Hunting tag decision postponed

The public will have more time to comment on an Idaho Fish and Game proposal to offer five additional hunting tags for auction.

On Thursday, IDFG commissioners decided to postpone a decision — until their March 9-11 meeting in Boise — on whether or not to issue the auction tags.

"Commissioners voted to postpone action because we want more time to visit with sportsmen and better understand how they feel about auction tags before a decision is made," said Commission Chairman Mark Doerr of Twin Falls. "This follows long-standing commission process."

The commission also unanimously opposed a Senate bill that would mandate the commission to offer more big-game tags for auction.

"Senate Bill 1236 is printed and available to the public for review," Doerr said. "If SB1236 passes, a March vote by the commission on auction tags could be pre-empted."

Funding from the tags would support wildlife management programs.

The Idaho Legislature in 2012 gave authority for the commission to auction as many as 12 "Governor's Wildlife Partnership" big-game tags, which could include three each for deer, elk and pronghorn and one each for bighorn sheep, moose and mountain goat.

Since that legislation passed, the commission has not offered any tags for auction except a bighorn sheep tag that it has auctioned annually since 1988. That tag sold for $90,000 in January and as much as $200,000 in some previous years.

At a Tuesday meeting in Coeur d'Alene, comments on the proposal were mixed.

"The opinion was expressed that the wealthy should go into the applicant pool along with everyone else who wants an even chance to draw a tag," said Phil Cooper, IDFG wildlife conservation educator. "Another stated that anything that would raise funds for wildlife management and research was OK."

Some states such as Utah have for years been auctioning tags to support wildlife management programs.

Of the written comments received statewide to date about the proposal to auction five more tags, about 75 percent were opposed.

A recent random mail survey of hunters showed 54 percent agreed with auctioning tags to raise money for wildlife management and sportsmen access, and 51 percent agreed with offering more big-game tags for auction. Commissioners then asked the department to prepare a proposal that included five new auction tags. The proposal included one each for elk, mule deer, mountain goat, pronghorn and moose.

People can continue to comment on the proposed auction tags at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov and click on the "Public Involvement" tab on the right side of the home page.

Senate Bill 1236, which would mandate the annual issuance of all 12 "Governor's Wildlife Partnership" tags, has been introduced in the Senate Resources and Environment Committee. People can comment on the bill by contacting their legislators.

For more information about the auction proposal, call 769-1414.