New Rules go to Idaho Fish and Game Commission for approval, meeting Nov 19-20

[BRTreedogs]

And every poacher I’ve ever encountered can even afford a tank of gas, where yall finding these well off todo low life’s that can afford a quality thermal?

It’s just fear letting your imagination run wild.

I’d argue that more effective predator control would put game back on the landscape faster then the .0001 of poachers would take them off.

 

[ShootOkHuntWorse]

And every poacher I’ve ever encountered can even afford a tank of gas, where yall finding these well off todo low life’s that can afford a quality thermal?

It’s just fear letting your imagination run wild.

I’d argue that more effective predator control would put game back on the landscape faster then the .0001 of poachers would take them off.

That’s like saying no rich people steal. There’s plenty of “influencers” that get nabbed for poaching that could afford all the gear they could dream of.

 

[BRTreedogs]

That’s like saying no rich people steal. There’s plenty of “influencers” that get nabbed for poaching that could afford all the gear they could dream of.

That’s like what less then .01 % of hunters tho?
Man if you what if the world to death and never have faith In anyone.

That’s just sad.

All hunters should be required to pay the government to transport there weapon to the unit you have a tag for.
You cannot be issued your weapon until season opens and have to give it back on the closing day.

Because you cannot be trusted to transport it thru a closed unit, u may stop and poach

You can’t live life in fear of what ifs.


So you don’t think the supposed thermal hunters won’t just hide it and lie?

That’s what I’m saying, you cannot ban possession, but poaching is already illegal.

So WTH does a poacher care if you add thermals?
Better ban guns, that will make murder illegal.

 

[packgoatguy]

Per an IDFG Deputy Director, here is the final language of the new rules (specifically those regarding the use of Tech) that will be sent to the Legislature for approval.



No person may take big game animals:

g. With the use of any smart optics when attached to a weapon or incorporated into a scope, except scopes with battery powered, tritium lighted reticles, or as defined by IDAPA 13.01.04.304, Reasonable Modification Permit. ( )

h. From August 30 through December 31: ( )
i. With the use of thermal imaging technology, including for scouting, hunting or retrieval; ( )
ii. With the use of night vision technology, including for scouting, hunting or retrieval; ( )
iii. With the use of a transmitting trail camera, including for hunting and scouting, on land in federal, state, or local government ownership; or ( )
iv. With the use of any aircraft, including any unmanned aircraft system, for scouting or hunting. This restriction is in addition to the restrictions for use of aircraft in Section 36-1101(b) Idaho Code. This restriction does not apply to aircraft flights with the purpose of picking up and discharging people or goods on direct routes between established airstrips or other pre-determined locations, without making detours for the purpose of scouting or hunting.



Some changes of note:
1. They removed the mention of "ungulates" which makes the rule applicable to ALL Big Game, including Wolves. While this removes one loophole, I still believe it would be more effective and easier to enforce if they were to include a "possession" requirement in the rule, that would make it illegal to have one of the proscribed tech items in your possession or control while simultaneously having a big game tag in your pocket.

2. They added the language about still allowing aircraft for travel.

3. They removed the language prohibiting the use of transmitting trail cams on private land that is open to the public. So, thus it will be legal to use transmitting game cameras for hunting big game on private land, but illegal to use the cams on public land.

4. They specified that the smart optics rule applies to weapon attachment. When I asked for additional clarification on the specific definition of the word "scopes", I was given the answer: "It is specifically referring to rifle scopes and the definition of smart optics can be found online."

 

[packgoatguy]

When I say “fair chase” I am referencing the definition used by B/C club linked below. . .

The Principles of Fair Chase

FAIR CHASE, as defined by the Boone and Crockett Club, is the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging wild game animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an improper or unfair advantage over the game animals. THE FAIR CHASE HUNTER: Knows and obeys the...

www.boone-crockett.org

Here is the text of that definition, pasted from the site:

The Principles of Fair Chase​

FAIR CHASE, as defined by the Boone and Crockett Club, is the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging wild game animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an improper or unfair advantage over the game animals.

THE FAIR CHASE HUNTER:​

• Knows and obeys the law, and insists others do as well
• Understands that it is not only about just what is legal, but also what is honorable and ethical
• Defines "unfair advantage" as when the game does not have reasonable chance of escape
• Cares about and respects all wildlife and the ecosystems that support them, which includes making full use of game animals taken
• Measures success not in the quantity of game taken, but by the quality of the chase
• Embraces the "no guarantees" nature of hunting
• Uses technology in a way that does not diminish the importance of developing skills as a hunter or reduces hunting to just shooting
• Knows his or her limitations, and stretches the stalk not the shot
• Takes pride in the decisions he or she makes in the field and takes full responsibility for his or her actions

————
Under that definition of fair chase…. Thermal is CLEARLY not fair chase.

Ha ha. B&C's definition of "fair chase" also allows for bear baiting and chasing bears and lions with hounds... . I Believe that B&C also allows trophies killed by using an army of guides, or trophies killed on private land with exclusive access to that hunter... none of which are objectively "fair" to either the animals or the other sportsmen who choose to not use those methods or do not even have the opportunity to use those methods. The whole idea of fair chase under that premise is flawed and is just a justification of one person's ethos over another. The reality is there is no modern hunting tool or technique that is in any way fair to the animal being hunted. Humans are the only predator capable of killing its prey at a distance other than immediate one-on-one proximity. Whether you use a bow, a rifle, or even just a long pointy stick... the whole point of hunting is to produce a kill, and then meat... and every hunter out there will angle for some unique advantage in order to get the job done. The problem comes when one hunter starts telling another hunter that MY angle is OK, but YOUR angle is NOT. Sure, there need to be lines drawn, rules of play set, but that should be done based on accurately collected data not individual perceptions or even necessarily majority rule. Is one small percentage of the population able to take a disproportionately high percentage of the limited resource at the expense of others who are not able to do so? That's a good starting point to collect data on to see if a regulation is necessary.

 

[HunterGatherer]

So as long as the thermal isn’t attached to a weapon or drone it’s allowed ? Am I reading that correctly? Seems like a massive loophole if that’s the case…