List of Companies Still Sponsoring/Partnering with Convicted Wildlife Violators

[wowzers]

Wow your really twisting my words there huh? The point is those younger kids are staying engaged because of hunting media. Thats it.

Where I live and hunt in NW WY, the hunting is as I am told by life long locals, terrible compared to what it was 20 years ago. Elk numbers way down and elk are not in the places they used to be. Mule deer are decimated compared to 20 years ago. Hunting culture is life here. Everyone hunts and everyone talks about herd health and numbers constantly. I talk to biologist multiple times a year.

There are many factors making the hunting worse. No one, and I mean no one has ever pointed to the hunting industry as the decline to our quality of hunting. We have wolves, we have bears, we have lions, we had a devastating winter for 3 years straight, 2015, 2016 and 2017 with 100% fawn mortality. There is no aspect of the hunting industry causing my quality of hunting to suffer. If thats not the case in other places in the west it is completely out of my reality. I have yet to experience it.

Im not saying it isn't happening. Im not trying to argue, its just from my perspective and my experience where I live and hunt it's not happening here. So I am genuinely curious as to what aspect of the hunting industry is ruining hunting for you guys? Im not concrete in my opinion on anything. New I formation can change my perspective.

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All of the issues that you cite existed twenty years ago when your neighbors said the hunting was better. Predators and bad winters didn't materialize in the last twenty years but what the hunting industry has malignantly turned into did.

 

[wowzers]

In the last decade we've gone from being able to buy 2 tags in Idaho, to quotas but could still secure OTC tags, to a first come first serve queue lobby with most of the good units selling out on opening day, to a full NR draw system. Influencers pimping OTC hunts in the west and showing videos encouraging "anybody can do it, guys. Use code "bro" to get 10% off a GoHunt subscription and check my vid on how to navigate the app that will narrow down a good area" has definitely created a huge increase in pressure in many places in the West.

I'm not saying predation, management strategies, climate, and factors like that didn't have an effect as well. But in regards to "the industry", places we used to be able to buy tags for and have to ourselves had a massive increase in popularity once all the information was confined in an app.

This really exemplifies what I was saying better than I could.

 

[Customweld]

Ya i know that but the increased pressure everyone cries about the nr are easy fruit to pick off. So if .03% of the new residents started hunting that would be equal to nr tags. So those new residents tell there buddies they should come hunt with them that wipes out what was ever left over. Im sure the influencers had some affect but grand scheme of things its an easy target for people to get mad at. Then add the winters, loss of habitat and over all lower populations you have pissed off people looking to take it out on some thing. Money is what drives it all so if people want to get rid of influencers make them have no value to the companies that use them and they will be gone. People are suckers though and will just keep spending

Very valid point.

 

[grfox92]

All of the issues that you cite existed twenty years ago when your neighbors said the hunting was better. Predators and bad winters didn't materialize in the last twenty years but what the hunting industry has maligned into did.

Ok so what is the hunting industry doing to affect my area? All of us who live here are too dumb to see what you believe the issue is? The hunting industry is somehow decimating our herds? Non residents cant even hunt 95% of the areas I hunt as it's designated wilderness.

Not a single person has shown up in this thread and demonstrated how the industry is destroying hunting. Just opinion and insinuation.

If you think there arent more bears, wolves and lions right now then there were 20 years ago, your high. If you think 3 consecutive winters of 100% fawn and calf mortality didn't decimated our herds, you need to really step back and think about what you are saying.

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[wowzers]

Ok so what is the hunting industry doing to affect my area? All of us who live here are too dumb to see what you believe the issue is? The hunting industry is somehow decimating our herds? Non residents cant even hunt 95% of the areas I hunt as it's designated wilderness.

Not a single person has shown up in this thread and demonstrated how the industry is destroying hunting. Just opinion and insinuation.

If you think there arent more bears, wolves and lions right now then there were 20 years ago, your high. If you think 3 consecutive winters of 100% fawn and calf mortality didn't decimated our herds, you need to really step back and think about what you are saying.

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I could spell it in crayon and you wouldn't get it.

 

[grfox92]

I could spell it in crayon and you wouldn't get it.

You haven't made a single convincing statement to articulate how the industry is decimating our herds, and now your resulting to insults because you have no where to go from here. I live here. I hunt here. The herds are not smaller in NW WY because of influenecers. Period.

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[wowzers]

You haven't made a single convincing statement to articulate how the industry is decimating our herds, and now your resulting to insults because you have no where to go from here. I live here. I hunt here. The herds are not smaller in NW WY because of influenecers. Period.

