IDFG survey 2024

[2STRO]

IDFG technology survey. Anyone know what the fish and game is thinking on the recent survey they sent out. Is hunting tech really an issue? Is there and over harvest due to tech? Is there an over harvest due to season length and tag numbers? The survey mashed the two “issues” together and to me it is unclear what is the goal of all this…

 

[mt100gr.]

Are more tags being sold/made available? Are animals being killed that likely would have survived in years past because people are hunting "deeper" and able to capitalize at longer ranges? These are the 2 areas that I see "tech" having a massive impact.

I don't know Idaho, but i know what i see in MT.

 

[High Climber]

I didn’t get that survey… what tech were they asking about?

 

[2STRO]

They are asking about archery sights, rifle scopes, bullets capable of killing at ranges of 800 and farther, image stabilization on Binos, night vision and thermal use, crossbow and bow advancements in design and weight, range finders that range over 1000, muzzloaders, cell trail cams, drones for scouting, AI to identify animal species. Its all pretty generic and vague. Just not sure what they are getting at.

 

[Spoonbill]

They put together a technology working group earlier this year. I imagine that group is trying to survey hunters.

 

[CorbLand]

They are asking about archery sights, rifle scopes, bullets capable of killing at ranges of 800 and farther, image stabilization on Binos, night vision and thermal use, crossbow and bow advancements in design and weight, range finders that range over 1000, muzzloaders, cell trail cams, drones for scouting, AI to identify animal species. Its all pretty generic and vague. Just not sure what they are getting at.

Sounds like they are trying to get a feel for what hunters think are the most important things to address.

 

[Ross]

Pretty simple, how has hunting changed in the last few decades. Technology enhancements have increased the ability to kill animals much further for all weapons. Primitive seasons in the 80s meant you were likely shooting with a bow out to 40-50 yds, now guys want to shoot animals over a 100 yards. Muzzleloaders often did not fire and were a 100 yd weapon, now they have improved to be efficient out to 200 yds. Then on to rifles, it was Kentucky windage and range guesstimation with self imposed limits as you could see something, but had no way to be exact…..now you have exact ranges and a weapon that can shoot forever, but can you? Hunting in some aspects has become much easier, but the shooters not necessarily better. Things always changing and some things will.

 

[Gobbler36]

Thermal is absolutely having an impact on big game hunting and needs to be addressed
Think it has a place for predators if they can actually police it, but it has no place in big game hunting

 

[N.ID7803]

They formed a working group to guide future rule making on these issues. Right now its mostly been focused on long range shooting and thermal optics attached to the gun or not, also cell cameras. Here is the link https://idfg.idaho.gov/hat-working-group, meetings are open to the public, mostly through Zoom but a few in person. I've sat in on the last few meetings, its been mostly uneventful.

 

[mt100gr.]

Thermal is absolutely having an impact on big game hunting and needs to be addressed
Think it has a place for predators if they can actually police it, but it has no place in big game hunting

I've been hearing of more and more instances of thermal optics being used for big game "hunting" in MT, lately, too. Specifically in some of the sheep hunting circles.

What appears to be the method(s) of implementing thermal to your (anyone's) knowledge? Daytime scanning? Nighttime scanning? Aerial? Any/all of the above?

And how common? Are you guys witnessing it in the field? Hearing about it second, third hand? I'm sure it's been building, but the number of accusations i have heard here seem to have really blossomed in the last year or so?

I own a thermal weapon sight that lives on a dedicated predator rifle....the technology is impressive....

 

[CorbLand]

I've been hearing of more and more instances of thermal optics being used for big game "hunting" in MT, lately, too. Specifically in some of the sheep hunting circles.

What appears to be the method(s) of implementing thermal to your (anyone's) knowledge? Daytime scanning? Nighttime scanning? Aerial? Any/all of the above?

And how common? Are you guys witnessing it in the field? Hearing about it second, third hand? I'm sure it's been building, but the number of accusations i have heard here seem to have really blossomed in the last year or so?

I own a thermal weapon sight that lives on a dedicated predator rifle....the technology is impressive....

