Idaho unit 26 and 27 limits tags

[Micah S]

Idaho fish and game has decided to limit tags for non resident hunters in unit 26 and unit 27. This is probably a good decision because some areas were over hunted. But the problem is how the Game department did it.

In unit 27 tags are limited to 51 and in unit 26 there is 13 tags. At the same time they gave 99 outfitter tags out in unit 27 and 59 outfitter tags in 26. About 54 of the tags in unit 27 will go to a private hunting club.

The DIY hunter is getting shafted because Idaho has decided guides and a private club is more important then the average hunter.

 

[kidoggy]

Idaho fish and game has decided to limit tags for non resident hunters in unit 26 and unit 27. This is probably a good decision because some areas were over hunted. But the problem is how the Game department did it.

In unit 27 tags are limited to 51 and in unit 26 there is 13 tags. At the same time they gave 99 outfitter tags out in unit 27 and 59 outfitter tags in 26. About 54 of the tags in unit 27 will go to a private hunting club.

The DIY hunter is getting shafted because Idaho has decided guides and a private club is more important then the average hunter.

so hunt another unit ,or state.

 

[Joe Schmo]

Can't read that screenshot.
Private club?
On public land?
Can you provide a link?

 

[mntnguide]

I Would assume he is talking about members of the Flying B Ranch and Root Ranch which sit in 26 & 27. They are sister ranches that have "members" who pay hefty annual fees to be able to fly in and go fishing, horseback riding etc and also hunting in the fall. They have high country camps set up for the hunters by employees.. so basically they are outfitters except only their members get to utilize their horses and camps...what the OP probably doesn't realize is how much work the employees of those ranches put into clearing trails and maintaining them for everyone to use throughout that whole middle fork and big creek area. So, that is why I don't have a problem with them getting their members tags. Having personally guided 4 years in unit 26, I am glad to see the unlimited tags go away because the deer quality had dropped substantially due to the tent cities that appear on the airstrips come November, and the majority of deer being shot were young and maybe now the era of big Frank Church deer can make a comeback.

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[Micah S]

I realize how much work they do clearing trail. But they are not doing it for the good of the average man that backpacks or hunts the Frank. They do it because they get paid by the member of the Ranch to go on guided hunts. Just because a person has the money to belong to a club should not entitle you to receive tags. The animals in the forests are owned by all of us not a elite few.

 

[mntnguide]

A LOT of the trails that are maintained and cleared, have nothing to do with their hunting country, and are just main corridor trails down big creek and the middle fork of the salmon that everyone uses from May through november, well before hunting becomes a part of anything. . But anyway, Idaho has always had set aside tags for outfitters. This is exactly the same as outfitting, except they pay far more than the average outfitted hunt and use the place more than just for hunting. The only real new change is the limit in DIY non-res hunters, which i agree completely with, and I am a non-resident of Idaho. I also know that country very well and know exactly where id go to look for a good buck and have considered doing the hunt because of my experience, but Id rather see them limit it and bring back quality. . Where exactly do you see that 54 tags will go to the private ranch? because according to the Idaho fish and game website the 99 is listed in the outfitter sponsored section, which would entail any and all outfitted clients from any outfitter would be applying for. .

 

[Micah S]

The B said 54 tags is what they expect to receive. Some friends of mine tried to buy tags from them. They were turned away. Because they were already booked.

I saw quality bucks in there but they were far and few between and you had to get at least 3.5 miles from the strip.

 

[tttoadman]

I talked with the F&G about why they chose 10% instead of something a little in between. They said they just set it to the same 10% as the rest of the draw hunts to keep it simple. In 2016 I was 6 1/2 miles from the airstrip and saw my brother and 2 horses in a week. We were busy packing elk while the tent city was loading up and leaving on cluster$%^& saturday. I know right where I am going when I get my tag. If you want a quality experience over there, you really need to get away from the airstrip. I don't care much for the outfitter allocation. likely just because I don't use it. It is probably fair.

For what it's worth, the general season tag is open until 10/31. I am quite certain there would be some quality hunting in there at that time, and likely less crowded.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Sounds great to me. Some of these areas were badly over hunted. I’ve seen some of the most amazing country in Idaho and couldn’t find a single animal.

 

[Micah S]

Sounds great to me. Some of these areas were badly over hunted. I’ve seen some of the most amazing country in Idaho and couldn’t find a single animal.

The areas I've been in had a lot of deer. Finding 4+ year old buck is hard but they are there. Most people don't make it more then a couple of miles out. They don't have a spotting scope and hardly use their binoculars.

 

[Joe Schmo]

I don’t really have a dog in this fight. I spend time in the frank every summer but I don’t hunt there. I’m just gonna say this...how in the heck could you go in there and NOT BRING A SPOTTING SCOPE!!??

 

[tttoadman]

I don’t really have a dog in this fight. I spend time in the frank every summer but I don’t hunt there. I’m just gonna say this...how in the heck could you go in there and NOT BRING A SPOTTING SCOPE!!??

Don't own one, and don't plan on it. I do fine with a set of 10x42 on a short tripod. I agree if you are super critical about point counting, but I can usually decide from appearance if it is something I am interested in.

And I am old and weak. I have to pick my battles when I start adding pounds.

 

[Joe Schmo]

To each their own I don’t hunt with an ATV but since it’s required to hunt in Idaho I always make sure I have one in camp...just to satisfy regulations.
I thought it was the same with spotting scopes in wilderness areas since you can’t have your ATV. My bad

 

[dirtytough]

I think its funny that some hunters say its fine to give outfitters tags. Which is basically welfare in another form. Yet those same hunters will call some people on food stamps lazy. (IDK if anybody in this thread has called anyone lazy.)

IMO if the outfitters can't make it without a government handout they should find a new profession. Same as the contractor down the road or the grocery store. The government shouldn't be guaranteeing businesses customers. Businesses should earn customers. Oh well looks like the left is getting more and more people on board with government handouts.