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In case you didn't understand I wasn't speaking solely about your bubble of NW WY you seem to be hung up on. Harvey_NW pretty much spelled it out.

 

[Tom-D]

I don't follow any hunting influencers closely but what did Brian Call do? I thought it was just lampers who got charged or is this older?

 

[Customweld]

The herds are not smaller in NW WY because of influenecers. Period.

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The herds may not be smaller, but the draw odds across all western states are.

 

[grfox92]

In case you didn't understand I wasn't speaking solely about your bubble of NW WY you seem to be hung up on. Harvey_NW pretty much spelled it out.

Well your replying to my posts and telling me that im wrong about why our herds are declining. Go back and re read my post #180. Im more than willing to change my opinion based on new information. So far no one with the exception of @Harvey_NW has posted a single compelling argument as to how the industry is destroying hunting and even his argument has had holes poked in it in some of the replies.

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[Harvey_NW]

So far no one with the exception of @Harvey_NW has posted a single compelling argument as to how the industry is destroying hunting and even his argument has had holes poked in it in some of the replies.

There are no holes poked in my argument, it's a fact. There has been a massive influx in hunters applying for multiple states and willing to invest more money in the resources and hunts because they have better odds of success with an informational advantage. Watching YouTube videos alone, now you have guys headed out that know how to play the wind, call, setup an ambush with a caller, dial a scope to shoot longer ranges, be at a glassing spot before light, etc., tactics they may not have known or considered before that will give them an advantage. More educated hunters = higher harvest rates. Higher harvest rates = less animals on the landscape. Less animals on the landscape = Management strategies like lower tag numbers and/or quotas.

It may not be happening in your local area, and I wouldn't argue that it's "ruining" hunting, but it is a negative impact on hunting opportunities in the west.

 

[KurtR]

There are no holes poked in my argument, it's a fact. There has been a massive influx in hunters applying for multiple states and willing to invest more money in the resources and hunts because they have better odds of success with an informational advantage. Watching YouTube videos alone, now you have guys headed out that know how to play the wind, call, setup an ambush with a caller, dial a scope to shoot longer ranges, be at a glassing spot before light, etc., tactics they may not have known or considered before that will give them an advantage. More educated hunters = higher harvest rates. Higher harvest rates = less animals on the landscape. Less animals on the landscape = Management strategies like lower tag numbers and/or quotas.

It may not be happening in your local area, and I wouldn't argue that it's "ruining" hunting, but it is a negative impact on hunting opportunities in the west.

What are the harvest rates for say the last 5 years. If you have those numbers that will cement your point

 

[grfox92]

There are no holes poked in my argument, it's a fact. There has been a massive influx in hunters applying for multiple states and willing to invest more money in the resources and hunts because they have better odds of success with an informational advantage. Watching YouTube videos alone, now you have guys headed out that know how to play the wind, call, setup an ambush with a caller, dial a scope to shoot longer ranges, be at a glassing spot before light, etc., tactics they may not have known or considered before that will give them an advantage. More educated hunters = higher harvest rates. Higher harvest rates = less animals on the landscape. Less animals on the landscape = Management strategies like lower tag numbers and/or quotas.

It may not be happening in your local area, and I wouldn't argue that it's "ruining" hunting, but it is a negative impact on hunting opportunities in the west.

Fantastic job defending your position. Much respect .


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[KurtR]

This is what i could find. Seems it rather consistent


Recent Idaho Elk Harvest Data

• 2024: 20,996 elk harvested (97.5% of 10-year average).
• 2023: 18,568 elk, 21% success rate.
• 2022: 20,952 elk, 23% success rate.
• 2021: 20,396 elk, 23% success rate.
• 2020: ~22,000+ elk, 23% success rate (2nd highest in decade).
• 2018: 22,325 elk, 23.5% success rate

Statewide Elk Harvest by Year
The following estimates are based on annual hunter surveys conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP):

• 2024: ~28,188 elk
• 2023: ~21,000 – 23,000 elk (Reported as a low year similar to 2021)
• 2022: 29,647 elk
• 2021: ~21,000 elk (Marked as a recent low point in harvest)
• 2013 – 2020 Range: During this period, harvest typically averaged between 24,000 and 25,000 animals annually.
  • 2017: ~25,000 elk
  • 2013: ~20,100 elk (The 2024 harvest was an increase of ~8,000 over 2013 levels)

According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), the estimated statewide elk harvest for the most recent decade is as follows:

