Big Desert Zone (Units 52A, 53, 68, and 68A): increase B Tag quota to 350 tags (+100) and extend B Tag any weapon, antlerless hunt to Dec 31.

Large zone that contains vast acreages of irrigated agriculture with a history of chronic depredation. Zone spans 2 administrative regions, Southeast (Units 68 and 68A) and Magic Valley (Units 52A and 53). Recent efforts to alleviate depredations, including over the counter antlerless hunting (Units 52A and 68), Landowner Permission Hunts, and depredation hunts were successful, particularly in Unit 52A. The B tag cap was reduced from 500 to 250 in 2023. In the following 2 years, elk depredations have increased and expanded in units 52A and 68. Joint regional proposal is to increase the B tag cap from 250 to 350 and extend the season through December in Units 52A and 68 only. These proposals are consistent with elk management plan objectives for the Big Desert Zone to reduce elk populations while still maintaining a variety of hunting opportunities.