All the lion guys want to do here, with the exception of a few is chase them around. If I see a lion every year while hunting there are too many or I am just lucky. The LE deer unit where I do most of my hunting has dwindled in tag quotas. And it ain't because of habitat or development encroachment or anything else. Sorry to go off topic to Montana. mtmuley
Idaho Lion Proposals
- Thread starter Hawk Tuah
- Start date
Badlandcat
Active member
And the overharvest and poaching have nothing to do with the dwindling deer population?
It's an LE unit. Any overharvest would be because of poaching. mtmuley
I could see houndsmen showing up to run cats but I doubt you see an influx of houndsmen showing up to kill cats unless they tree a giant. Outfitters on the other hand will probably book more clients and maybe kill a few more. How often do you have good snow in November and April?
Badlandcat
Active member
Who's to say that there is to many permits issued? How much does the huge elk population affect the deer? also, I'm getting very skeptical about all the deer and elk "deadheads" being "found" anymore in the LE units.
The unit went from an initial 35 permits I believe down to 10 last season. I can assure you a huge elk population is not an issue in this unit. I am not the only hunter familiar with the unit that believes cats are a big part of the problem. I'll quit hijacking the thread now. mtmuley
Forkyfinder
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Man cougars always bring the drama out lol
BigHornRam
Well-known member
The differing cougar factions go at it like cats and dogs. I feel sorry for the poor biologists that have to listen to it all.
I rarely sit through it but the cat hunters get pretty riled up at the FWP meetings. mtmuley
BuzzH
Well-known member
The fly fisherman of the fishing world. The bowhunters of the big-game hunting world.
You need a mop for the tears at the end of every meeting from all of those groups, and a set of earplugs if you want to comment on something later on in the agenda.
BigHornRam
Well-known member
I know guys from at least 3 different factions. It's entertaining listening to one them leaving messages on the bios answering machine during the season, saying "HOW IS THAT SCIENCE BASED....?".
I know a few guys that are cat killing machines. One outfitter I know is really hard on them here. But, I get what you mean. Really hard to listen to the lion segment. mtmuley
You think the outfitter is mainly motivated by making money?
Partly. But if you met this guy you would understand. mtmuley
BigHornRam
Well-known member
Here comes the 4th faction into the fray.
Hawk Tuah
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It'll add pressure from outsiders for sure. We get decent snows here during those times most years. All the IF, Rigby, Rexburg guys will be down here, plus add the Twin guys and a lot in between. I don't blame them for coming. If I could hunt up there on a Nov or April snow I would.
When houndsmen travel to another territory they typically don't hunt, they often quit caring what gets killed. It is a crappy human nature thing, but true. I'd love to say I think they will only shoot big toms, but even many of the local the guys who hunt those units aren't very selective.
That November season will get really crowded Thanksgiving week if any snow falls.
It'll be a significant change with more pressure, but we are really already seeing the damage in those units this year. The first two years after no quotas we saw a decline, but the number of tracks plummeted this year in those areas.
Hawk Tuah
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Interesting that they are proposing a doe only hunt with 200 tags in the same place they are trying to build the herds.
idfg.idaho.gov
Southeast Region Deer Proposals
GratefulHorticulturist
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That’s a damn shame. Def should be treated as big game.
idelkslayer
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I doubt that the year round season will result in many more lions being killed. That sentence could be used in favor of or in opposition to the all year season proposal. On the one hand it won't make much difference. On the other, why do it if it won't make a difference?
The video gives some justification for increased lion harvest. Collar studies have shown elevated predation on mule deer fawns (12% due to lions, it was 20% in 2020) and even adult bucks (18% predation rate by lions).
We already hashed out the fact that lions are not responsible for the current low population of mule deer in a previous thread. However, the predation rates cited in the video are considered to be higher than have been observed in previous studies and are high enough to have an impact.
I think lions will be fine even with these changes. I'm in favor.
The video gives some justification for increased lion harvest. Collar studies have shown elevated predation on mule deer fawns (12% due to lions, it was 20% in 2020) and even adult bucks (18% predation rate by lions).
We already hashed out the fact that lions are not responsible for the current low population of mule deer in a previous thread. However, the predation rates cited in the video are considered to be higher than have been observed in previous studies and are high enough to have an impact.
I think lions will be fine even with these changes. I'm in favor.
