LEH Thoughts - "The grass is greener on the other side"

[Everett]

You hear BC hunters that don't understand how LEH works complain that we need a points system.

Exactly people who don't understand the system don't draw and complain about it. I have drawn moose 10 times in the last 23 years because we target the draws that are hard to hunt and not that many people are interested. Now on the downside I have only been successful 4 out of those 10 times but your always unsuccessful when your home sitting on the couch.

[J_T]

Due to the pressure from the resident hunting community (and the overuse of LEH) Government set up a committee of resident hunters and Gov staff to review the LEH system. This has been discussed on here before.

After a lengthy review of every other jurisdiction using a lottery draw and running scenarios and analytics for BC, a 'general' agreement on how to go forward was agreed to.

While LEH is important and is a solid wildlife management tool in some cases, it is an all to often, quick remedy that is not necessarily required. Hunter management vs wildlife management. Residents eagerly anticipating the release of LEH and talking about LEH being like Christmas, does not help make a case to reduce LEH use.

We should advocate to reduce LEH where we can, and identify that some hunts, are, once in a lifetime hunts, while other LEH opportunities have a conservation objective. However, not all hunts need to be on LEH.

Going forward, there will be a presentation of the findings & recommendations before the Provincial Hunting Trapping Advisory Team (PHTAT).

Some points of discussion:
Be clear about the use of implementing LEH.
Treat 'once in a lifetime hunts' distinct from other LEH authorizations (Kamloops Sheep, Island Rosevelt Elk)
Maintain status quo, applications all have the same chance to be drawn. (depends on the species and attractiveness)
In some cases, create enhanced odds for 50% of the available authorizations and maintain random lottery odds for the other 50%

[LBM]

Have actual reduced odds if successful
Certain species such as sheep, goats, island elk to lifetime or 1 in 10 years
Higher fee on above species or tag cost must be included which is returned if unsuccessful
All fee costs go back to wildlife
Current LEH for sheep in Region 4 is fine but should be changed to any ram.
If successful in draw and cant go, tag should go back to next person in draw you do not get money back.

[Sharpish]

The reduced odds system isn't really too fair, if there are a couple tags available it makes it more difficult than the odds suggest. If there is one tag available, the person on reduced odds has to get drawn 3rd with two other reduced odds entrants above him at 1st and 2nd. That would make it like 99.99% reduced versus 66% reduced.

My idea is that everyone on reduced odds gets one entry and everyone else gets 3 entries. Then just draw it as usual.

[RackStar]

I’m living in Alberta at the moment. I prefer BC lottery. Sure… I can buy my moose points and semi know when or where I can get a tag. But i like BC LEH better. I put in for realistic odds and always had luck pulling tags. 8 years I got 3 moose tags. Would have only been 2 here in Alberta where I want to hunt.

[KodiakHntr]

This approach appears to be the most sensible. Recently, I was in Idaho discussing their draw systems with friends. They have several species that are considered once-in-a-lifetime hunts, which essentially ensures that you will put in significant effort to secure that tag since it's a one-time opportunity. In contrast, here, people often apply for whatever is available, get drawn, and frequently don't pursue their species. This system encourages you to actually go out and hunt, rather than letting the opportunity go to waste. Because if you do you will not get another chance.

It also encourages you to go hunt your tag, because the only other thing you can hunt in your home state might be a whitetail doe in an under-applied for until two hours from your house….

One of the things that people fail to understand when they start beaking about wanting a point system is that if/when you draw a tag, that might be for only a two week period of time. And maybe you get to use your rifle. And you might only get to hunt another species by applying for another draw, in another area, using a different tool - archery, muzzle loader, etc.

At least with our current system, if you really want to hunt a moose you can go hunt a general open season somewhere in the province. You can hunt deer everywhere, all fall long, with a rifle. You can hunt bears. And elk. And goats. And sheep. We already have a bunch more opportunities than pretty much EVERYWHERE else, with the chance to win an leh somewhere more convenient, or for something really special.

[marcus44]

It took me 32 entries to get drawn once. I still put in, but I’d favour a points system for deer/elk/moose.

I have been putting in since the early 90's, I have gotten 1 draw, back in the mid 90s

It is a lottery system, really comes down to luck of the draw. Thankful for GOS

[moosinaround]

If I feel like really hunting for a big moose, i'll travel if I have to, and usually get a LEH in a zone that is 1:1, or something like that! Around PG, I do not get very many LEH's for moose, usually 10-13:1 odds! But I can hunt moose close to home as we have a spike fork season! I generally will help buddies who get their local moose LEH, and they always share, especially when I call the moose to 30 feet!! I kinda know where the moose hang out around PG!! I'm alright with the lottery system, I can usually get a moose without a LEH, especially since the calf season and cow seasons were shut down/limited! After all, my HBC name is moosinaround!! Moosin

[scalerman]

You hear BC hunters that don't understand how LEH works complain that we need a points system.

Help me understand, what, exactly, is it that I don't understand about how the current LEH system works?

[Walking Buffalo]

Help me understand, what, exactly, is it that I don't understand about how the current LEH system works?

I can't answer that question.
It would help to know when you were in Alberta?

In Alberta, when draws were limited and general tags were generous, and the point system was new, the system seemed to work well.
Now, draws are predominant and general tags are getting limited, the point system is no longer looking good.
Many young hunters will never have a chance at many draws simply because humans don't live that long.