IDFG F&G commission approves changes to nonresident particip

[Lefty]

Press Release
F&G commission approves changes to nonresident participation in general season deer and elk hunts
By Brian Pearson, Conservation Public Information Specialist
Friday, November 20, 2020 - 11:24 AM MST
Limits to nonresident participation in general season hunts go into effect for 2021 season
LEWISTON — The Idaho Fish and Game Commission on Nov. 20 approved changes to nonresident participation in general season deer and elk hunts to address concerns from residents about hunter congestion in some areas. Starting 2021, nonresident hunters in most general season elk and deer hunts will be limited to 10 or 15 percent of the total hunters in each elk zone or deer unit based on hunter participation estimates averaged over the last five years. The new limits do not apply to capped elk zones.

Statewide quotas for nonresident deer tags (15,500) and elk tags (12,815) have remained the same for nearly 30 years. Although nonresident participation in general deer and elk seasons is limited by these statewide tag quotas, in the past there was no way to manage nonresident participation in each game unit or elk zone, resulting in disproportionally high numbers of nonresident hunters in some areas.

“Hunter crowding is a growing concern among many deer and elk hunters in Idaho. Prior to broader conversations related to the future of deer and elk hunting in Idaho, the Commission thought it important to first ensure that nonresident participation levels were addressed,” Idaho Fish and Game Director Ed Schriever said. “We heard our resident hunters, and took a careful and thoughtful approach to developing this plan to manage nonresident participation in deer and elk hunts at a finer scale.”

Nonresident tag reductions in general hunts will include:

Elk Zones with A/B tags, and most deer units with regular or whitetail tags where current nonresident participation exceeds 15 percent of total hunters, will be reduced to 15 percent nonresidents.
Zones and units currently with 10 to 14 percent nonresidents will be reduced to 10 percent nonresidents.
Zones and units currently with less than 10 percent nonresident participation can not exceed 10 percent.
Twelve backcountry deer units with low hunter participation will be limited to the current level of nonresidents.
Here is a list of nonresident limits for each individual deer unit for regular deer tags and white-tailed deer tags, and here is a list of nonresident tag limits for elk zones. Here is an interactive map of elk zones and deer units with their respective nonresident tag limits. These limits apply only to general season hunts and do not affect controlled hunts, most of which are already limited to no more than 10 percent nonresidents.

“The zone limits on nonresident elk tags will not only ensure more even distribution of nonresident elk hunters, it will also result in a reduction of over 600 elk tags sold to nonresidents in general elk hunts based on current participation rates,” Schriever said. “Nonresident A tags in some elk zones will be reduced by more than 50 percent.”

Further limiting nonresidents in deer and elk hunting will reduce Fish and Game revenue. In anticipation of that, the Idaho Legislature raised nonresident fees for the first time since 2009, which is expected to offset the decrease in revenue resulting from fewer nonresidents. Here are the updated nonresident fees, effective Dec. 1. There is no effect to resident fees.

“In concert, these actions address localized issues of hunter congestion and allow Fish and Game to maintain existing revenues that are critical to fish and wildlife management, without placing that burden on our resident hunters,” Schriever said. “At the same time, our nonresident prices remain competitive with neighboring states. This was a complex issue that required striking a good balance, and that’s what the Commission has done.”

Here’s what nonresident hunters need to know before tags go on sale
2021 nonresident deer and elk tags will be sold starting at 10 a.m. Mountain Time on Dec. 1, including the popular Sawtooth Elk Zone tags. Nonresidents can expect tags for popular elk zones and deer units to sell out quickly.

There will be separate limits for A and B elk tags, as well as regular and white-tailed deer tags. Nonresident deer hunters will need to know what unit they want to buy a deer tag for, and elk hunters will continue to buy A/B tags for a specific zone, but all zones will have nonresident limits. Tag numbers for current capped elk zones have not changed for residents or nonresidents.

If the statewide quota for nonresident tags is not sold by Aug. 1, remaining tags will be available as second tags for residents or nonresidents, but at nonresident prices.

Regardless of whether the quota of nonresident deer/elk tags have sold out, nonresidents will remain eligible to apply for controlled hunts in the spring.

Fish and Game also recently launched a new licensing system. Hunters are encouraged to review their profile information prior to Dec. 1 to ensure it is accurate.

[7mmfan]

Yep. Going to make things interesting. Won't be waiting to buy thats for sure.

[Lefty]

I have a buddy that's all upset, he has bought a nonresident tag for over 30 years,
He is all worked up he won't be hunting Idaho

[7mmfan]

The intent was to limit nonresident pressure. This should accomplish that. Don't get me wrong, it poses challenges for me and my group. You know where we hunt generally and theres 3 good units all right next to each other. Having to pick only one of them could be frustrating if we end up seeing lots of deer in other ones. But those are the rules now and we'll adapt. I'm not worried about not getting a tag, I'll just be logged on asap December 1.

[WapitiTalk1]

Yep, saw that. Really whittled down the OOS tag allowances this year along with fee increases.

