Proposed Deer Season Changes

[BrianID]

The Idaho F&G is talking about moving the general deer season to the last part of October. What do you think about this?


IDFG To Host Big Game Open Houses Across Region During First Week Of March

IDAHO FALLS - After meeting with the public both regionally and statewide, wildlife biologists are now ready to present to the public proposed big game regulation changes for the upcoming seasons. Regionally, biologists held scoping meetings earlier this winter in Idaho Falls, Rexburg, and Arco; now they are ready to return to those towns and present a proposed product developed by combining the wide rage of input provided.
In addition to meeting with the public, IDFG staff has been conducting aerial surveys of various wintering populations of deer and elk across the region. While it is practically impossible because of monetary and personnel constraints to canvas the entire region, based on historical data biologists are able to survey sub-units and gain a useful picture of how various populations are faring overall.

According to Regional Wildlife Manager Daryl Meints, "We are going to be presenting proposals that will seek to increase deer hunting opportunity. This means allowing hunters to be able to hunt during a more favorable time of the year, such as late October." In regards to elk, Meints had to say, "In some areas we actually have more elk than the habitat can support. This means we'll be proposing to increase cow elk hunting opportunity in some places."

Sportsmen that would like to learn more about these proposals and provide comments should plan on attending one of the open house to be held in the region.

OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE - All meetings start at 7:00 PM
Tuesday, March 2 Arco Arco Elementary School

Wednesday, March 3 Idaho Falls IDFG Office

Thursday, March 4 Rexburg Madison Middle School


Individuals with disabilities may request meeting accommodations by contacting Daryl Meints at the Idaho Department of Fish & Game at 525-7290 or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-377-3529(TDD). Individuals not able to attend, but wishing to comment may do so via E-mail at [email protected] or by regular mail to IDFG /4279 Commerce Circle in Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401. The deadline for all comments is 5:00 P.M. on March 10, 2004.

http://www2.state.id.us/fishgame/news/NewsReleases/view.cfm?NewsID=1923

 

[Deerlove]

There going to loose more of the bigger bucks if they move the season back.

 

[Daxter]

If they want to provide more hunting opportunities they should keep the seasons early. Early seasons is what lets WY allow so many hunters, and later seasons are why the Utah rifle hunt sucks. MT can get away with it because they don't have as many hunters. With late seasons you loose more big bucks, and in the long run it is not a good way to increase hunter opportunities. If Idaho wants to increase opportunity they should allow more general archery, muzz, and rifle seasons for deer like they do for elk.

 

[kingfish]

They aren't looking to increase hunters opportunties.. They are trying to sell more tags!!!. I use to be able to hunt deer in Idaho around the end of October 10 to 15 years ago. Deer season use to open Oct 15th and run through late November. Elk use to open Oct 1st until they swapped elk and deer because they said then that there were to many mature bucks being taken during the rut. I don't think Idaho has sold out nonresident tags since they changed the opener... More hunting opportunities right!!!!. MORE MONEY IS THE REASON!.

 

[MULEFEVER]

Kingfish is right, More Money, Idaho fish and Game at its finest. (Got to keep the State Budget Full up). We would expect anything elese from Idaho Fish and Game would we ? Remember its all ran by politicians, not directors.

 

[Hornseeker]

I hope it fails, cause I've already conned the wife into letting me hunt the second week of October!!!!! Plus, that week doens't interfere with any of my MT hunts.

 

[BrianID]

I hope that this fails too. The earlier dates saves big bucks for three reasons.

1)Hunting during the last half of October vs. the first half of October will make all bucks easier to find and kill because the rut will be starting to heat up.

2)The first half of October also gives the deer an advantage because there is more cover from leaves still being on the trees and snow isn't as common earlier in October.

3)Most of the rifle elk hunts are during the last half of October so there would be more guys with deer tags in the woods than there would be otherwise. Even if some of the elk hunters don't have deer tags it makes the hunt less enjoyable with more hunters in the woods.

I don't think money is the main reason for this proposals. If the F&G wanted more money they would be trying to do away with the 10% nonresident quota. From what I have heard there have been a lot of hunters complain to the F&G about the warmer temperatures during early October and some hunters want to the deer and elk seasons to be open at the same time.

 

[300Winnie]

What do I think of this? Big surprise. Let's see, last year they shortened the seasons in our area from Oct 5. to Oct 31 to Oct 5. to Oct. 19 because of all the usual fish and game rationalizations (ie. poor fawn survival, low buck to doe ratios, ect.). We have had a more normal winter this year than we have for the past several winters. We even had the advisory committee agree to start feeding deer in Teton valley in early January or late December. I don't have any statistical evidence to back up my thought that the buck to doe ratios have not improved since last year, but I'd be willing to bet they haven't. I'd be willing to bet that when green up comes to the hill this year, fawn survival isn't any better than a year ago. So, what has changed that makes the F&G want to "give more opportunity"?

