Additional Idaho Draws

OLDHORNHUNTER · Nov 19, 2015

Here is a suggestion that I have fired past F&G several times . Why NOT add additional draw hunts to add hunt options & relieve the odds & # of applicants on the existing hunts ?? Such as Example # 1 { deer } there are NO current rifle or muzzle loader rut hunts in unit 39 WHY NOT add 5 10 20 !! same thing could be done in a lot of the other units !! Example # 2 {elk } Add some rifle rut hunts in the units that are Archery only .. That would allow for a BUNCH of new hunt options & surely drop the draw odds down ..I have bow hunted unit 31 for close to 25 years I put in every year for elk & deer tags I for one would put in for a rifle rut hunt .. Just my 2 cents what are some of your ideas ??? A lot of the other states have these hunts why not Idaho ????

Muleyfanatic · Nov 19, 2015

I thonk fish and game tries to avoid rifle and bow hunters going after the same species at the same time. I agree that they should put out 5 tags on some hunts. But the last thing we need is 20 guys with guns running around on late 39. I can already see myself stalking a nice buck and some guy with a rifle comes and shoots it out from under me.

BPKHunter · Nov 19, 2015

Plus those poor Unit 39 deer are getting chased with rifles starting in Early Aug already.

Some may make sense, but I would NOT expect a notable decrease in competition(i/e lower draw odds) from what you could come up with that makes sense.

OLDHORNHUNTER · Nov 19, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Nov-19-15 AT 03:29PM (MST)[p]Muley there are a # of general hunts Right now that have General ANY weapon hunts at the same time !! Stalks & people shooting animals that u are stalking happens all the time I have had bulls coming in Hot & heavy & had other guys fling arrows at them . I had the same thing happen in 43 2 years in a row !!

OLDHORNHUNTER · Nov 19, 2015

BPK if F&G offered say 20 tags for 39 rifle tag Nov 10th to say Nov 20th I would say those 20 tags would have 200 plus people putting in for them !! I am sure 200 is Way on the low side so what ever that # of applicants is that is 200 NOT applying for say unit 22 or 40 !! the draw Odds have to drop !!

Deerlove · Nov 19, 2015

Why not add some muzzy deer tags in gen season before the rifle hunt starts??

Idahoron · Nov 19, 2015

That is a question I have asked for years! Idaho Bends over backwards to make sure that archery has 1000 times more opportunity than muzzleloader. Archers get TONS of rut hunts for all species. When ML's get a hunt it is a late season cow. The only bull hunts close to rut are draws and they are impossible to draw.

andrew12gauge · Nov 19, 2015

I agree muzzy hunters tend to get the shaft, I think it is partially due to the fact that inline technology has made muzzleloaders nearly as effective as center fire rifles.

As to the OP, you have gotta be kidding me, there are already draw rifle rut hunts in probably 90% of the mule deer units in this state if not general season, now you think that we should add hunts in the few units that don't. Give me a break

ID_Elkmagnet · Nov 20, 2015

I think they are starting to toy with this idea on the owyhee elk hunts with a Sept rifle and archery together.

Dear IDF&G- I want some owyhee muzzle hunts!

Justin

OLDHORNHUNTER · Nov 23, 2015

deerlove Exactly WHY NOT because F&G has a system they think WORKS & they do not want too change it

fly4fish · Nov 23, 2015

I think making the general units a better hunting experience is the thing to key in on. What about making deer hunters choose their weapon? That would make it far less crowded for the general seasons for both rifle and archery. Hard core archery hunters wouldn't be getting in the way of rifle hunters, nor would rifle hunters be chasing deer during archery season. It is a win for everybody giving them a better hunt and success should go down. This is how most other states operate, and we already do it for elk.

I can't see why this hasn't been done already, or is there reasons I am missing?

OLDHORNHUNTER · Nov 24, 2015

fly4fish it was & has been done years back we could hunt ANY where in ANY unit with ANY weapon F&G told the hunters they were going to make us choose or weapons for hunting & MOST of us said NO your NOT !! well F&G said OK & look at what they did with the elk zones !! & the Idaho hunters said see NO your NOT but they sure as hell DID !!!! I do agree with u on the Quality of the hunts I for one think they need to do like some of the other surrounding states & Break the general & even the controlled hunts up .. take unit 40 {just as an example} there are 180 late tags {minus the non-residents} 40 is a HUGE unit but F&G could split this unit & make 85 tags for the east side & 85 for the west or even have 85 tags for Nov 1st to Nov 12th & the other 85 Nov 13th to Nov 25th Some of the other states have 3 seasons early middle & late !!