Define "Controlled Hunt Area 11" for bighorn sheep hunts

Status: Rulemaking for this proposal is pending.

The purpose of this rulemaking is to consider revising the use restriction for the bighorn sheep Auction and Lottery Tags in any given year in parallel with adjustments to Controlled Hunt Area 11 in Hells Canyon. Prior to 2017, “Controlled Hunt Area 11” was the same area as Game Management Unit 11. However, in 2017, the Commission included Units 13 and 18, as well as Unit 11, in designating Controlled Hunt Area 11. Currently IDAPA rules restrict use of the bighorn sheep auction tag and lottery tag issued each year, so that no more than 2 hunters (the regular controlled hunt tag holder and either the auction or lottery tag winner in alternating years) could hunt in Unit 11 in any one year. With the addition of areas outside of Unit 11 to Controlled Hunt Area 11, increased hunting pressure and harvest in this area of Hells Canyon could occur if the current lottery/auction tag use restriction is not revised to incorporate all of Controlled Hunt Area 11 (Units 11, 13, and 18).