072 ndow greed?

nvwilderness · May 23, 2017

So I did a little research and would like to reach out to somebody on the board about the tag increase in 072 for elk.
2017 quota muzzle load bull tags 100.
2016- tags 80, successfull hunters 32, success rate 43%
2015- tags 60, successfull hunters 29, success rate 54%
2014- tags 58, successfull hunters 37, success rate 66%
2013- tags 39, successfull hunters 26, success rate 72%
2012- tags 18, successfull hunters 11, success rate 61%

Ndow can say all they want about not bringing the elk population down to a sustainable number but it is quite clear that more tags is not working. This appears to be a money grab. The quality experience for the hunter in this specific area has gone down significantly. Every year some one in my family gets this tag and I can testify to the quality of the hunt. If you know anything about this area, then you know all the elk are usually concentrated in small parts of the wilderness. The elk aren't found on every ridge or near a road. This places the majority of hunters on top of each other. I love this area and hate to see it turn into a utah deer hunt. The numbers above speak for themselves. Let me know your opinion. Sorry if it comes off as whining.The cow elk numbers are staggering as well.

264mag · May 23, 2017

I applied for that hunt with 11 points ,that hunt has more than just one unit.

kalielkslayer · May 23, 2017

I've noticed the same thing.

The cow tags are even worse IMO.

GONHUNTIN · May 23, 2017

The way I look at it is, it is a trophy area. The hunters that draw the area are choosy and if they don't see the elk they want they won't shoot. I do not think it is greed. Another point there was massive flood damage to the area where the elk thrive. It just sounds like to me you just want to piss and moan about it instead of looking at the real picture.

fatrooster · May 24, 2017

I too believe that it is not about greed but instead about numbers. NDOW has been trying to bring the number of elk down for several years by giving out more bull tags and lots of cow tags but it's not working. So they are giving more bull tags. Quality will go up and down through the years. Don't know if thier plan will work but time will tell. The Jarbidge is one of my favorite areas and I try to get in there every chance I get. I agree with you that quality has gone down but it may be a necessary evil. Fatrooster.

nvwilderness · May 24, 2017

If you look at the numbers , more tags given has not translated into a higher success rate. Which is my argument. It would be one thing if more tags = more elk down, but that hasn't been the case. 60 tags looks like the right number but like an above post stated, time will tell.

Scottieoutwest1 · May 24, 2017

Even though the success rates are going down the number of bulls taken are going up. That's the only number that matters. Now, it may not be going up enough to make a real difference, but it is going up. That being said, I think the change in rules for the waiting period will mean more bulls are killed as it no longer matters if you're successful or not. Maybe that will allow for fewer hunters needed to reduce the population.

ElmerFudd · May 24, 2017

I had that tag a few years ago. It by far was the most bull elk per day I have ever seen hunting elk anywhere. I could usually pick out hunters glassing and walking on the trails, but I didn't actually have anyone mess a single minute of actual hunting up. It was as fun as hunting gets. The only thing that kind of disappoints is that deer numbers seem to be a fraction of what they were when my dad first took me hunting there in the early 70's. Of course, we didn't see elk back then...,

I think they can provide more opportunities and make more people happier to get a tag rather than let people die before getting the chance at possibly a bigger bull...,

ByeByeObamas · May 24, 2017

Im not sure about everyone else....but i am not always honest on my hunting reports.

Scottieoutwest1 · May 24, 2017

>Im not sure about everyone else....but
>i am not always honest
>on my hunting reports.

That's unfortunate. When game agencies use this information as part of their management planning you're allowing them to make decisions based on BS. That can have a negative impact on herd management as well as the hunt experience of other hunters because of poor management decisions.

GONHUNTIN · May 24, 2017

So byebyeobamas if you are successful in your hunt and you put down you weren't to put in for the hint earlier, that to me is poaching

NVBirdnBig · May 24, 2017

What reason would you have not to report your hunt truthfully? With the changing of the bonus point structure for elk and lope there is no advantage to saying you didn't harvest in order to get a shorter waiting period. If that was your reasoning before than I agree, it is poaching.

eelgrass · May 24, 2017

I don't believe it's a money grab at all. I think NDOW is trying to manage the herds and provide as much opportunity as possible.

43% hunter success, for elk especially, is very good, IMO. And please report your success or lack of success accurately. NDOW is only as good as the numbers they get.

doz · May 24, 2017

So because people are not willing to get off their ass and walk for their Elk, NDOW is greedy?

IMO, there is more greed in the non-resident tags vs. junior tags. The fact that the Elk are concentrated more in the wilderness areas should not be a concern or a problem. If you choose to road hunt, you may not be successful. Maybe NDOW should place more emphasis on successful hunters and give them an extra BP if they harvest. If the whole premise behind giving us tags is the regulation of the herd, shouldnt the more successful hunters be given more chances?

I know where to find Elk in 22 every year. I hear of so many people going home empty. Those same people are not willing to walk for a Cow Elk because it does not have horns....... You can understand my frustration when I do not draw the tag as I am willing to walk 1.5 miles in and carry 1.5 miles out.

kittykiller · May 25, 2017

>Im not sure about everyone else....but
>i am not always honest
>on my hunting reports.

Well you win the dipshit of the day prize. Expect a visit from ndow anyday now. The government doesn't take to kindly to people who provide them with false information. Especially people who get on the internet and spout off about it.

nvwilderness · May 25, 2017

Part of me wrote this in frustration as to how many people I now come across and have to compete with in the wilderness. Been in that area for 20 years and my family since the late 70's. Only guys you'd see were cottonwood ranch and a select few of others that had horses like us. Now I glass and can see a guy on every ridge in the Mary's river. We come across what appear to be dead elk that were not retrieved due to not finding it or the realization that it's too far and too hard to pack out. I think people look at the odds and the elk numbers and assume they can get an easy off the road elk when that is not the case at all. With ndow changing the hunt season to sept 1-17 it should have a much higher success rate. Wonder what archers think if that screws them or not so much.

Scottieoutwest1 · May 26, 2017

This is the first time in 9 years I haven't applied for the 072 archery hunt. The new dates make anything deep in the wilderness off limits to anyone without horses because of the likely hot weather. That is unfortunate for sure.