Commission Authorizes Bighorn Auction, Lottery Tags

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has again authorized the release of one bighorn tag to be sold at auction and one tag for lottery in 2004. The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep will sell an Idaho tag at its national convention in Reno January 14-17. The Idaho chapter of the Foundation will sell tickets to be drawn in a lottery next July. Since releasing the first auction tag in 1988, the department has received $809,950 for bighorn research and transplants. The lottery tag, first released in 1992, has raised $312,931 to fund research in bighorn health, a field of research in which Idaho has been a leader. The Commission approved release of the tags during its meeting in Bonners Ferry July 10-11.