Signed by Governor Butch Otter

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that authorizes the Idaho Fish and Game Commission to auction certain big game hunting tags.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Idaho Fish and Game Commission to auction no more than the following number of big game tags per species, per year (Sec. 1):
• 3 tags for deer, elk and pronghorn antelope; and    
• 1 tag for moose, mountain goats and bighorn sheep.

• Prohibits the use of auction proceeds for any of the following (Sec. 1):
• Transfer of additional bighorn sheep into southwest Idaho; or
• Litigation or environmental impact statements involving bighorn sheep.

• Appropriates proceeds from the auction of big game tags as follows (Sec. 1):
• 5 percent for wildlife conservation nonprofit organizations that administer the auction;
• 30 percent for sportsmen access programs; and
• 65 percent for wildlife habitat projects, wildlife management projects and other research and management activities.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the Idaho Fish and Game Commission to auction certain big game hunting tags.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Idaho Fish and Game Commission to auction no more than the following number of big game tags per species, per year (Sec. 1):
• 3 tags for deer, elk and pronghorn antelope; and    
• 1 tag for moose, mountain goats and bighorn sheep.

• Prohibits the use of auction proceeds for any of the following (Sec. 1):
• Transfer of additional bighorn sheep into southwest Idaho; or
• Litigation or environmental impact statements involving bighorn sheep.

• Appropriates proceeds from the auction of big game tags as follows (Sec. 1):
• 5 percent for wildlife conservation nonprofit organizations that administer the auction;
• 30 percent for sportsmen access programs; and
• 65 percent for wildlife habitat projects, wildlife management projects and other research and management activities.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the auctioning of certain big-game hunting tags.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the commission to issue the following “Governor’s Wildlife Partnership Tags” for the hunting of big-game by both residents and nonresidents (Sec. 1):
• 3 tags per year for deer, elk, and pronghorn antelope; and
• 1 tag per year for moose, mountain goat, and bighorn sheep.

• Requires the Governor’s Wildlife Partnership Tags to be auctioned by a non-profit organization to the highest eligible bidder (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits money generated from the auction of Governor’s Wildlife Partnership Tags from being used to purchase (Sec. 1):
• Private property; or
• Federally managed grazing permits.

• Authorizes the proceeds from the auctions to be used for the following purposes (Sec. 1):
• Up to 30 percent for sportsman access programs; and
• The rest to be used for wildlife habitat and wildlife management of big game herds.

Full Bill Text