bennett extra doe hunts these deer might die lets kill'em first

[Elkmagnet]

So has anyone seen the extra deer hunts that are approved for December. Seems like the wrong move by f&g, to go in and kill 250 does in December will put 250+ hunters putting pressure on the deer going into a critical time. I think if they we're worried about deer survival they would try to keep people away from them not add hunts am I missing something? Has anyone seen the area after the burn? How bad is it? Where can the deer go to winter? How far east do they need to go to find food? This is a very sad situation for a great deer herd. People please don't pressure these deer in February and March this year it might be more then they can take. Sorry for the rant but I feel very strong about this. If you have a different opinion I would like to hear it.

 

[TheTone]

December is really not that critical of a time for deer survival, the tipping point for winter kill is most often the February-April time period, so I would guess hunter pressure shouldn't be that big of a deal. That said I know next to nothing about 45 or the winter range in it. I'd guess that burn must be some pretty critical winter range if people are this concerned this early.

 

[choc dogs]

I haven't been in the unit, but the fire had a lot of equiptment in the fight. you can still see the scars just north of Glens Ferry from the interstate, and when it was going on, I remember about three days solid of smoke on 84.It is in an area where I consistantly see deer and antelope in the winter as I drive through.The hunt is early enough that it shouldn't stress the deer too much, but it is a large number of does from that unit. I'd be concerned about the snowmobile trails through the area in Feb-April, seems like that would put a lot of deer on the run.

 

[Elkmagnet]

I know December is not the worst time to have a hunt but its certainly not the best. Just keep in mind this is a region wide problem people think " oh well I don't hunt their anyway" but what they don't realize is that 5000 deer from units 45,44,43,48,39,52 winter in that area fish& game is claiming 40 percent of the deer from units 44,45,43,48,52, winter on the exact ground the burn occurred I just don't see how adding pressure and killing 250 does is going to do anything positive for the situation. Now don't get me wrong I don't want to see any of the animals dying go to waste but I think in the end with a depredation hunt we will lose a lot more animals out of that heard I think temporary feeding grounds is the only way to fix it.

 

[TheTone]

I know one of the major concerns was deer wandering looking for food ending up on the inerstate. Would hate to see tons of deer wiped out that way. Seems I've seen talk that people are getting organized to attempt to draw tags just to hand them in after the hunt.

 

[Duck-Slayer]

obviously what the F&G doe's you will not always agree with, but this is going too be a problem, and the F&G does not have the money too feed the deer, let alone with hay price's the state would go broke, I put the wife and I in for the hunt, a chance too put more meat in the freezer for me... I bet there will be more than 250 that die this winter because of the burn.....
Matt

By the way how did you do on your owhyee hunt?

 

[Elkmagnet]

obviously what the F&G doe's you will not always agree with, but this is going too be a problem, and the F&G does not have the money too feed the deer, let alone with hay price's the state would go broke, I put the wife and I in for the hunt, a chance too put more meat in the freezer for me... I bet there will be more than 250 that die this winter because of the burn.....
Matt

By the way how did you do on your owhyee hunt?

I may have an owhyee hunt story in the works I just need to get some photos lined up:hump:

 

[highmountian]

I have been through there on some critical winters and the deer headed south to cross I-84 if looking for food. I have seen a bunch of dead deer through there. With that being said it wasn't 250. I have seen winters with 30 to 40 dead deer laying around I-84 though. Sad either way to see your reproducing herd getting a big bent put in them. I do know the area well and didn't think the fire would be that big of deal on the winter range. The fire did burn right were alot of animals hang out all winter long so they would have to go somewhere else to find food, cover etc. Just sad to see. Elkmagnet can't wait to hear the story.

 

[Baerman]

FYI - not to fuel this fire any more but there are 500 tags available, 250 for the first half of december and 250 for the second half. Seems a bit steep to me. I don't think it's for money though either. Assuming 1000 people put in they gain roughly $6000 for app fees and $10,000 for tag fees assuming everyone actually buys thier tag after drawing. I've heard a lot of people are applying that don't plan on hunting.

