I have been a Reservist for 17 years. Yes the F&G know I am not happy, there are a lot of them that watch these forums. And Yes they know I am not happy with a lot of things from Fish to upland game to Big game. I WORK at trying to make things better. I volunteer TONS of hours to the F&G and the hunters of Idaho. I do One he11 of a lot for the hunters of Idaho in fact. And yes I do have input and I give it. I don't hate F&G at all I like almost everyone I have ever worked with and call most of them friends. But I do think that there are some things that are not going well at this time? Yes. When it comes to some issues they know I don't agree and would like to see things different. Just because I am a Reservist does not mean I give up my opinion on how I think hunting should be.
I disagree that the F&G's policies are keeping huntable numbers of game. The policy it seems, is to sell as many tags as they can without regard to the resource. Then when the train comes completely off the track drastic measures are needed to do SOMETHING.
When a unit like 43 goes from 1200 elk tags to 100. Something went wrong with policy. This is not the only case. A lot of other units in a lot of other areas are seeing the same problems. Not only with elk but with Deer, Antelope, moose and other animals. When a moose hunting unit does not have ANY harvest for 5 years something is wrong. When several units haven't had any harvest for up to 5 years then there is something wrong with policy.
I think your are the one misrepresenting a lot of how things really are in Idaho. Look at it this way. You want to buy something from Cabelas. You look at the reviews. There will be some that say that product is "the best" they don't say anything else. They don't even post pictures of animals they get with that product. But they give it 5 stars. Other guys say it has problems. They say what the problems are and elaborate why they give it their rating of a 2 or a 3. Who has the most important input?
The guys that have a problem say, I don't like this because this is wrong or that is wrong are they just being doom and gloom about the product? Now you read several other guys have had the same problem. Maybe the money would be better spent a different way or on a different item?
The Original poster wanted to know info. I gave him the info as I see it. With a tank of gas costing almost 100 dollars should he listen to me? I know there are deer there. I know there is an occasional good deer there. BUT I think his time and money might be better spent in an area that has better numbers and genetics. If he still wants to hunt 46 then he has info to go with.
Unit 46 has had a couple of the largest wild fires we have ever seen. Habitat is devastated beyond belief. Winter range will take decades to rebuild if it ever does at all.
If you don't like it that is too bad. That is not just my opinion that is the opinion of many in the F&G.
Yes I do sound like doom and gloom but I have seen it first hand. Badgers running across the burnt soil not knowing where they are going because they are blind and they have had their hair all burned off. I have seen antelope displaced from their normal habitat and forced into areas because of the lack of food. Sage Grouse dancing on burned off leks. That makes them target for predators.
Do I sound doom and gloom again YES! Sometimes, other times not so much. You focus on what YOU want to read into my posts. You don't GET what I am about at all. Funny thing is if YOU go back and read YOUR posts and then read some of mine. You will see we are not that far apart on a lot of subjects. Where I fail in your eyes is I don't put on the Rose colored glasses, drink the cool aid, and accept things for what they are and call it great. It is not great,and I want things to get better. The first step is to admit there is a problem, even junkies know that.
Ron