I went to the public meetings last year when they proposed (or let the public know what they had already decided)the reduction in the length of season. I was more vocal at this meeting than I normally am because of a statement I heard Carl Anderson (Head Bioligist of Region 5 for a number of years) make several times at public meetings in Pocatello when I was attending school there. That comment was that the length of season, as long as it did not conflict with the rut, did not really matter when it came to the number of deer killed in the season. His rationale was that in any given year the same number of hunters will hit the hill. If they have a short time to do it then all of those hunters will hit the hill in that time. If the season is longer, the hunters are more spread out time wise, relieving the pressure put on the deer, and even though the season is longer, mortality is not significantly different. I am a firm believer in this. We have all seen what happens to the deer when there are hunters on every ridge, in every draw and everywhere in between. I asked them to leave it the way it was, but we saw the change anyway. Now, exactly a year later we see them wanting to change it again. What will the rationale be?

I know this thread is long already, but I think it needs to pointed out that it was not that long ago that the F&G changed the deer and elk seasons to offer a better chance of survival to the bucks and bulls by moving both species hunts away from the respective ruts. Are they going to change this back as well?

I love the State of Idaho. I love hunting here, but I get awfully frustrated with the way the department changes things so often. Its kind of like the weather here...if you don't like it wait a few minutes.

My .02

FWIW. I would like to see the structure of Oct. 5 - Oct 31 bucks only for everybody with the exception of kids age 12 - 15. They could shoot any deer. This is the way it was a couple of years ago, and I thought it was great.

 

[BrianID]

300Winnie,

Good post. You said a lot of good things and I agree with many of your statements. I really liked the idea of kids being allowed to shoot a buck or doe in Region 5 (SE Idaho). However I don't think hunting deer during the last two weeks of October is a good thing for the buck/doe ratio.

As long as there aren't other factors that give the hunter more of an advantage, the length of season will not affect the number of deer harvested as much as other things do.

Not considering hunting pressure, it is by far easier to find and kill a buck the last week of October than the first week of October. The hunter has many more things to his advantage because the rut is heating up, snow is more common, there is less cover because more leaves have fallen and the average temperatures are cooler which get the deer to move more.

Even though the F&G should have done it one year earlier I think that decreasing the season was a good thing and it will increase buck to doe ratios. The best thing that the decreased season did was decreasing the overlap of many of the elk hunts (controlled and general) with deer season. Having deer and elk season at the same time will increase the number of days hunters are in the woods during deer season. More days hunters spend in the woods during deer season will cause more deer to be harvested than there would be otherwise.

I wouldn't entirely agree with the statement ?the length of season, as long as it did not conflict with the rut, did not really matter when it came to the number of deer killed in the season.? This statement was more correct 30 years ago but now days there are becoming more hunters (like me) that hunt more days if given a longer season. If all else is equal, hunters spending more days in the woods will increase the number of bucks killed.

 

[HGHCOUNTRY]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-26-04 AT 10:39AM (MST)[p]Brian,
I am curious if the proposed change is state wide or just for a few specific units? The reason I ask is that two of the units that I hunt over here on the west side of the state already have oct. 5-31 general seasons. And its been that way for a while, to be honest I like it that way, and I usually have harvested my animal before then. I like to take my little cousins up the last week and they get to see alot of deer, and one will usually get a small buck. I dont pretend to know whats going on, on the east side, just interested.

-Hghcountry

 

[BrianID]

Hghcountry,

The F&G hasn't said anything very specific about the proposed changes that I have heard. I would guess that the F&G are mostly talking about the units in the Upper Snake, Southeast and Magic Valley Regions that had the October 5th - 19th season in 2003. The F&G likes to keep the opening day consistent across Southern Idaho so if they change opening day in Eastern Idaho it will likely affect the opener in all of the units around Boise as well.
In my opinion the best thing that the F&G can do to increase buck to doe ratios (besides restricting the number of hunters and restrict hunting during the rut) is to include more units in the Motorized Vehicle Restrictions (found on page 4 of 2003 regs). I don't think the Oct. 5th - 31st season is a bad thing I just don't think an overlap of the deer and elk season is a good thing for buck/doe ratios. I think an October 15th - Nov. 5th season would be a bad thing. The F&G hasn't mentioned any exact dates for this new proposal that I am aware of but in their management plan from a couple years ago they said they would consider dates between October 5th and November 5th for buck season in Southern Idaho.

 

[HGHCOUNTRY]

Brian,
I too am opposed to a general hunt that lasts until nov 5th. I wonder why all of the open meetings to discuss the proposals have been in eastern idaho. I would love to go to one, but dont have the time drive 4 hours to get there. I guess I should talk to Moosie, He would probably know more about this. I do like the motorized restrictions idea. I also agree with you on the overlap of elk/deer seasons being a bad thing. Happy Hunting.

-Hghcountry

 

[IdahoMuley]

I think they sould leave it in early octber. if they dont the deer pop. is going to go on a steep drop. the fish and game is also going to have a lottery for super tags for each kind of animal and if you draw you can hunt that animal any where in the state in any season. the also are going to have a utlimate draw were one lucky person will get a supper tag for all animals, this is another way for fish and game to get their money.