Lottery, Donations to Fund Access Yes!

Will hunters spend a few dollars on the chance to win a big game tag good for any open hunt in Idaho? The Idaho Fish and Game Commission is betting they will, and in the process provide funding needed to continue expanding the Access Yes! program that was begun this year to secure more places hunters and anglers can use. The program pays landowners for access to private lands and to otherwise blocked public lands. Using limited funding taken from other Fish and Game programs this year, hunters and anglers were able use more than 110,000 acres of private land and more than 200,000 acres of public lands. Access Yes! has generated strong public support among Idahoans who are aware of the new program. Commissioners have discussed several potential methods for funding the program. Director Steve Huffaker noted that the state legislature received a promise when the last round of license increases came in 2000 that no increase would be sought again until 2006. The department estimates that it will cost $750,000 to $1.2 million a year to create a program comparable to those in other Rocky Mountain states. The goal is to open one million Idaho acres to hunting and fishing that are not currently available. The Commission does have authority, however, to conduct a lottery. The department estimates that between $100,000 and $150,000 could be raised by a lottery for "Supertags", tags that would allow hunters to participate in any open hunt. These tags would be offered for elk, deer, antelope and moose. Participants could buy as many tickets as they want and could buy tickets for more than one species. Donations to the program will also be accepted beginning in April when a new computer licensing system comes online. As an indication of the potential, Citizens Against Poaching receives $35,000 to $40,000 annually from donors. The Commission asked for a detailed plan for funding the program to be completed by the January meeting.