Commissioners adopted the recommendations with several muzzleloader hunts changed to short-range-weapons to allow the use of inline weapons.
Panhandle Region Commissioner Tony McDermott proposed that muzzleloader-only hunts in units 4, 7 and 9 as well as the December 2-9 spike-elk-only muzzleloader hunts be changed to short-range weapons hunts.
Clearwater Region Commissioner Alex Irby proposed that muzzleloader seasons in units 10A and 16 be changed to short-range weapons.
The changes were approved by the commission over the objections of commissioners Randall Budge of the Southeast Region and Wayne Wright of the Magic Valley Region. Budge and Wright resisted the change, saying it essentially sidestepped the new muzzleloader rules without any discussion of the issue.
McDermott agreed it was a band-aid solution, but he suggested the commissioners re-examine the evidence on which they had based their January decision to restrict muzzleloader hunts to more traditional weapons.
The commissioners agreed.
Well this is what came out of the final commissioners meeting inBoise, still have not seen any mapping a printed hunts yet. But, what it did was change the some ML hunts into Short Range hunts. I am not sure if you can claim a clear winner here or not, but I believe the Inline ml shooters came out ahead. Remember Idaho had healthy restrictions on inline ML's, well in a SR season those restrictions are gone.
It was in a lot of ways a move forward as the"Short Range" season offers no restrictions on the type of ML or the equipment on the ML...
Quote:
Q. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission recently created several new short-range weapon hunts. What weapons does that include?
A. The rule book says: "In big game seasons restricted to short-range weapons, it is unlawful for hunters to use any weapon other than a muzzleloader, archery equipment, crossbow, or a shotgun using slugs or shot of size #00 buck or larger." The book further states that a muzzleloader must be at least .45 caliber for deer, pronghorn, or mountain lion, and at least .50 caliber for elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, or black bear.
Handguns are not included as short-range weapons.
Looking back at the whole thing I am not sure if anything changed other than now you can use modern ML's - scopes -209's - closed ignitions...
The key statement in the whole thing is Mr. McDermott's sentence...
Quote:
McDermott agreed it was a band-aid solution, but he suggested the commissioners re-examine the evidence on which they had based their January decision to restrict muzzleloader hunts to more traditional weapons.
I hope we, those that use inlines, will take an active part in helping form these new regualtions in the months to come.
This web address will take you to another summary of the meeting...
This sentence in the above article - explains a lot
Quote:
The decision to reexamine the muzzleloader issue was not in response to complaints, McDermott said. But if that decision was based on inaccurate or incomplete information, perhaps it should be changed.
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Keep on Shooting Muzzleloaders they are a Blast
It sounds like that's a start but you still have some work to do to safe guard your past privileges.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
Through this whole thing northern Idaho probably came out very good, I do not know the seasons well enough in southern Idaho to know how they faired, but the southern commissioners were somewhat hesitant towmard this new move so they may have lost ground there.
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Keep on Shooting Muzzleloaders they are a Blast
I must disagree that the inline folks came out ahead in this issue. The SR changes were implemented in the North only to please a very vocal croud (for whom I am happy for by the way), but the seasons in the south were not changed and in the end, we lost our rights to hunt with in-lines. We do need to take an active role in making sure that the issue does come back up for discussion.
Now, does anybody have any suggestions on the best way to turn a Knight Bighorn into something that resembles a "pivoting hammer"??
Now, does anybody have any suggestions on the best way to turn a Knight Bighorn into something that resembles a "pivoting hammer"??
Maybe that is a good question to address to the people responsible for taking away your right to use it. I would ask them how you can use it in a muzzleloading season in your area under their restrictions. Of course they will respond you can use it in modern season, and then you can point out, that's the same arguement used by the traditional muzzleloader shooters.Thepoint being that you are now not able to muzzleloader hunt unless you re-outfit.Then offer to sell it to them as a first class boat anchor.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
Well, at least we will have a chance to dispell some of the propaganda that has been dished out.
I wouldn't mind having short range seasons with possable exception to repeating and semi auto shotguns, but they will have to distribute them out so as to provide an equal share of opportunity to the different groups. They could have done the same thing by having traditional and modern muzzleloader descriptions and hunting units, just like they did in 06, 05, 04, but with a more equatable allocation between the two types.
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Nothing like a good piece of Hickory.
It was the three southern commissioners that somewhat balked at the new setup when McDermott and Irby proposed it. The point is some how as they work to redefine muzzleloading hunts in the state that we someway get our feelings into the new definitions.
I really believe the commissioners are going to work on this problem with some diligence. There are two commssioneers that are willing to listen, we need to get them as much information as possible. It would really be nice if we could form some sort state inline association and get our views heard as a block of people.
I, personally, do not have a problem with both types of ML's having some sort of season. The points that we need to dispel are that modern ML's are equal to high powered centerfires and that what was an Idaho legal inline ML is hige advantage over a traditional ML. If we can get those two points across then things should change.
I, and personally again, think there is a decided advantage of a modern closed breeched, 209 shooting, scoped, ML to a Idaho legal or a traditional ML, and again the modern ML doesnot offer theadvantageous of acenterfire. I believe there is room for 2 hunts - an Idaho legal inline, including pluger type, and traditional ML'sand a modern ML during the SR season.
Now how do we get it done....
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Keep on Shooting Muzzleloaders they are a Blast
Idaho ML/SR Regulations
