Idaho Fish and Game Commission on Nov. 14 voted to continue a general hunt with capped tags for the Sawtooth Elk Zone in 2019, which typically sells out in minutes due to its popularity with hunters.
Commissioners may adjust the number of tags available in the zone when it sets its seasons and rules in March. Those tags will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis on the same dates and times as in 2018.
Commissioners had earlier voted to convert that zone to controlled hunts for elk hunters, which would have caused a series of other rules to take effect, such as sitting out of the controlled hunt drawing for a year for hunters who draw Sawtooth Zone elk tags.
The commission directed staff to explore other options to distribute tags in capped elk zones that sell out quickly as an alternative to converting those zones to controlled hunts.