F&G Commission OKs Proposed Legislation

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission Thursday, November 10, approved a list of proposed agency 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. The commission also adopted a policy for technical comments made by Fish and Game employees. The agency is often asked to comment on the potential effects of proposed projects on wildlife or wildlife habitat, and makes an average of 2,500 comments annually. Any comments submitted would not be a formal policy position but an assessment of potential effects on fish or wildlife or habitat and how any adverse effects may be mitigated. Commissioners acknowledged their responsibility when a formal policy position is warranted. The commission also reappointed Commission Chairman Tony McDermott as Idaho's representative to the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.