Idaho Fish and Game panel proposes new hunting rules

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT — The Idaho Fish and Game Commission last week approved several proposals for legislation to be submitted to the 2012 Idaho Legislature.

• Amend 36-1510 to also allow youth under the age of 12 who are participating in the mentor hunt program to possess a firearm.
• Create ability to transfer a control hunt tag to a minor child or grandchild.
• Amend the Nonresident Season Hunting License to be a Nonresident Season Hunting/3 Day Fishing License, retaining current fee structure for the nonresident season hunting license.
• Amend the Sportsman’s Package License to include a wolf tag with an adjusted fee. The new fees would be $114.65 license fee plus $9.60 vendor fees for a total of $124.25. Idaho code requires half vendor fee per item for this license. The license and tags are scaled at about 63 percent of full price. Current total cost is $117.25.

Commissioners directed Fish and Game to develop revised language for the department’s motorized hunting rule, and release it for public comment; meanwhile, Fish and Game will implement a moratorium on applying the rule in any additional hunt units.

Commissioners acknowledged that off-road vehicle use is one of the biggest issues for hunters.