At night is what I have "seen." I say "seen" because I am generally not driving around at 2 in the morning with the guys that are doing it. I just know people that did it.

This was primarily before Utah put some regulations on them.

 

[Article 4]

LR hunting i dont think is the issue, as 90% don't really do it - I think the noise is coming from anti-hunting interests, as it did in AZ and other states saying "it is unfair to be able to shoot a critter at 800 yards" which we know is not true. our voices are needed at these meetings which I plan to attend from here on out.

As far as thermals, I agree that for predator hunting it should be legal however for big game, absolutely not.

I just talked to one of the biologists Monday of this week. His name begins with a C...talked to him about numbers of tags and the CWD "threat" that they are managing.
It seems IDFG is spending a signficant portion of their budget on CWD - a disease which by precedent we cannot stop and does not cross the blood brain barrier into humans.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I've been hearing of more and more instances of thermal optics being used for big game "hunting" in MT, lately, too. Specifically in some of the sheep hunting circles.

What appears to be the method(s) of implementing thermal to your (anyone's) knowledge? Daytime scanning? Nighttime scanning? Aerial? Any/all of the above?

I know guys who start out at 2 AM thermal scanning. They're exactly where they need to be come legal shooting light. I'm all for using them on predators and not big game, but 97% of our game laws go unenforced anyway so I'm not holding my breath.

 

[N.ID7803]

I've been hearing of more and more instances of thermal optics being used for big game "hunting" in MT, lately, too. Specifically in some of the sheep hunting circles.

What appears to be the method(s) of implementing thermal to your (anyone's) knowledge? Daytime scanning? Nighttime scanning? Aerial? Any/all of the above?

And how common? Are you guys witnessing it in the field? Hearing about it second, third hand? I'm sure it's been building, but the number of accusations i have heard here seem to have really blossomed in the last year or so?

I own a thermal weapon sight that lives on a dedicated predator rifle....the technology is impressive....

I would say all of the above except aerial, but who knows there is probably someone with thermal setup on a drone.
I think its becoming pretty common.
As to @CorbLand comment, wouldnt you say that is essentially spotlighting? That's my issue with it, is spotlighting is illegal so why should thermals be legal?

My one caveat is that I agree it has a place in predator hunting. That's where this gets complicated with enforcement.

 

[CorbLand]

I would say all of the above except aerial, but who knows there is probably someone with thermal setup on a drone.
I think its becoming pretty common.
As to @CorbLand comment, wouldnt you say that is essentially spotlighting? That's my issue with it, is spotlighting is illegal so why should thermals be legal?

My one caveat is that I agree it has a place in predator hunting. That's where this gets complicated with enforcement.

It really isnt any different than spot lighting but isnt spot lighting legal in Idaho? I know it use to be. You couldnt have a weapon with you but there was nothing illegal about driving around and looking for animals at night.

For the record, I am very anti the use of thermals for big game hunting.

 

[mt100gr.]

At night is what I have "seen." I say "seen" because I am generally not driving around at 2 in the morning with the guys that are doing it. I just know people that did it.

This was primarily before Utah put some regulations on them.

What regulations did Utah place on them? How do they enforce?

Enforcement is always the problem with more regulations....

 

[WeiserBucks]

I would say all of the above except aerial, but who knows there is probably someone with thermal setup on a drone.
I think its becoming pretty common.

Aerial scouting via plane or helicopter is very common in Idaho for those that have the means, wouldn't surprise me one bit if they were using thermal.

 

[LR5Ranger]

I didn’t get that survey… what tech were they asking about?

Me either. Was it by snail mail or email?

 

[CorbLand]

What regulations did Utah place on them? How do they enforce?

Enforcement is always the problem with more regulations....

I dont use them so I am not really sure exactly what the law is but if I remember correctly, you cant use them from August 1 to December 31.

Not sure on enforcement but my guess would be that you cant have them on you during that time period. Enforcing many laws is hard, doesnt mean they shouldnt be put in place.

 

[WeiserBucks]

It really isnt any different than spot lighting but isnt spot lighting legal in Idaho? I know it use to be.

I don't know every regulation, but it's legal to spotlight predators on private.