Idaho NR General Tag Draw

[brymoore]

I wanted a quick HT poll on the participation in Idaho’s new NR general elk and deer tag draw. The new draw will require a NR tag to participate, which could limit draw applications. However, the draw is in December giving NRs the first chance at elk and deer tags in the West.

There’s a lot of speculation from all of us on how popular the new draw will be.

What say you? Yes or No?

 

[Matthew57]

I wanted a quick HT poll on the participation in Idaho’s new NR general elk and deer tag draw. The new draw will require a NR tag to participate, which could limit draw applications. However, the draw is in December giving NRs the first chance at elk and deer tags in the West.

There’s a lot of speculation from all of us on how popular the new draw will be.

What say you? Yes or No?

I would be interested to see existing vs new.

 

[brymoore]

Bump.

Early voting 10 yes, 2 never again and 3 voting Iowa.

 

[hunter49]

Voted yes.

But it's year by year dependent.

For some time have had a 5 year plan in place that keeps evolving.

Hunts that's I was keen on prior have dropped and new ones rise.

Have enough points to keep me busy, and don't have the time to due everything I would like.

Idaho never really factored in with the prior process. But if a slot opens up, I would roll the dice.

But in hindsight, my plan probably only works cause I chase the adventure and don't worry about trophy potential.

 

[rjthehunter]

I definitely will for the next few years. If I have a tag I "should" draw on a given year, I might not, depending on the situation.

Being the first will definitely draw some attention to it. I have it on my calendar for next year.

 

[th88]

Count me in.

I've did the online waiting room thing for years but never gotten a number below 1,800 or so that allowed me to get one of the better tags. Never have applied for controlled hunts. Now i'll be applying for the general and control hunts.

 

[gwhunter]

The new draw will require a NR tag to participate, which could limit draw applications.

This right here ^^^^

If I have a tag I "should" draw on a given year, I might not, depending on the situation.

Same for me. Because it's first, I might just attempt it as a "backup" plan and try to lump into into a weeks long mountain west trip if I end up drawing a better/more desired tag. But like @hunter49 said, it's all about the adventure for me and just getting to have the tag and go on a trip is enough for me.

 

[gwhunter]

Count me in.

I've did the online waiting room thing for years but never gotten a number below 1,800 or so that allowed me to get one of the better tags. Never have applied for controlled hunts. Now i'll be applying for the general and control hunts.

I was around number 45K this year. Secured a Weiser River archery elk tag. Just had to keep hitting 'refresh' and they would pop in and out of availability

I will say, I never would have or even thought to apply for MSG in Idaho and now that I have to buy the license ahead of time, I definitely will be doing that on a year when I don't have any other trips planned! I already had an Arizona elk tag this year so I couldn't apply for a THIRD hunt this year. But next year it's likely I will at least be watering down the odds for MSG because of this process.

 

[BrokenArrow]

I have a general elk tag this year, I got in Dec ‘24. Pure diligence on sale day.
The sale this year went 50% to local vendors vs online users, according to an epic outdoors podcast. If you were physically in-line in ID, you basically got a tag.
I’m willing to try a real lottery draw. No point system. Pure random. 100% more fair than the old system.

 

[cgasner1]

I’ve held a idaho hunting license for 8 of last 10 years why would I stop now. This will make my odds worse depending on how it’s structured. Have they put out a actual plan yet?

 

[cgasner1]

They need to quit sugar coating this. Idaho will no longer have general license for nr. You buy a license and apply for an elk tag it should all be drawn in the same pool to help the msg odds.

 

[seeth07]

They need to quit sugar coating this. Idaho will no longer have general license for nr. You buy a license and apply for an elk tag it should all be drawn in the same pool to help the msg odds.

And NR should also have to just pick 1 species only. Can't do lope, deer and elk

 

[Forkyfinder]

And NR should also have to just pick 1 species only. Can't do lope, deer and elk

Man. Every western state should do this.

 

[cgasner1]

Man. Every western state should do this.

It’ll just increase draw odds and harvest

 

[seeth07]

It’ll just increase draw odds and harvest

how so on the harvest? # of tags allocated isn't changing.

Force everyone to buy the $200 hunting license, apply just for one species in a state - you would almost certainly be able to pick something that guarantees you a tag, and go hunting.

It would be great if it was all just a single draw for all of these species and you could then do a second choice that is a different species.

First choice you could go moose and then select a Tex Creek General area elk tag as a second choice.

 

[HappyCamper]

I apply for the controlled hunts so I won’t shy away from the new draw. Just one more lottery ticket I can get with the license. I would like to see just an app fee, not a license requirement for the general tags for the draw odds others have mentioned. If other states have shown us anything, applicants will pay for a chance at an elk tag.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Haven't been following close, what is the non-refundable application cost going to be? It'll depend on that, odds of drawing, and what else i've got going on any given year but I could see myself applying. If it adds up to close to $300 non-refundable for mediocre odds on a less than exciting tag, I'm probably not going to apply much.

 

[seeth07]

Haven't been following close, what is the non-refundable application cost going to be? It'll depend on that, odds of drawing, and what else i've got going on any given year but I could see myself applying. If it adds up to close to $300 non-refundable for mediocre odds on a less than exciting tag, I'm probably not going to apply much.

I'm not sure there is an Idaho general tag that is "exciting" to get. There are some good areas to hunt but nothing honestly worth the $200+ entry to apply and the ones that draw more interest aren't going to have great odds to draw if the December first come, first serve sale results are any indication of that.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I'm not sure there is an Idaho general tag that is "exciting" to get. There are some good areas to hunt but nothing honestly worth the $200+ entry to apply and the ones that draw more interest aren't going to have great odds to draw if the December first come, first serve sale results are any indication of that.

I'd be excited to have some of them. Not interested in burning $250+ on 15% odds for a meh tag though. Kind of like why I haven't been playing in MT anymore. Not interested in burning $300+ to return a general tag after failing to draw a LE permit.

 

[cgasner1]

how so on the harvest? # of tags allocated isn't changing.

Force everyone to buy the $200 hunting license, apply just for one species in a state - you would almost certainly be able to pick something that guarantees you a tag, and go hunting.

It would be great if it was all just a single draw for all of these species and you could then do a second choice that is a different species.

First choice you could go moose and then select a Tex Creek General area elk tag as a second choice.

Calander days is what the harvest part comes down to. If you sell some combo tags with any luck one of the tags won’t even get hunted but the state made the money from it. People will be focused on the elk tag and hopefully not even bother with a deer tag. Flip side is if you just sell me a deer tag I’m using all my calendar days to hunt deer