tool for tracking wounded game”. Meanwhile we have guys cruising ridgelines at 4 am scanning with thermals and locating game.

Thermal is a no-brainer in my book. No one should be able to pack a thermal during an open ungulate season. But I also see the need to increase wolf hunting success rates. So make thermals legal ONLY outside the ungulate seasons. If you need a thermal to find your ungulate you need to get better at tracking, and probably shooting

 

[Flyjunky]

As I understand the issue, the proposed changes are to decrease success rates without taking away opportunity. They can either just start dropping tags or they can make the tags harder to fill through equipment restrictions. Which would you prefer ?

As I said, mule deer are hurting. Stop looking at this is someone trying to take away “muh freedoms” and look at it as rule changes with a lot of hunter input to let people continue to hunt while addressing declining animal populations

No offense but buck harvest is NOT causing a decline in our herds, @nevadabugle said it above. Anyone who researches the subject knows this. Our md herds have been steadily declining since the 90’s, long before this “new” tech.

I would push back and say, stop looking at this and thinking these restrictions are going to bring back herds. It’s providing nothing but opportunity, that’s it.

 

[Rizzy]

I like the current opportunity in Idaho to have an OTC deer tag every year. If that means putting restrictions on the weapon I can use in certain areas to maintain that opportunity, then I'm fine with it. I will take the scope off my rifle and still go hunt the same areas.
I attribute my harvest success more to being able to consistently hunt an area, rather then the weapon I use.

 

[nevadabugle]

No offense but buck harvest is NOT causing a decline in our herds, @nevadabugle said it above. Anyone who researches the subject knows this. Our md herds have been steadily declining since the 90’s, long before this “new” tech.

I would push back and say, stop looking at this and thinking these restrictions are going to bring back herds. It’s providing nothing but opportunity, that’s it.

Only thing I would ad is that there is a discussion to be had around can restricted weapons help with older age classes over time. The data is not settled there yet. Utahs efforts will hopefully inform that over time.

 

[Flyjunky]

Only thing I would ad is that there is a discussion to be had around can restricted weapons help with older age classes over time. The data is not settled there yet. Utahs efforts will hopefully inform that over time.

True, which could help with getting does bred in a timely manner.

 

[HunterGatherer]

No offense but buck harvest is NOT causing a decline in our herds, @nevadabugle said it above. Anyone who researches the subject knows this. Our md herds have been steadily declining since the 90’s, long before this “new” tech.

I would push back and say, stop looking at this and thinking these restrictions are going to bring back herds. It’s providing nothing but opportunity, that’s it.

It’s not just bucks, it’s does as well. Are you also thinking that doe harvest doesn’t affect population ? Like I said before , there are much larger drivers affecting the herds than hunter harvest but it’s the one thing we can actually control. If hunting regulations have absolutely no impact on herds then why even have seasons or regulations at all ? By your logic we should just shoot bucks year round with whatever weapon in whatever unit because it has no effect on the overall population …. ?