Application Period for Controlled Hunts Opens Wednesday

The application period for this fall's deer, elk, pronghorn, fall black bear and fall turkey controlled hunts starts Wednesday, May 1, and runs through June 5. Hunters may apply for controlled hunts at any hunting and fishing license vendor, Fish and Game office; with a credit card by calling 1-800-55HUNT5; or online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov. An additional fee is charged for telephone and Internet applications. Hunters must have a 2013 Idaho hunting license to apply. The 2012 harvest drawing odds for controlled hunts are posted on the Idaho Fish and Game Website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/licenses/controlledHunts/lookupOdds…, and in the Idaho Hunt Planner http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntPlanner/. Hunters can use harvest statistics and drawing odds from the past 10 years to search for similar controlled hunts for this year. Note to hunters buying licenses, tags or permits online: Some - but not all - licenses and tags can now be printed on a home printer. Items such as hunting or fishing licenses and controlled hunt applications can be printed on a home printer. But buyers will only have one chance to print the license. Make sure the printer is on and working properly before clicking on the print button. When making a purchase, the buyer will get a confirmation number, which can be used to participate in hunting or fishing activities that do not require a permit or tag to be notched or validated or attached to harvested wildlife. Buyers who provide an e-mail address will receive an e-mail notification of the purchase with the confirmation number included. All permits and tags that have to be notched or validated or attached to a harvested animal will be printed and mailed to the buyer. This applies to items such as big game tags, salmon and steelhead permits. Items will be printed and mailed within 24 hours of purchase except for weekends and holidays. Delivery takes five to seven business days. If hunting or fishing requires a tag or permit to be notched, validated or attached to the harvested animal within the next 7 to 10 days, purchaser should consider buying the license, tag or permit through a license vendor.