• 2023: 28,353 elk (A record-breaking year with a 5% increase over 2022)
• 2022: ~27,000 elk
• 2021: ~26,500 elk (Estimate based on "increasing trend")
• 2020: ~26,000 elk
• 2019: ~25,500 elk
• 2018: ~25,000 elk
• 2017: ~24,500 elk
• 2016: 25,852 elk
• 2015: ~25,000 elk
• 2014: ~25,000 elk

 

[grfox92]

This is what i could find. Seems it rather consistent


Recent Idaho Elk Harvest Data

• 2024: 20,996 elk harvested (97.5% of 10-year average).
• 2023: 18,568 elk, 21% success rate.
• 2022: 20,952 elk, 23% success rate.
• 2021: 20,396 elk, 23% success rate.
• 2020: ~22,000+ elk, 23% success rate (2nd highest in decade).
• 2018: 22,325 elk, 23.5% success rate

Statewide Elk Harvest by Year
The following estimates are based on annual hunter surveys conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP):

• 2024: ~28,188 elk
• 2023: ~21,000 – 23,000 elk (Reported as a low year similar to 2021)
• 2022: 29,647 elk
• 2021: ~21,000 elk (Marked as a recent low point in harvest)
• 2013 – 2020 Range: During this period, harvest typically averaged between 24,000 and 25,000 animals annually.
  • 2017: ~25,000 elk
  • 2013: ~20,100 elk (The 2024 harvest was an increase of ~8,000 over 2013 levels)

According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), the estimated statewide elk harvest for the most recent decade is as follows:

• 2023: 28,353 elk (A record-breaking year with a 5% increase over 2022)
• 2022: ~27,000 elk
• 2021: ~26,500 elk (Estimate based on "increasing trend")
• 2020: ~26,000 elk
• 2019: ~25,500 elk
• 2018: ~25,000 elk
• 2017: ~24,500 elk
• 2016: 25,852 elk
• 2015: ~25,000 elk
• 2014: ~25,000 elk

Well this might poke some holes.

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[svivian]

I wouldnt expect elk numbers to be down in any state due to harvest. Otherwise what is the point of having biologist who are there to maintain those herds. However, what I have noticed in my area Colorado, is an influx of applicants.

CPW is showing 54,000 more applicants in 2025 than there was back in 2020. 2020 was also considered a boom for colorado during the COVID money/time off.

Meanwhile hunter numbers have remained relatively flat for the last 20+ years at around 15 million. With things like gohunt and youtube, people are figuring out how to apply in as many states as possible. You can find many channels on youtube where guys will have 3 or more elk tags each year. Of course, people want to have the same opportunities, so they in turn apply for as many tags as they can get.

So i dont think herds or hunting is being decimated, however opportunities to obtain tags are dwindling down.

2020ElkDrawRecap.pdf

cpw.widen.net

PostDrawRecapReport_ELK-25_05172025_0612.pdf

cpw.widen.net

 

[wind gypsy]

I don't follow any hunting influencers closely but what did Brian Call do? I thought it was just lampers who got charged or is this older?

Was a while back. He shot a wolf he didn't have a tag for. I think he actually could have put his elk tag on it at the time but instead he drove to town and bought a wolf tag and tagged it with a tag that was purchased after the animal was killed. I think he got hit with charges for filming without required film permits too but dont recall where that landed.

Might have been other stuff, dont recall anything significant though. General Utard instahunter behavior and responses to some of this stuff just makes it hard to like the guy.

 

[Harvey_NW]

What are the harvest rates for say the last 5 years. If you have those numbers that will cement your point

IMHO, The last 5 years wouldn't be an accurate representation because most of the apps and technology has been out since then. YouTube came out in 2005, so it would be more relevant to compare application numbers and harvest statistics from around then to the last 5 years, as that's when the influx occurred. I also think harvest statistics would have to be compared from individual units or areas, because the states do a pretty good job at keeping total numbers in check, but individual units will get a rise in popularity as they get discovered. I'll see if I can find an example when I have more time.

Harvest stats are only a piece of the argument, this is what I meant by the rise in popularity negatively impacting opportunity. Way more applicants, point creep, etc.

what I have noticed in my area Colorado, is an influx of applicants.

 

[Harvey_NW]

This is what i could find. Seems it rather consistent

Here's a comparison from a unit I used to archery hunt OTC in Idaho. Similar success rates, but 2x the amount of hunters and 2x the amount harvested.

2005

Archery

Unit

33 harvested

203 hunters

16.3% success

2022

Archery

Unit

66 harvested

399 hunters

17% success