New bill about blinds near troughs

[Elkmagnet]

The reason for such liberal archery-only seasons is the historically lower success rates for archery.

Tactics/season structure/whatever that increases success rates, even marginally, have an outsized affect on the resource because of the huge number of tags.

We need to keep archery-only seasons low success rate OR manage them the same way we do rifle seasons.

If idaho was worried about archery success rates harming pronghorn populations they would make the season buck only. Currently they are any antilope seasons.
Historically winter kill is the driver of antilope populations in Idaho.
This bill was purely Idaho ranchers trying to limit hunting on blm ground where they hold grazing permits
aka "their undeeded property".

 

[sclancy27]

If idaho was worried about archery success rates harming pronghorn populations they would make the season buck only. Currently they are any antilope seasons.

I'm guessing ID is like MT where they functionally ignore archery success rates and just assume they are negligible, which they aren't.

 

[Elktrack]

The reason for such liberal archery-only seasons is the historically lower success rates for archery.

You are correct about this. This is why archery seasons get the rut hunt. The idea with the archery seasons was they could give out lots of tags and provide “hunting opportunities “ and not have it impact the herd numbers very much due to low success rates inherent with the limiting equipment being used.

Same thing with muzzleloader seasons. This is why you’re seeing some states adopt more traditional type muzzleloader equipment restrictions.

 

[Elkmagnet]

I'm guessing ID is like MT where they functionally ignore archery success rates and just assume they are negligible, which they aren't.

I have no problem with your opinion on that especially considering a rifle pronghorn tag is harder to get than many moose sheep and goat tags in Idaho.
Regardless this proposal to outlaw blind hunting has nothing to do with harvest numbers and if its necessary it should be made by IDF&G not through the legislature.

 

[Elktrack]

I have no problem with your opinion on that especially considering a rifle pronghorn tag is harder to get than many moose sheep and goat tags in Idaho.
Regardless this proposal to outlaw blind hunting has nothing to do with harvest numbers and if its necessary it should be made by IDF&G not through the legislature.

I agree. My comment was more about the ratio of archery tags and why it’s so disproportionate. Historically speaking. Obviously a lot has changed. No matter, I agree with your point too.
Same page

 

[sclancy27]

I have no problem with your opinion on that especially considering a rifle pronghorn tag is harder to get than many moose sheep and goat tags in Idaho.
Regardless this proposal to outlaw blind hunting has nothing to do with harvest numbers and if its necessary it should be made by IDF&G not through the legislature.

I guess ultimately my point was the legislation is not going to "kill" hunting there. It makes it harder, which is fine with me.

 

[Elkmagnet]

I guess ultimately my point was the legislation is not going to "kill" hunting there. It makes it harder, which is fine with me.

I am not ok with it for the few reasons above. But also because blind hunting has its own challenges many hunters can't handle. It teaches patients and restraint. There is nothing easy about spending an August day from sun up to sun down in a 120° greenhouse out in the desert. It requires a different type of mental toughness.
My kids have the ability to self control and be quiet due to many full days in blinds starting at 4yo.
They can take blind hunting from me then they can work on taking camping from people. Its about controlling access.

 

[sclancy27]

I am not ok with it for the few reasons above. But also because blind hunting has its own challenges many hunters can't handle. It teaches patients and restraint. There is nothing easy about spending an August day from sun up to sun down in a 120° greenhouse out in the desert. It requires a different type of mental toughness.
My kids have the ability to self control and be quiet due to many full days in blinds starting at 4yo.
They can take blind hunting from me then they can work on taking camping from people. Its about controlling access.
View attachment 403096View attachment 403097

I guess I have a completely different view of blind hunting. Antelope require water at least once a day, in hotter or more active periods multiple times a day, and almost always in daylight hours.

In an area as described where "every spring or water source" has been routed to a cattle tank, the animal literally has no other option. Setting blinds at these sites is no different than dumping out a pickup load of apples for mule deer.

 

[Elkmagnet]

I guess I have a completely different view of blind hunting. Antelope require water at least once a day, in hotter or more active periods multiple times a day, and almost always in daylight hours.

In an area as described where "every spring or water source" has been routed to a cattle tank, the animal literally has no other option. Setting blinds at these sites is no different than dumping out a pickup load of apples for mule deer.

Curious how many days have you spent in a blind pronghorn hunting?

 

[Elkmagnet]

Just as an FYI. Proghorn can and do go 3 to 7 days without water. They can almost sustain on vegetation moisture if we have a few thunderstorms. Also in most areas they have a lot of opinions of where to water and are adapting to hunting pressures by relocating to streams and rivers.
In Idaho it takes about 1000 hunter days in the field for every 25-30 pronghorn killed. Edit (with a bow)

 

[idelkslayer]

Success rates, ethics, etc have nothing to do with why this bill was introduced. Ranchers hate hunters and are trying to remove us from their operating areas. I'm sure it isn't completely unwarranted. Slob hunters leave gates improperly open or closed(leave open if open, leave closed if closed), leave trash, wire, rope around blind sites that can harm livestock, leave broken arrows with broadheads near water troughs, etc. Some people are just complete slobs and some of those slobs hunt near water troughs. There is no effective way to legislate these problems away without also punishing conscientious hunters. However, ranchers need to understand that leasing grazing rights doesn't remove the multiple-use possibilities of the land.