Idaho Unit 45 outfitters

[Lowlandmulies]

The BLM today has granted two separate individuals outfitting permits for unit 45. That equates to 12 deer tags and 13 elk a year that are to be outfitted. These outfitters are not limited on the number of drop camps they can have. Unit 45 has for years been known as a trophy destination for deer hunters. Give these outfitters free roam of the hills for two or three years and you might as well right the Bennett hills of for trophy deer.

The final decision can be appealed under 43CFR 4 regulations. We have thirty days to get our appeals in. To find out more about appealing this decision contact myself or John Kurtz. John can be reached at the Shoshone BLM field office at (208) 732-7296. You can reach me though this site or e-mail me for contact information

(Drummond, I have nothing against Outfitters, they just aren't needed in this area. Not all guides and outfitters have the knowledge about the herds as you do! Few outfitters care, Yea they want the animals there, but they are not willing to do anything for them).

Lets keep Idaho's public land, public!

 

[shelbys]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-04-04 AT 03:59PM (MST)[p]Steve,

This is the worst news I have heard in a long time. Outfitters in unit 45 just doesn't make sense. Why not put them up in unit 44? That country is much better suited for having guides.

I am willing to do whatever it takes to help appeal this. I have several dozen friends, in addition to my Dad and brothers who consider this unit sacred. Several of them are with me right now and we ALL agree that this is awful and must be appealed and hopefully overturned. Will you please email me more information? [email protected]

With so many landowners selling tags, the last thing we need is outfitters!

Take care,
Shelby

 

[300stw]

those landowner tags are transferable but not to be sold i thought. this way the 3 or 4 large landowners that are pushing this can now get 10thousand for a hunt and not get caught selling those tags.

 

[Lowlandmulies]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-04-04 AT 10:42PM (MST)[p]Shelby

I'll get that info out to you tomorrow. I'm thinking of putting a meeting together, when a good time for you guys. I was thinking wed or thurs of this week. Evenings work best for most of us. If yo need to talk, give me a shout at 850-9906. I'll be out filming in the morning should be back around noon.
Thanks for your help!

Steve

 

[Lowlandmulies]

300 stw

The landowners had nothing to do with this and most of the ones that I assiotiate with do not support this! Why the BLM approved this I do not know we appealed it durring the first go around six months ago. They say it is to "expand hunting opportunties within the planning area". Not! Show me somebody in this state besides the two indviduals granted these permits that would agree with that statement.

 

[HGHCOUNTRY]

Let me know what I can do to help, I agree 100% that outfitters are not needed in that area, they will ruin that unit. How do we go about appealing this?

-Hghcountry

 

[toddrice]

Steve,

Whats going on in 45 ? First they take away the 45 unlimited hunt, then this ! I'll call John, Monday morning and see what I can do to help.
If they want to allow Outfitters in the unit why do they have to issue them permits. Let the hunters that are lucky enough to draw one of the few tags, decide if he wants to hire a guide.

P.S. What does the antler growth look like this year ?
I haven't had a chance to scout, but plan on a trip this month, and hunting the last 14 days. Thanks Todd

 

[Lowlandmulies]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-05-04 AT 09:27AM (MST)[p]Highcountry and Mr. Rice

Thanks for the interest in this topic. Yes, the Fish and Game, BLM and the Guides and outfitters board really snuck this one in there on us.

Todd, I Really appreciate the phone call to John, he will send you the info on how to appeal this decision. If not get ahold of me and I can help you out.

High country, where are you out of? Send me an e-mail to lowlandmuleys@aol .com Give me your info, if you are here in the area maybe you can meet with us.

I would like to see 100 people rally against this decision to get it abolished.
So get your friends and your coworkers involved lets take a stand and make our voices be heard.

Keeping Idaho's public land public!

thanks for your time

Steve

Todd the antler growth is one of the best we have had in a few years. I think we will have a high survival rate this winter. We are seeing a lot of does with twins and triplets. It was green though the month August in the high country, so they should have some excellent fat storage going into the winter. All in all, one of the best years we have had in over a decade.

 

[Lowlandmulies]

Shelby

Do you live around here and can you hook up with us sometime this week? The info I need to get you guys is about 8 pages long.

Talk to you soon

Steve

 

[NonTypical23]

I don't mean to stir the pot..but when in your first post you said "Let's keep Idaho's public land, public." Well in my mind that is so far from the truth it isn't even funny. Are you telling me that it is easy for the average joe (doesn't pull in 200K a year to buy permission onto private land) to draw a 45 tag (another story) and then get permission to hunt on the best land in that area. Heck, it's pretty hard to find a place to go bird hunting in unit 45 on public land, let alone trying to find a place on public land to go deer hunting. Maybe I've been mislead into believing that 45 is mostly private by everyone I've talked to(in areas with quality deer), so maybe you could set me straight on this issue? I would appreciate it if you didn't bash me on this one, but just give me some facts so I can make a call myself and maybe join your cause. I hope this isn't just one of those deals where you think 45 is your unit and no1 else should be allowed access to it, but I don't believe that is the case because everything I've seen about you is positive. Anyways...set me straight...or whatever...

 

[kicker]

Steve, let's knock this thing out of existance. Let me know how to help. I would be willing to do whatever is needed.

[email protected]

 

[muledeerhunter1]

I am absolutely disgusted by this decision. I have spent a lot of time in that area and there is no need to have guides in that area...especially with that many tags. I am still one of those guys waiting to draw the tag but if this goes through I guess it is back to the drawing boards. Please let me know what I can do to help squash this.

Thanks,

Mike

my email is [email protected]

 

[300stw]

i believe blm let an outfitter in unit 47 in idaho and i didnt see everyone up in arms. what is the difference know. if there is an outfitter in 47 isnt it going to be hard to not have one in 45 after setting a precedent. just wondering out loud and you can bet there is a landowner of some money that is pushing this deal........

