Reject proposal to auction off big-game tags

For the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, everything’s a question of balance. Fish and Game usually comes up with the right answers.

Unlike other state departments, Fish and Game needs to fend for itself. It must bring in its own revenue and walk the fine line of keeping departmental overhead low and recreationists’ experience as high as possible. Balance.

It needs to control predator populations — on land and in the water — so other species can thrive. Highly successful work with kokanee in Lake Pend Oreille and elk in more than two-thirds of the state’s elk management zones are shining examples of effective predator-control practices. Balance.

Fish and Game needs to apply science to solve long-term problems and logic in addressing emotional, generational issues. With elk, for instance, technology is helping Fish and Game realize that in addition to weather — harsh winters versus mild — mountain lions might actually be the biggest culprit in killing elk, with bears not far behind. Balance.

It should listen to suggestions from the Idaho Legislature, but ultimately, Fish and Game answers to you, the citizens. It does so through a nonpartisan commission that oversees the department, a structure overwhelmingly approved by Idaho voters through a 1938 initiative — the first successful initiative in state history. That balance — oversight by Fish and Game commissioners while maintaining its role as an official department of the state — is now being threatened.

Some legislators want to force Fish and Game to auction off a dozen big game tags worth tens of thousands of dollars each. That’s where it would start, anyway. Once you get into the auction game for the most desirable hunting opportunities, where money talks and the average hunter walks away empty handed, it’s hard to stop.

The irony is that Fish and Game has managed superbly without relying on big game tag auctions. During a recent Press editorial board meeting, Director Virgil Moore, Regional Supervisor Chip Corsi and Commissioner Brad Corkill pointed out that the department tightened its belt and came through the recession relatively unscathed. Despite revenues that dropped from $40 million in 2005 to about $33 million after the recession, Fish and Game has arguably been as effective as ever. And with budget projections of $38 million or so this year, there’s no need to auction big game tags.

Over the past five years, 780,000 Idahoans have purchased hunting and fishing licenses. These sports belong to the people, not a handful of legislators with questionable agendas. We encourage you to attend a special public meeting tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Panhandle Region office, 2885 W. Kathleen Ave., and share your comments on the big game tag auction proposal.

If you can’t make it to the meeting, go online and speak out against the proposal: http://bit.ly/21E9Vh8

Online comments will be taken only through Friday.

Just say no to big game tag auctions and to unwanted legislative interference.