Idaho going to a draw?
Elk
It looks like in the latest announcement from IDFG commission they are leaning towards going to a draw.
Sadly, the Non Res folks complaining the loudest and thinking they will get a tag if it goes to a draw will find out real quick the demand for tags will kill their odds.
When Idaho has appx 80,000 non res. hunters vying for 8,000 tags- many hunters are going to lose out. Those are rough numbers guys, not accurate and it could be worse odds than that for non Res.
The solution is simple; require a Non Res buys his own tag either on line or in person. No more residents buying 5-20 tags for friends or others willing to pay them to stand in line. I personally saw a lot of that, paying residents to buy you a tag which is literally creating a black market for tags.
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I quit hunting ID in the early 80's. I'd apply if they had points.
Thank God, it’s a disaster the way it’s set up now
Almost any change would be good. Current system is a disaster. We'll see how the odds work out. I'll play.
I assume you are talking about the ID NR OTC elk tags?
OTC with Caps make absolutely no sense, especially if they sell out. By definition if they have Caps they are a LIMITED licenses.
The only true OTC tags would be unlimited- can go buy anytime.
Makes sense to put them in the draw. And no, ID will not go to a point system.
I agree with Beendare. I wish they would at least try the first come first served model, but limited to one tag per person. Why did anybody think it was a good plan to let one person buy as many tags as they want. as it is currently. We already have so many point draw systems, I liked them trying to do something a little different.
I'd be okay with first come first serve as well if it were one tag per person and all sales online.
^^ Agree with Brotsky. Either that or make it a 100% random draw with NO point system or at most a bonus point system.
It is effectively one tag per person right now in the Online system. It is a joke, with people using bots to get multiple "random" numbers, and no way to buy tags for a party. (Think Father and son.)
Idaho is long overdue for going to a draw.
And I know not everyone will get a tag. But camping in line overnight and driving to Idaho to get a tag is ridiculous as well. The Online system always breaks. Get with the times and go with a draw, a completely random draw with no points.
Bill
Some kind of change is needed . The system is shit right now!! I am ok with a random draw.
I’m absolutely on board with a random draw
Random draw is a great idea. The current system is awful especially when you get #44,000 in line 1 second after hitting GO….
I’m absolutely on board with a random draw
This is so stupid when they simply just needed to go to
First come first serve
No in person differences, everyone is equal online
Must log in FIRST, then Waiting room (eliminates using 10 computers at work to better your odds)
This is so stupid when they simply just needed to go to
First come first serve
No in person differences, everyone is equal online
Must log in FIRST, then Waiting room (eliminates using 10 computers at work to better your odds)
Can I just go back 15 years ago or more to the days where I could easily buy a general deer tag or archery elk tag even months after they’d gone on sell ? There were lots of years I chose to do other things besides go to ID. If I knew then what I know now I would never have skipped a fall .
Hate what it is now and miss what it was 10 years ago.
At least if they go to a random draw or pref points I’ll have a legit chance of hunting elk in Idaho again.
@Old School, you could literally say that about any elk hunt.....sure it was better 10 years ago. You should have seen it 30 years ago.....
It seems a lot of guys agree with me about one guy...one tag...and stop Residents from buying many tags for people they don't know making it a Black Market for elk tags.
IDFG....are you listening?
Take my comments with a grain of salt. I enjoy hunting ID and have been there 5 times since 2016. Also pulled a good elk tag for 2025. I have learned how to work within the current system. Having stated above, the current process has more loopholes that any state I apply in. It has become a cottage business on working the loopholes in the system.
Unless the "solution" fixes all loopholes, any process is only as strong as the weakest link. A draw will make some applicants happy. A draw will also tick off special interests who are working in the cottage industry.
Keep in mind, the opinion of NR hunters is not paramount to legislators. It is funding from NR's. If it a solution is revenue neutral of revenue positive, they are on board. But residents need to be careful if you don't think it doesn't apply to you. Whatever is decided for NR's, will likely come your way. (Noting the growing population of Idaho and finite supply)
Whatever happens (even if it is nothing), the majority of applicants will not get tags. Many of those will decry the system is not "fair". With 60,000 plus applicants in the middle of a business day, how many applicants do you think will apply when the draw period opens? Will everyone who wants a tag get one?
The human condition is an interesting thing. Idaho has the same number of NR tags as it did 10 years ago. It took months for some zones to sell out for NR's. (Some never did and residents bought leftovers as 2nd tags) When capped zones were introduced several years ago, a "scarcity" psychology was introduced. Social media and influencers continue highlighting "opportunities." Zone caps are reached in minutes or hours. Welcome to the modern western tag application period!
Old School- Preference Points are a ponzi scheme in most every state and animal. Additionally, NO state which has PP's is willing to dump them. Why? It is not because the system works. It is because the system is a huge revenue generator and the state's become addicted to it. They will never replace a PP system because no application process extracts/generates more money from applicants while "selling" a finite resource. The money per tag issued is astronomical. Exhibit A-Colorado. Exhibit B-Utah. (I say this as an applicant in multiple PP states.)
