Second deer and elk tags discounted
COEUR d'ALENE - For hunters who want more hunting opportunity this fall, second general season deer or elk tags are available at a discount.
Just this month, resident and nonresident hunters can buy remaining nonresident tags as second tags for discounted prices of $199 for deer and $350 for elk.
The price does not include the $1.75 vendor fee.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is forecasting better deer and elk hunting this year because of consecutive mild winters and excellent survival of deer and elk.
After this month, sale of nonresident tags used as second tags will increase to $300 and $415, excluding vendor fees.
Any hunter who has purchased a hunting license and a 2015 deer or elk tag at the regular resident or nonresident prices can buy a discounted second tag for the same species.
Tags are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and supplies are limited to the available nonresident tag quota.
Tags are available at Fish and Game offices and license and tag vendors or by calling (800) 554-8685.
Fish and Game sold discounted deer and elk tags last year as an incentive for hunters to buy the remaining quota of nonresident tags, but commissioners decided this year to limit the discount sale to August.
The nonresident quota is 12,815 elk tags and 15,500 deer tags, and since 2008, a portion of the nonresident quota has gone unsold.
Fish and Game has seen increased tag sales due in part to improved deer and elk hunting in Idaho and a better economy.
Through July, sale of nonresident elk tags has increased 25 percent compared with the same period last year, and 14 percent for deer tags.
Nonresident tag quotas are factored into projected harvest rates. Fish and Game officials don't expect increased sales, either as nonresident tags or second tags, will lead to over-harvesting of deer or elk.
Last year, hunters using second tags accounted for 2.5 percent of the statewide elk harvest and 3 percent of the statewide deer harvest.
This is the second year of discounted nonresident tags sold as second tags, but the program is not new. Nonresident deer and elk tags have been sold as second tags since 2000.