The House Resources Committee had a lengthy hearing this afternoon on legislation to exempt members of the military and veterans from state hunter-ed requirements to get a hunting license. Backers included several military members, along with Reps. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, and Lynn Luker, R-Boise, the bill's sponsor; opponents said serving in the military doesn't necessarily acquaint people with Idaho's hunting rules and laws, including things like shooting around cultivated fields and identifying game species.

Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis, spoke out in favor of the bill, HB 496, saying, "I don't hunt, and probably never will, but if I were to hunt, I wouldn't mind having one of those young men cover my backside." Her comment was followed by an awkward pause, after which Chairman Bert Stevenson, R-Rupert, said, "The chairman would say that the discussion probably has gone far enough on that." Laughter broke out in the meeting room. The bill then cleared the committee on a divided voice vote; it goes next to the full House.