PP is NEVER the answer. (Unless the question is "How can the state generate the most revenue when issuing big game tags?")
If they went to a random draw, I would prolly apply.
Some of my most favorite hunts for elk have been in Idaho.
I'm with Z, no $crewy point$ scam. I'm going to be too old or dead to use some of my points in other states already ~~ haha
Thanks for the heads-up Bruce.
Good luck, Robb
I as well would prefer a random draw - or a system like Wyoming has.
Pref points are no doubt a bad choice, but it would be better than the current setup.
I also miss the good old days... used to drive out and go to a little store in the middle of nowhere drink a beer out of the store case and get my tag and license. watch a bear or two get checked in if lucky enough to be there when one came in.. It was only about 4 years ago when keeping an eye on tag numbers did i realize shit I better not wait until I get out there to get my tag.. Now I get in the queue at number 45,000 of worse! I'm not smart enough to know what the answer is but I do see my 25 plus years of hunting Idaho every fall becoming a bit more inconsistent.
It’s about time, Idaho has been leaving money on the table. Game and fish Belly up to the cash register and hear that non-resident Ca-Ching!
Big question is what took so long. Next door Wy has been showing the way for decade
Their high-price non-refundable NR hunting license is not worth the cost for a random shot at what was once an OTC tag and is now not that great of a tag even if it's capped. It's worth it for a good tag, but not a run-of-the-mill ID elk tag if the odds of drawing are not great.
That's like paying $5 for a lottery ticket where the jackpot is $4.
Got a crap elk tag for my nephew and me in ID last year. ID should be embarrassed to sell Snake River elk tags and they should reimburse me for the wasted money.
ID will do what they think is best or some special interest. As it is Outfitters are allotted tags to sell their own hunts. Regardless, I'm with the camp that says you can not buy tags for others, like your 4 buddies.
It’s worse than buying for buddies. Small store fronts are being paid to buy peoples tags for them as soon as the doors open.
Someone standing 1st in the line has to wait for the guy working the store to buy tags for his list of names.
Dumbest system ever and I won't play.
I quit giving ID any $ until they do something about the chit show system they have now.
A draw will address the problems they have now and will bring in a ton more $ for them so I think it's a no brainer. I read the recommendation doc. It will be an app fee and you have to buy a license. Also front the tag fee at the time of applying. They will still sell every tag, so they will be collecting a lot more money with the licenses and app fee.
It really is not about "me" being able to get a tag or not. I can go to ID and know of a place to buy in person with no line. It's more about how unfair the current system is. Some people have actual jobs and can't go in person or even spend the day online. It's really just a stupid mess of a process even if you are one of the people like me that can make it work for yourself.
Idaho Commission approved a draw for nonresident general tags in their meeting this week. They still have to iron out the details, but it should be ready for the 2026 draw. Huge, positive step in the right direction. Bill
I can't imagine spending $185 for a hunting license that's non-refundable unless I was applying for a high-value elk or sheep tag.
That's so much money non-refundable for a chance when you consider what you *might* win. It's already borderline in AZ and NV, but you get access to a lot more species and more high quality hunts with the hunting license buy-in.
OTC elk hunting is going, going...
I would not jump the gun until the legislature hears from outfitters association. Any compromises will be at the expense of NR allocation. Be careful what you wish for.
You should listen to the Commission meeting. They specifically addressed not changing the NR allocation and had feedback from the outfitters. Of course they left open making changes someday in the future, but the current approval is simply to change the process for purchasing the NR tag to a draw.
Bill
You should listen to the Commission meeting. They specifically addressed not changing the NR allocation and had feedback from the outfitters. Of course they left open making changes someday in the future, but the current approval is simply to change the process for purchasing the NR tag to a draw.
Bill
I hope their Outfitter’s Assosciation isn’t in bed with the commission , as bad as Wyoming’s.
I will llama! Thanks. I have just seen far too many times where a decent idea/bill goes into a legislature and the end product is molested by special interest groups. I still remember when NM went from 78/22 to 84/16. From where it started, in the end the DIY NR took it in the shorts. Outfitters got the ears of legislators and warped a decent proposal.
I’ll welcome a draw for the “capped OTC” tags. I miss hunting my favorite area. Sick of being on the sidelines. It’s been really depressing not pulling a tag the last 4 years in a row. Grateful I was able to have a tag 6 years in a row. Heck, used to buy the tag at a gas station on the way up there scouting in June.
ID will do what they think is best or some special interest. As it is Outfitters are allotted tags to sell their own hunts. Regardless, I'm with the camp that says you can not buy tags for others, like your 4 buddies.
Idaho just needs to do what Wyoming does for non residents.
I'm with you YZF-88, as recent as 2019 we were able to buy Idaho tags in the middle of September after filling our Wyoming tags and then headed to Idaho for a second hunt. Those days are long gone...
Idaho doesn't have a problem it's our own home states that have missmanaged our wildlife to where very few tags exist or none at all.
