Why has Idaho limited the nonresident elk tags so much? I have owned property in Idaho for 25 years but do not live in the state so I have to purchase a nonresident tag that I did not get this past year. Does the state realize how many thousands we spend on motels, groceries, fuel, and game processing? I talked to a game processor that told me his business was down 60 % so far this year. Locals process their own game and nonresidents are the bulk of his business. I understand the local guides are behind a lot of this but most of their clients are nonresidents. I don't think you realize how much we spend in your state.
The number of elk tags sold to nonresidents in recent years has not changed much statewide, but in 2021, the Fish and Game Commission restricted the number of nonresident tags sold in each individual uncapped elk zone, which continued in 2022. Both residents and nonresidents are limited in capped elk zones.
For decades, Fish and Game has limited the total number of nonresident elk tags to about 12,815. In 2021, the commission limited the number of nonresident tags sold in each uncapped elk zone in an effort to reduce crowding in some popular elk zones that did not already have a nonresident limit. That’s led to a redistribution of nonresident elk hunters as they’re now more spread out throughout the state.
This effort to redistribute nonresident hunters was not limited to elk. Nonresident deer tags also went from valid statewide to limited to one hunting unit.