This is even a little more restrictive than Colorado MZ regulations. We can use in-lines and 209 primers; but no sabots, pellets, or scopes. In a way, though, I can see their point - particularly if they are letting the MZ hunters go afield during the peak of the elk rut. Bull elk are pretty vulnerable then, and primitive weapons restriction kind of levels out the playing field.

Roskoe

Nope our ML seasons are in December - spikes only & whitetail does only... Southern Idaho does have some other hunts though...

In that case, I'd organize a march on the state capital Seriously, if the seasons are that late, then it's a lame excuse for the restrictions.

Back in the late 90's, the Colorado Wildlife Commission banned all in-line guns. They were influenced by a group called the Colorado State Muzzleloading Association -136members who engage in rendezvous and mountain man type activites - and enacted a ban that affected an estimated 7,000 hunters who owned in-line weapons. It caused such an uproar in the hunting community that a petition demanding total recall of the entire wildlife commission was threatened. The ban was reversed the following year.

It seems like every year there is a little tweak to the "definition of a muzzleloading rifle" section of the regs. No smokeless powder. No red dot scopes. Interesting part of all this is that the game wardens, in the "field input" phase of the regulatory process, supported allowing all the modern improvements - reasoning that it would cut down on wounded game and allow more humane harvests.

Roskoe

I am still looking for answers but let me give you some history. Idaho has two ML seasons... one is called Muzzleloader Only season and the other is called Traditonal Muzzleloader Season.

In the past during MuzzleloaderSeason -> inlines were acceptable, no scopes, no 209's, exposed ignition... Then during Traditional season basically Hawkens, loose powder, PRB or conical non jacket, no sabots, no scopes...

If these new rules apply only to the Traditional Season it really is not big deal. During Traditional they will now gain the use of Powerbelts..

If the rule applys across both seasons it is a very big deal, or if there is only the one season Traditional it will be a big deal. You know I think economically it will have a bigger impact than some think.

I just can not find the information and our regulations are not printed until April.

Another interesting fact our Fish & Game Super is retiring, there is an applicant from Alaska, one from Idaho, and one from Colorado - be interesting whom they choose...

That would be anyof therifle seasons in Colorado.

I would figure that, without discussion, all the plated PB's would be illegal. But they also make all-lead ones. I suspect that execs at PB are going discuss this over dinner with the Wildlife Officials. I suspect they will argue that the copper functions only as a lubricant and not as a jacket in an effort to get them to take a position favorable to use of plated powerbelts.

Maximizing revenue necessarily requires offering more opportunity to participate in hunting simply because, in many western states, the complete budget is financed by hunters licenses. They don't really care if anyone person gets his animal. In fact, in the West,they are banking on the failure of many in so that the harvest goal won't be exceeded. This particular move is intended to maintain revenue even while the harvest is decreased. Of course they don't feel sorry for the harvested animals, but maximizing revenue does involve ensuring quality animals are available and are being replenished in order to maintain interest in hunt participation.

Something tells me, since the regulations are new, that they apply to Muzzleloader Season, not Traditional Season. How many seasons can you hunt? Just one? Must you draw for tags?

Pglasgow

You could hunt them both if they were available in your area, which they are not here - the traditional hunts are mostly in the southern part of the state and the ML only hunts are up here...

You purchase a hunting license and tags as residents -one elk tag/one deer tag -> then if you want to hunt the ML hunts you purchase a ML stamp... if you do notfill your tags during the regular season then you can use them in the ML season... There are also some controlled hunts you can apply for but you use the same tags basically

I am aftaid that is going to apply across the board - I have e-mailed a commissioner and asked some questions - still waiting for a response - probably mid week next week....

I have to admit, Mike, their excuses seem pretty lame. You are fortunate in Idaho to be able to use unfilled tags from the regular season for late season hunts.It would seem thatlatehuntswere intended to be more restrictive than rifle so as to limit take and more about increasing revenues than meeting or filling harvest objectives. Is there a traditional hunt before the regular season there? If so, must one choose between the traditional and regular rifle season?

I f the IFG is worried about over harvest why don't they shorten the season? This is typical of IFG they don't think there is a problem until it is too late, Just look at what they did with the kokanee in cda lake. If you read there press release it talks about mule deer, In unit 4 & 7 in the Panhandle we have very few mule deer. It sounds like their consern was in the southern part of the state. It is almost like they want you to hunt in Idaho but not kill anything.

Reminds me of the fellow in Minnesota who said fishing is just barely legal if you don't use any bait.

So now the Traditional shooters have it about all their way by the new rules. Now I ask who do they turn to when the tree huggers march on the state capital and demand the Traditional ML season is stoped as it is cruel.
Seems to me that all hunters should stop the bickering about inlines, Traditional, compound, recurve and just keep hunting alive an well in all the states.

Al