 

[Elkmagnet]

FYI - not to fuel this fire any more but there are 500 tags available, 250 for the first half of december and 250 for the second half. Seems a bit steep to me. I don't think it's for money though either. Assuming 1000 people put in they gain roughly $6000 for app fees and $10,000 for tag fees assuming everyone actually buys thier tag after drawing. I've heard a lot of people are applying that don't plan on hunting.

I know I should have just kept my mouth shut then I would still have my head in the sand only thinking there was 250 tags. upon closer inspection the way they have it written there will be 550 tags. now I don't blame anybody for taking the opportunity to put a doe in the freezer we are hunters that's what we do. I am just trying to see how people feel about this situation while still expressing how i feel. My comments are no way intended to pass judgement on people who feel that this is a necessary hunt and want to participate.

 

[fowladdict]

I know I should have just kept my mouth shut then I would still have my head in the sand only thinking there was 250 tags. upon closer inspection the way they have it written there will be 550 tags. now I don't blame anybody for taking the opportunity to put a doe in the freezer we are hunters that's what we do. I am just trying to see how people feel about this situation while still expressing how i feel. My comments are no way intended to pass judgement on people who feel that this is a necessary hunt and want to participate.

Cool!! Now text me a picture damnit!!

 

[TheTone]

I also think there is probably some pressure coming from landowners in the area to kill some deer before they become depredation problems, thus the reason there are 50 tags designated to landowners.

 

[emrah1028]

I don't live in Idaho and do not know the area you're talking about, but please help me understand... They're offering 550-some doe tags. Why is this a bad thing? Are you saying there aren't enough deer to warrant that many tags? Or that a hunt - ANY hunt - in December would pressure many more deer and kill more than the intended 550? I'm confused.

Emrah

 

[Elkmagnet]

I don't live in Idaho and do not know the area you're talking about, but please help me understand... They're offering 550-some doe tags. Why is this a bad thing? Are you saying there aren't enough deer to warrant that many tags? Or that a hunt - ANY hunt - in December would pressure many more deer and kill more than the intended 550? I'm confused.

Emrah

I see how this post would be confusing my short explanation is This is an area in Idaho where all of the deer in the area have a small area where they choose to winter. This past summer a wildfire burnt all of the feed. So instead of just seeing if the deer move to different area to winter Idaho fish and game decided to have a depredation hunt( kill 550 more does on top of the annual doe hunt of 250) I just think this is going to add pressure to all of the deer they will burn unnecessary calories running from hunters and have a higher winterkill as a result. I don't have an issue with december hunts under different circumstances. This is just an opinion but I hope this help you understand.

 

[Elkmagnet]

I also think there is probably some pressure coming from landowners in the area to kill some deer before they become depredation problems, thus the reason there are 50 tags designated to landowners.

That may be a key reason they choose to go this route.

 

[Elkmagnet]

Cool!! Now text me a picture damnit!!

Sorry man my camera is freaking out I hope I even get the pics off of the card at this point.

 

[Brentster7189]

Results are out.

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/licenses/controlledHunts/lookupLicense.cfm?tab=EXTRA_HUNT

 

[Baerman]

Wow! I did not apply because I have meat in the freezer but four people in my office put in and nobody drew. After all the controversy over this hunt a lot of people must have applied. If anybody finds the draw odds please post the link, I'm curious.

 

[Elkmagnet]

Apparently Most people are in favor of this hunt. Tuff odds for a doe http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/licenses/controlledHunts/lookupOdds.cfm
Its under (extra deer)

 

[Duck-Slayer]

tougher odds than drawing the 40 tag almost.... that is crazy, fish and game made out on this deal for sure, I was one of the people that donated too the cause, woulda liked too get more meat in the freezer but oh well, the ducks and geese and the trout from ice fishing are going too get hammered....
Matt