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Fish and Game process should be protected |
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March 11, 2015 |
March 11, 2015
To the Editor:
There appears to be a misperception among some
Idaho lawmakers that the Fish and Game
Commission has ignored prior legislative
directives to raise revenue and improve habitat
and access. These directives include allowing
hunters to pay an extra fee to improve their
drawing odds for controlled hunts (bonus
points),
making tags available to land owners for private
sale, and auctioning big game tags to highest
bidders.
We certainly respect the Legislature’s role in
setting wildlife policy but the Commission has
considered all these issues in recent years and
vetted each of them with hunters, anglers,
trappers and the general public. In all three
cases, a majority made it clear to us they were
opposed and we acted accordingly. The
Commission continues to explore these and other
options and to visit with sportsmen and women
about them. However, we have heard and are
concerned these directives could become
legislative mandates linked to our proposed
license revenue bill.
The Commission-supported “Price Lock” revenue
legislation – House Bill 32, is being held in a
House Committee while some lawmakers are said to
be working on their own version with these
mandates included. If this new version of the
bill emerges, it in our view, overrules the
Commission process of using science and
input from the public as the basis for
implementing wildlife policy.
The 1938 citizens’ initiative that created the
Commission established nonpartisan fish and game
management. If lawmakers proceed and attempt to
bypass the Commission and implement these
measures through legislation, they are
compromising the spirit of that initiative by
overruling extensive sportsmen involvement and
thoughtful Commission deliberations.
As Commissioners, here are some common themes we
often hear:
• Manage wildlife for the good of all Idahoans,
not just a privileged few.
• Keep hunting, fishing & trapping opportunities
available and affordable for everyday Idahoans.
• Reward landowners for supporting wildlife
habitat or public access without sacrificing
state ownership of wildlife.
• Keep politics out of wildlife management
For 76 years, the Commission, along with
sportsmen and women have worked together to
create the tremendous wildlife resources and
heritage we have in Idaho today. We ask the
Legislature to pass the Commission-supported
revenue bill without compromising the
Commission’s integrity and its management role.
Commissioner Fred Trevey
(Chairman)
Commissioner Mark Doerr
(Vice-chair)
Commissioner Brad Corkill
Commissioner Blake Fischer
Commissioner Lane Clezie
Commissioner Kenny Anderson
Commissioner Will Naillon
Idaho Fish and Game Commission |
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