Commission proposes expanding big game tag auction

By Roger Phillips, Idaho Fish and Game Public Information Specialist Idaho Fish and Game commissioners are considering offering five additional tags for auction including one each for elk, mule deer, mountain goat, pronghorn and moose and will decide on it during the commission's next teleconference on Thursday, Feb. 4. Idaho Fish and Game currently auctions a single tag for a bighorn sheep each year, which it has done since 1988. That tag sold for $90,000 in January. The Idaho Legislature gave authority to the commission in 2012 to auction up to 12 "Governor's Wildlife Partnership" big-game tags, but the commission has not offered any tags for auction except the bighorn tag. The commission is seeking public comment on the proposal, and the deadline for comments is at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2. People can comment online by going to http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ and look under the "Public Involvement" on the right side of the home page. (Direct link: https://idfg.idaho.gov/form/proposal-five-new-auction-tags.) People can also contact their commissioners directly. Contact information can be found under the "About Us" tab and "Fish and Game Commission." (Direct link: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/about/commission/?getPage=183) The commission will meet via conference call at 8 a.m. (MST) on Thursday, Feb. 4. The meeting is open to the public and can be attended at Fish and Game headquarters and regional offices. Commissioners will review public comment during the meeting. Members of the public who want to provide comment are encouraged to do so online prior to the Feb. 2 deadline because no additional public comment will be taken during the meeting. The proposed elk, mule deer, mountain goat, pronghorn and moose tags would be auctioned by nonprofit organizations dedicated to conservation. At least 95 percent of the proceeds from the tags would go to Fish and Game, which could use up to the 30 percent of the proceeds for sportsman access programs such as "Access Yes." The remainder would be used for wildlife habitat projects, wildlife management projects to increase the quantity and quality of big-game herds, and other research and management activities approved by the commission. In 2015, Idaho Fish and Game did a random survey about auction tags and found there was support for them. Asked if it was acceptable for Fish and Game to auction tags to generate funds for wildlife management programs, 55 percent of hunters in the survey agreed, 37 percent disagreed and 8 percent were neutral. Asked if Fish and Game should release up to 12 more big game auction tags to help fund wildlife management and hunter access programs, 51 percent of responders agreed, 38 percent disagreed and 11 percent were neutral. To see the complete news release on survey results, go to https://idfg.idaho.gov/about/2015-ch-summary To submit public comment, browse to https://idfg.idaho.gov/form/comment-proposal-expand-big-game-auction-ta…