 

[fairchase]

Steve,

Couple of questions please,

1) The tags that are given to these outfitters, are they coming out of the public's controlled hunts or are they additional tags that have been added in? Either way it's not right, I was just wondering if you could clarify that?

2) The outfitter tags will be more expensive than most locals will be willing to pay, so most of those tags will undoubtedly go to non-residents. How is it that they can pass this plan and get around the 10% max. non-resident tag limit?

3) If I understand your first post correctly, these two outfitters can set up as many camps as they see fit and just move their 25 clients around when and wherever they want?

4) Where does DHI stand on this issue?

I would like to do whatever I can to help. Could you please e-mail me your plans? Hopefully, a few friends and I will be able to meet this week.
Thanks,
Greg
[email protected]

 

[Lowlandmulies]

Nontypical123

You are right it is hard to draw a tag and it is very difficult to get permission to hunt. That is about as far as the truth goes. Unit 45 is about 3/4 public land. The hard part is knowing how to access it. Bennett Mt. is not my spot and it is no secret. But, can you tell me how outfitting expands hunting opportunities for the average joe. Unit 45 is wide open there are only 200 fur trees on the whole Mt. Well maybe a few more then that! But you get the point.

Any time you need a bird hunting spot give me a call. This outfitting is for birds also so maybe if this doesn't get appealed there won't be any bird hunting either.

Thanks for the questions, I hope this helps with your decision.

Steve

 

[Lowlandmulies]

300stw

You are right there is a land owner pushing for one of these outfitter licenses.
He is the largest land owner on the mountain. He really isn't pushing for it, it's just that the outfitter want's to pay him to hunt his property. It's so hard to turn down free money, But the landowner himself is totally staying out of the decision process of the BLM. Yea unit 47 has an outfitter and he wants to sell out, if that tells you anything, not much support or clients. Unit 47, does anybody even live down there, to object to the outfitter coming in. I didn't think so!

Unit 45 has been managed for trophy animals for over 20 years. Two outfitters would destroy all of this, in just three or four years. Unit 47 is not managed for trophy animals, so I don't really see how they compare? When was the last time a booner came out of 47? I could go on and on, but I have other people to get to.

Thanks for your input

Steve

 

[Lowlandmulies]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-06-04 AT 10:13PM (MST)[p]Muledeerhunter1

Do you live here in the valley. If so we are trying to put together a meeting thursday night, could you make it? It would be here in Meridian some where.
Let me know if this works for you. Maybe you can bring a few dozen of your friends along?

Thanks for your help!

Steve

I'll email you with more details if need be, or keep track here on this site.

 

[Lowlandmulies]

Greg

First off let me thank you for your help.

Second, from what I understand it comes out off the publics tags..Don't quote me on this, I will find out more in the morning for you.

Third, Yea i heard the outfitter is trying to sell them for around 10 -12 grand, For a deer tag! Don't think many residents will be able or willing to pay that. In my honest opinion there isn't but one or two deer in the whole state that worth that, let alone in unit 45.

Forth, Yes there is no limit to the number of drop camps they can have.

Finally, This hasn't made to the DHI boys yet. That will happen sometime tomorrow. We need to let DHI know how we feel before they will get behind us.

Thanks again.

Steve

Does Thursday evening, in Meridian, work for you?

 

[Lowlandmulies]

UPDATE

Ok this is what I know so far:

The Fish and Game says that it will open up access to pubic land that has no access at this time. Let's take a look at the map here. Ok, that is about 4 sections, about 2600 hundred acres. 1000 that are worth a dang. Give a fish guy, in the fish and game, something to do and this is what he came up with. None of the land owners approve of the access yes, what makes him think they will open the doors to individuals that aren't outfitted. How does this expand hunting opportunities for the general public? It doesn't and it shouldn't be allowed.

I've been on the phone all morning and it seems everybody is out of the office.

I do know of some of the people that have applied for the licenses at some of the different venues.

Outfitter allocated tags do come out of the general publics draw odd. However there has been no mention that these tags would be made available to these outfitters. What they are supposed to do is lease a landowners land and in return the land owner gives the outfitter his tags to sell with the hunt. Sounds corrupt to me. Maybe, allow these outfitters to only hunt the private land they lease and not the public land! That may be an option.

Talk at you all tonight, got to get to work

Steve

 

[Gator]

Steve do you have phone # or address for the rest of us that aren't in Idaho so we can help too.

 

[frozen_in_alaska]

I am in Mountain Home ID. Let me know when and where you are meeting.

Thanks

 

[Lowlandmulies]

Gator

John Kurtz, outdoor recreation planner, at (208)732-7296. BLM office in Shoshone Idaho.

He is out of the office until the 14th, I believe.

Thanks for the help

Steve

 

[Lowlandmulies]

Frozen

We were thinking this Thursday, but I would like to gather some more information first.

Talk to some attorneys and what not.

It will probably happen next thursday the 16th here in Meridian. Time and place to be determined.

Also, thank you for your support.

Steve

 

[BrianID]

lowlandmulies,
Thanks for letting all of us know about the situation.
I wouldn't be able to drive over to meridian thursday but keep the rest of us informed on what we can do to help.

 

[kingfish]

Im not a native of Idaho but I try to draw 45 as a nonres just because of it's quality. Anything I can do as A NONRES??.

 

[Lowlandmulies]

Kingfish

I will keep you posted as I learn more about the process needed in this situation. When your dealing with the government you want to make sure everything is done correctly.

Keep checking this post I will let you know more later this week or the first part of next week.

Thanks for your support

Steve

 

[frozen_in_alaska]

Just let me know the time and place.

Thanks