MARCH TOWN HALL
With the Idaho Legislature rolling into its third month, it’s no surprise that policy debates of interest to sportsmen, wildlife and more are dominating the natural resources committees and our March townhall. But the issue of the night – by a long shot – involves the future of allocating nonresident hunting tags and legislative attempts to find a solution.
Last month, a House committee introduced HB 232, which sets out to cap the number of nonresident big game tags available to outfitters, introduce a nonresident tag, over-the-counter draw system and deregulate the outfitter industry. The bill is an alternative to two separate measures brought by outfitters to increase allocation, in some cases by 50%.
This issue has turned into a major policy debate again. Mostly, the issue centers around the draconian and nuanced system of outfitter tag allocation. Based on the general consensus of policymakers and the sportsmen and women of Idaho, the intention is to adjust downward the number of nonresidents hunting big game in Idaho, a belief based on the population growth in the state and the massive increase in demand on a limited supply of opportunity.
Working to strike the balance between access and opportunity is our mission and goal and this issue is proof that achieving our goal is easier said than done. This policy fight comes on the heels of the exhaustive work of the IDF&G Nonresident Tag Issuance Advisory Group, various additional meetings with House and Senate leadership, as well as agencies and outfitters. There has been continued input from our board members throughout this process and we have worked to find compromise and a fair and common sense solution for years.
Prospects for any of the tag allocation bills advancing this session are grim, according to legislators working on the issue. The biggest hurdle for HB 232 is the lack of buy-in and communication from the outfitter industry, specifically a small group of long-term owners who are disproportionately benefiting from the current system. This is not a new problem, as the outfitters have refused for years to take a seat at the negotiating table and modify or reduce their share of tags to meet the greater needs of the state.
Complicating matters, some outfitters have pushed their own legislation, independent of what their trade association had been working to introduce. Their bills not only protect the existing system but expand it with more hunts and require that 25 percent of total nonresident tags be allocated to outfitters. In our view, this legislation would make matters worse by giving even more protection and benefit to the small band of companies that provide outfitted hunts in some of the most prime territory and absorb more than 50 percent of the allocated nonresident tags.
In an effort to break the impasse and nudge outfitters to the table, Rep. James Petzke said he is considering introducing a joint House and Senate resolution designed to bring all parties together to find a solution. “I’m hoping they can come to the table and talk through this. It’s been frustrating to deal with them,” he said.
Board member Benn Brocksome, who served on the advisory group, said it’s frustrating because this isn’t the first time trying to solve this problem. It comes at a time when hunting in Idaho, particularly from those who live in other states, is at an all-time high.
“It’s by far the biggest mess and most complex policy in natural resources at the moment,” Brocksome said. “We’ve taken big swipes to solve this problem by correcting the current program, but we’ve just not been able to do that.”
What we can say for now is stay tuned because we’ll continue to update this issue.
On a positive note, Jim Fredericks, Director of Idaho Fish and Game, reported that the Fish and Game Commission permitted the agency to proceed with a no-frills, over-the-counter draw for nonresident tags. Fredericks said he hopes to have the framework ready for the 2026 draw and that this first test will provide critical information for improving the sale in future seasons.
Fredericks shared a couple of other tidbits of import:
The Commission will meet later this month to set new seasons for big game hunting now that the public comment period has wrapped up.
Two meetings remain for the Hunting & Advanced Technology (HAT) working group. It’s expected the group’s work will lead to solid recommendations for the Commission to consider.
The agency is expected to file an appeal to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on a recent decision by a federal judge to impose an injunction on wolf trapping in certain hunting districts.
In other business from various members and their organizations:
Justin Webb from the Foundation for Wildlife Management shared that the nonprofit is working with the Farm Bureau to identify potential changes to the Endangered Species Act as the new Congress and Trump Administration look for reforms. Webb also pointed out that the foundation just launched a new website with a series of new events planned for the coming months.
Speaking of events, Matt Borg from the Eastern Idaho Houndsmen reminded attendees about EIH’s annual banquet on March 29th in Rexburg.
The 2025 Idaho Houndsmen Banquet will be March 15th in Star, Idaho
The Gem State Chapter of NWTF is hosting its banquet on Saturday, March 15th, in Garden City.
We are in banquet, sportsmen show, and convention season, so contact affiliated supporters to find out what else is coming up, or stay tuned to our town halls for more information.
The next town hall is scheduled for April 1st at 6 p.m. at Idaho Fish and Game headquarters in Boise.
