Strategy rethink

[44hunter45]

My favorite hunt and honey hole are blown. This spot has been good to me for the last few years.

I liked taking a cow in the Idaho early season. I knew the area had some pressure but I have never run into another hunter there in the past. Sunday afternoon the parking spot by the gates at both access points were full up.

I'm overthinking that our zone is under objective on cow populations, it will take IDFG a full regulation cycle to reduce the number of tags. This being an Ag depredation type hunt I'm pretty sure IDFG will continue the tags until the herd is gone. Once an elk in Idaho touches an ag field, it's pretty much dead but doesn't know it.
Whatever IDFG does, I don't want to see this herd get hammered until its not sustainable.

Next year I may have to do something different.

 

[SAJ-99]

Sorry to hear that. The same story plays out everywhere. Nothing remains a secret for long.

 

[Matthew57]

That's a bummer. Would IDFG need to change the number of tags or season dates?

 

[44hunter45]

That's a bummer. Would IDFG need to change the number of tags or season dates?

They would, but I'm not sure they will. This zone is an afterthought in the Elk Management Plan. The key strategy is farm depredation relief. Mutually exclusive goals for the managers to grow the herds and keep them off ag.
I really don't envy them.

Then there is the whole, "The elk are ruining my farm profits but I don't allow hunter access." thing.

Sorry to hear that. The same story plays out everywhere. Nothing remains a secret for long.

I've changed the paradigm many times over the years. I'm thinking it might be fun to go back to the challenge of a short rifle season for bulls. It may be time to go back to chasing bulls with a rifle again. I stopped because it got boringly easy, but that is no longer the case. What used to be a really long season is only a couple of weeks now. That would cause me to give up my winter ML season, which I really enjoy. My latest job role makes it more difficult to get out in December. So that's probably best anyway.

My MSG waiting period is over in 2027 and I intend to put in for moose again. If I drew, I would choose my elk tag based on dates, maybe in the same zone as the moose tag.

I will just see what next year shapes up to be.

 

[noharleyyet]

I pity the foo that pinches @mtmuley 's spot...

 

[44hunter45]

I pity the foo that pinches @mtmuley 's spot...

@noharleyyet I have this picture of Ken on drugs using his left hand to HT on his phone. Praying for a speedy recovery and a trip to NM this year for you.

 

[44hunter45]

I pity the foo that pinches @mtmuley 's spot...

I took my mentee there on Saturday and we were alone. When you show someone your spot, there is always that fear it will get blown.
My new partner didn't leak it though. Where to find elk in a small town is not a big secret. At least to the locals. Don't expect them to share a pin to a NR.