Time to plan for fall hunts

JEROME - Sportsmen have a number of options to draw coveted controlled hunt tags for the coming hunting season. Currently, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game is taking applications for trophy species, including bighorn sheep, mountain goats, or moose permits. The application period started April 1, and will continue through April 30. Sportsmen can apply at any license vendor in the state, at Idaho Fish and Game offices by phone at 1-(800) 554-8685 or 1-(800) 824-3729, or online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ The cost for trophy game resident applications is $165, and applicants must have a 2005 hunting license. The $165 application fee includes, $151.50 for the tag, $6 controlled hunt application fee, and a $7.50 fee for the controlled hunt permit. Sportsmen who draw will receive the permit and tag in the mail. If they don't draw, they will receive a refund check for $159. All fees are refundable except for the $6 application fee. Mountain goat and bighorn sheep are once in a lifetime. Sportsmen can harvest two moose in a lifetime - one of each sex. If a sportsman has previously taken a bull moose, they can apply for a cow moose permit. If they have taken a cow moose, they can apply for a bull moose permit. Successful applicants will be notified by June 10. Sportsmen not drawn can apply for any left-over trophy permits June 15-25. If a sportsmen draws a left-over permit it counts against their once in a lifetime opportunity, but they can continue to apply for left-over permits. Hunters who draw a trophy permit and do not harvest can apply again after a two-year waiting period. Only two hunters can apply on a joint application for the trophy hunts and they can only apply for one species each year. Sportsmen looking for other big game hunting opportunities and generally better drawing odds can apply for deer, elk, antelope, and fall bear from May 1 to May 31. People who apply during the first application period for trophy species permits are excluded from this drawing unless they are applying for left-over trophy permits or unlimited or extra controlled hunt big game permits. To apply for these big game hunts, sportsmen need only to purchase a 2005 hunting license and pay a $6 controlled hunt application fee. Up to four people can apply on a joint application for any of these hunts. Sportsmen can also apply for all four species in the same year. Any person successful in drawing a controlled hunt permit must purchase it by August 1 at a license vendor or Idaho Fish and Game office. Price of the tag is determined by animal drawn, plus a $7.50 controlled hunter permit. All unclaimed permits, and all leftovers (does not include unlimited hunts) will be available for a second drawing with an application period of August 5-15. The drawing will be August 20 and any leftover permits will go on sale August 25. The final way to get the hunt of your dreams is to apply for a Super Hunt or Super Hunt Combo. These special drawings began in 2004 to raise money for the Access Yes! program. Super Hunt or Super Hunt Combo permits allow the recipient to hunt for the species of animal they have drawn in any open hunting Unit in the state. Sportsmen must adhere to all of the rules or regulations pertaining to the hunting Units they choose to hunt. A single application is $4.95, six for $19.95, and 13 applications are $49.95. A Super Hunt combo application is $19.95, six for $99.95, and 13 applications for $199.95. Applications are available at license vendors, Idaho Fish and Game offices, by phone at 1-(800) 554-8685 or 1-(800) 824-3729, or online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ Applications for the first drawing must be received by May 31, 2005 with the drawing set for June 13. At that time, applications for tags will be drawn for eight elk, eight deer, and eight antelope hunts as well as one moose hunt. One Super Hunt Combo application will be drawn that will entitle the winner to hunt for elk, deer, antelope, and moose. A second drawing will be held August 15 when another Super Hunt Combo and applications for two elk, two deer and two antelope hunts along with one moose hunt will be drawn. The application period for the second drawing is June 1 through August 10. Super Hunt and Super Hunt Combo applications must be received at the Fish and Game headquarters office no later than May 31, 2005 for the first drawing. Applications received for the second drawing must be received at the IDFG headquarters office no later than August 10, 2005. Other fall hunting applications dates include: Depredation hunt applications are due May 1 to June 30, and crane applications from June 15 to July 15. For more information, call the Magic Valley Regional office at 324-4359.