Recently, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission announced that they have directed the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to develop draft legislation that would create a new surcharge on resident adult hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses that would provide funding for both wildlife depredation issues and sportsmen’s access programs managed by the Department.
According to Idaho Fish and Game, the proposal is intended to meet three core goals:
The Department estimates that the new proposal will generate approximately $2 million each year, half of which will go to the Department to further address depredation issues, such as dealing with existing crop damage problems and initiating more proactive measures to get ahead of future crop depredation. The other half would go to programs administered by the Department that encourage private landowners to increase access to their lands for hunting and fishing. The Department also noted that “The proposed new fee would be paid prior to purchasing an annual license and does not change Fish and Game’s Price Lock Revenue proposal currently under consideration.”
To learn more about this proposed legislation, read this informational page from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
