Still Time To Tag Up For Big Game

Non-residents and residents alike still have a chance to buy Idaho big game hunting permits.

Of the 14,028 non-resident deer tags allotted for this season, 4,400 remain unsold, Fish and Game Department officials said.

In addition, Idaho’s surplus of big game permits for controlled hunts will be offered to residents and non-residents on a first-come first-served basis beginning Tuesday at Idaho Fish and Game Department offices.

Fish and Game officials said 828 permits for antlerless deer, cow elk and muzzleloader hunts are still available. Regional offices have lists showing which hunts have surplus tags.

Hunters must bring their hunting licenses and controlled hunt applictions and tag fees to regional offices. One person can purchase tags for up to four hunters if all the license numbers and applications are in hand.

These tags are coveted and lines often form at offices well before sales begin at 8 a.m.

Hunters interested in purchasing one of the basic non-resident tags need not wait in line. Non-residents can purchase tags at department offices or by phone, using a major credit card. Call (800) 554-8685.

The surplus of out-of-state tags appears to indicate consumer dissatisfaction with last year’s increase in non-resident hunting fees. “Last year was the first time the department didn’t sell all of its non-resident deer tags,” said Jack Trueblood, department spokesman.

However, last year there also was still concern about deer populations depressed by the preceding harsh winter, he said.

“This year, deer populations look good,” Trueblood said, “but we still have a lot of unsold licenses.”

Idaho is the most expensive state in the nation for a non-resident to hunt deer. The out-of-stater’s deer tag costs $226 plus $101 for the prerequisite hunting license. Idaho increased the nonresident deer tag from $125 beginning last year. Montana requires non-resident deer hunters to purchase a $245 package that includes deer hunting as well as fishing and upland bird hunting.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Joining hunt in Idaho Who were Idaho’s 215,144 resident hunters sharing the field with last year? Idaho sold 28,635 hunting licenses to non-residents last year. Hunters from Washington lead the non-resident migration, California, Utah and Oregon. Idaho’s non-resident deer tags are most popular among Californians, who bought 4,791 of them last year. Washington hunters bought 3,242 deer tags, followed by hunters from Oregon with 1,152, Utah 526 and Pennsylvania 500.