One of the highlights of my hunting life is winning Idaho’s lottery sheep tag. The guides, friendemies and some others made the tag a PIA. Guide harassment at its finest. However, I had some great friends to tag along (one or two, not 14) and I achieved my main goal - sheep hunting with my sons. All for $20 ticket.
First of all I love it! What a cool experience.
I just have to say it has become the slippery slope we stand on. You have seen first hand the positive and negative of auction and raffle tags. We have discussed them. As you know I didn't always feel this way for the raffle tags. The more I see our system attacked by people who want more tags, the lack of accountability by organizations like SFW/BGF. The amount of money being spent on expo's, auctions, lobbying. The tag greed by guys who spend money on plains, hotels, raffles and the like but the same people can't stand to pay the game agencies more for licenses to manage animals. It seems like a big ick measuring contest. The whole thing has started to jade my views.
You know I usually trophy hunt but I seldom post photos. I choose to share them with a few buddies like yourself. We kill some stuff and have a great time. I just don't want to feel like I am caught up in what hunting has become.
I currently am only participating in auctions run by state game agencies where the accountability is verifiable. I choose to send donations to Org's and regularly beat myself up about my lack of volunteering.
No expensive dinners or meet and greet door fees. You likely have a different perspective having volunteered so much and seen the good first hand.
I have yet to convince anyone not to go to the expo's but I do say guys are approving of the system with your money.
That system is not the North American model to me. We can't expect Idaho not to auction/raffle our 200 best tags when they see the amount of cash being generated. Feel free to beat my opinions up but afterwards we should get together and discuss the nuances in person.
P.s. One day I'd like to see that ram of yours you lucky sob.
. I know there was a few hours edited out before the recovery I would love to see what happened after the bum shot and before the recovery. Don't be afraid to put content like this out. Hunting needs more gore!"
