My .02cents.
First, a high number of people who put in for Trophy species, particularly Goat and Sheep are people who do so because that is their passion and Deer and Elk are secondary. So I don't think your hypothesis holds water with these people.
Second, while it is a given that an animal that makes book is a trophy, an animal can be a trophy without being a B&C animal. I think the past two years the amount of quality 180-200" deer killed in Idaho(see unit 44 photo's alone last year)has been on the rise, while you hear more and more people from these top ranked states, particularly Colo, Wyo, and Utah, complain about the shrinking herds. My point is that while you're right about book entries over the last 8 years, I think, but can't prove, that the field is leveling out the past 2-3 years.
So, my opinion is that your hypothesis about what the OIL draw stats infer, is incorrect. I think any increase is economically influenced and shows that Idaho has a pretty decent deal overall for Trophy Species. I will say that I looked at the last 5 years for the Mt Goat tag I applied for and it was surprisingly consistent. Amazing how a good tag can only pull in 14 applicants consistently year after year.
I haven't hunted enough other states to say how much better they might be, but I think the complaining from NR's and even some Residents is primarily that they feel they should get to hunt the equivalent of a low odd trophy unit every year, and if they can't they think it's somebody else's fault. These is simply no where, I believe, that you can expect annually to kill 180"+ deer, or 320"+ bulls, anymore than you can expect to hunt Shiras Moose, Bighorn Sheep, or Mtn Goats annually. At least in Idaho you can not only try and kill that Deer or Elk every year, but you have an equal shot to draw a tag. I think that's a pretty fair trade. It's what keeps me from spending thousands of dollars chasing draws in 6-7 other states each year too.