[Lefty]

I was told a couple years ago. This is the direction the IDFG needed to go to help manage our herds

Our crazy legislature doesnt let them manage and goes by public pressure. Idahoans want cheap over the counter tags and be able to hunt anywhere in the state. a

I would prefer early purchase for an ID unit. Then a late in the year making OTC tags at an increased price
Realistically I wish they would raise the price of resident fees more also


credit the below to Go hunt
Hunting Licenses
Item 2020
cost 2021
cost % change
Nonresident combination license* $240 $264 10%
Nonresident hunting license** $154.75 $185 19.55%
Jr. Mentored hunting license** $31.75 $91.75 188.98%
Adult Big Game Tags
Deer tag $301.75 $351.75 16.57%
Elk tag $416.75 $651.75 56.39%
Antelope tag $311.75 $342.75 9.94%
Bighorn sheep tag $2,101.75 $2,626.75 24.98%
Rocky Mountain goat tag $2,101.75 $2,626.75 24.98%
Moose tag $2,101.75 $2,626.75 24.98%
Black bear tag $186 $231.75 24.6%
Jr. Mentored Big Game Tags
Jr. mentored deer tag $23.75 $176.75 644.21%
Jr. mentored elk tag $39.75 $299.75 654.09%
Jr. mentored black bear tag $23.75 $116.75 391.58%
Qualifying Permits
Archery permit $20 $81.75 308.75%
Muzzleloader permit $20 $81.75 308.75%
Controlled Hunt Application Fees
Controlled hunt application fee
(deer, elk, antelope, bear) $14.75 $18 22.03%



I think what we pay is too cheap


$ 124.25$ 144.60
Combination - Sportsman's Package
RESIDENTS ONLY - The Sportsman's Package includes all rights and privileges associated with a Resident Adult Combination License plus tags for deer, elk, bear, mountain lion, wolf, turkey, salmon and steelhead. Archery and muzzleloader are validated on the license.

[Elkhunttoo]

Well Lefty, if they don’t raise the residents prices and it would make you feel better I will let you buy mine

[Lefty]

Well Lefty, if they don’t raise the residents prices and it would make you feel better I will let you buy mine

Black Bear - Adult
$ 11.50$ 13.75
Black Bear - Adult Second
To be used only in designated units, NOT Statewide.
$ 6.75$ 7.75
Black Bear - Jr/Sr/DAV
Valid with senior combination license (age 65 or older), junior combination, junior hunting and disabled combination class V.
$ 6.75$ 7.75
Black Bear - Jr/Sr/DAV
Second To be used only in designated units, NOT Statewide.
$ 19.75$ 24.75
Deer - Adult
Select from Regular or White-tailed deer tags
$ 10.75$ 12.50
Deer - Jr/Sr/DAV
Valid with senior combination license (age 65 or older), junior combination, junior hunting and disabled combination class V.
$ 30.75$ 36.75
Elk - Adult
$ 16.50$ 18.75
Elk - Jr/Sr/DAV
Valid with senior combination license (age 65 or older), junior combination, junior hunting and disabled combination class V.
$ 11.50$ 13.75
Mountain Lion - Adult
$ 11.50$ 13.75
Mountain Lion - Adult
Second To be used only in designated units, NOT Statewide.
$ 18.00$ 22.75
Sandhill Crane
Must have Federal Migratory Game Bird Harvest Information Program Validation on license.
$ 22.75$ 22.75
Swan
New in 2020. More info to come.
$ 12.25$ 12.25
Turkey - Adult Extra
$ 19.75$ 22.75
Turkey - General
$ 5.00$ 5.00
Turkey - Special Unit
General season tag valid in the fall season for Units 1 ,2, 3 or 5 and designated depredation hunts during the calendar year.
$ 10.75$ 12.50
Turkey - Jr./Sr./DAV
$ 10.75$ 12.50
Turkey - Jr./Sr./DAV Extra
$ 11.50$ 13.50
Wolf

[7mmfan]

Well, was logged in 10 minutes early, still got placed about number 7700 in line, and two and a half hours later I got an opportunity to log in and see that all deer and Elk tags in the area we hunt were sold out. Unless I'm lucky and get a return tag later in the season, guess this will be the first year in half a decade that I won't be going to Idaho. A few of our group got lucky and got deer or elk tags, so a couple of them will still be there. That new system really fried me. Have to admit it left a sour taste in my mouth.

[WapitiTalk1]

Yep, it was a real mess this morning trying to get an OOS spud state tag.

[Elkhunttoo]

Can’t blame you at all 7mm...by brother in law that grew up in Idaho and took hunters safety here. He was in the line this morning with ya...he was actually just over 8000 when he got on. There was 46 elk tags left in our area when he bought his. We had 4 other back up areas he was going to pick from when he got let in but was able to get the one he wanted...I think they will definitely have to make changes to the system. It will be interesting (as a resident, frustrating for the nonresidents with no tag) to see if the numbers where I hunt change much. Almost every person I have ran into the last 3 years has been a non resident so my little area might have way less pressure next year. Sorry to those who weren’t able to get tags

[Fridaythe13th]

Way way way better this year than last. The circle of death and finally you got in and it would kick you out as you put the credit card in.
This year Some of the groups I know just back out if they all didn't get a tag.
I do wish they would figure out a group app so its either all or none.

[Lefty]

I think the non residents are the test block for the future system for resident's

[7mmfan]

They're going to have to figure out a way for non residents to get tags as a group. My assumption is that will be a draw system just like all other western states. That doesn't thrill me, but I don't really see another option. Honestly, that is the part that pisses me off the most, not that I didn't get a tag, but that this system effectively tore groups apart. In our group of four, 1 got just an elk tag, 1 got an elk tag, but had to buy deer in a totally different area, and two of us didn't get any tags. Another buddy in a group of 3 that always hunt together got his deer tag, but neither of his group members did. Now he's having to plan his hunt solo. Not good. I'd hate to think that they knew that would happen when implementing the new system and decided to just go for it.

[wawhitey]

My first year hunting idaho has been a total $*** fest, and im never going back. So since were on a topic that pertains to guys that hunt idaho, i bought an onx chip for my gps at sportsmans warehouse this april. I have no need for it now. I know most folks just use the app, but if anybody here has a use for the chip ill send it your way, just shoot me a pm.