Fish and Game upholds original draw

After careful review and consideration, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Director Virgil Moore chose to allow all tags drawn on June 23 for controlled hunts in Idaho to be awarded to those whose license numbers were chosen.

To compensate for the tags that went to youth hunters younger than 12, the director will release 283 additional tags to be drawn for those deer, elk and pronghorn hunts which have a limited number of tags. All existing applicants who were eligible prior to July 1 will be included in that draw.

The additional tags are being released in response to hunters who felt their chances of drawing a tag were diminished by the entries of 9- to 11-year-olds. Hunts where these additional tags apply were posted on the Fish and Game website Wednesday. That drawing will take place as soon as possible, and the results will by available by July 10 on Fish and Game's website.

Those who were successful in the original drawing and those who are selected in the additional drawing will have until Aug. 1 to pick up their tags.

The new law allowing 10- and 11-year-olds to hunt big game in Idaho went into effect Tuesday.

Moore said there was no commission rule that established the guidelines which excluded 9- to 11-year-olds (who would not be 12 this fall) from the June 23 drawing.

It was an administrative decision based on Fish and Game's interpretation of the law. He believes approximately 1,000 kids and their parents who did not understand that interpretation entered the drawing, and 316 of those youth hunters were drawn.

"I stand by these kids, their parents and their excitement, in allowing them to proceed with their first hunting opportunity for big game using these permits," said Moore. "I simply cannot bring myself to disappoint them, given the confusion about this issue."

The 1,500 youth hunters who understood the guidelines and did not enter the first drawing will receive an apology letter from director Moore and a gift certificate equivalent to the control hunt application fee, which they can use toward the second drawing in August.

Because the law is now in effect, any hunter who will be at least 10 years old by the time of the hunts will be eligible to apply. Applications for the second drawing will be accepted Aug. 5 though Aug. 15.