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Idaho Examiner: IDAHO’S HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN ARE CITIZENS TOO!"Common Sense News"

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IDAHO’S HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN ARE CITIZENS TOO!

Posted on: April 26, 2007

By Dan Adamson

Tourism is the second largest industry in the state. That’s hard to believe in light of the fact that Idaho has no Department of Tourism. Yet the average out-of-state hunter spends more than $9,000 per year to hunt in Idaho? There are approximately 750 wolves in our state (and some put the number as high as 1,300 wolves in Idaho). IF&G and others have calculated that Idaho wolves are each killing at least one elk per month (9,000 head of elk per year) to as high as two per month (18,000 head of elk per year). Do the numbers! Our new wolf citizens — if we were able to sell an extra 3,000 elk tags per year just to out of state hunters if we didn’t have the high wolf numbers — cost this state $27 million per year (or $135 million over 5 years). And my numbers are conservative in each instance. We could use this extra income for our Fish and Game Department.

Idaho’s cats, grizzly bear, and wolves kill more mule deer every year than our hunters are harvesting. That’s why more and more hunters are going to Wyoming and other states to hunt mule deer. My friends and relatives tell me that a monster “muley” (a trophy mule deer) has become the most sought after prize in many hunters’ fantasies. These animals are rare and they are elusive. I am told that hunters are willing to pay a great deal for the opportunity to pursue such a prize and the challenge and scenic beauty associated with the pursuit. Southeast Idaho and central Idaho have some of the best mule deer genetics and mule deer habitat in the world. So why do so many of our local hunters and increasing numbers of out-of state hunters go to Wyoming to hunt mule deer? Both Idaho hunters and previous Idaho out-of-state hunters for the last several years have been disappointed with the results when they go to Idaho to hunt. Neighboring states (western Wyoming in particular) have greater mule deer densities, higher buck-to-doe ratios and more trophies (the stuff of fantasies). Wyoming also has fewer lions and cats. I wonder what the difference is. Could it be that Wyoming is managing their wildlife and fisheries differently than Idaho’s Fish and Game Department? YES!!!

Idaho must also start to reduce the number of cats and grizzly bear numbers that are destroying our mule deer populations. All Idahoans and visitors to Idaho love to see our large mule deer herds. If we don’t act soon, mule deer will be as hard to find as mountain lion and bobcat were 30-years ago.

We must keep the federal government from selling Idaho’s Public Lands. Many people travel to Idaho is to see our wide open spaces. They do not want to see “No Trespassing” signs everywhere.

We have relatively good access to our public ground now but it could be improved. Private landowners cannot be allowed to stop access to the public lands just because the access road goes through private property.

If the federal government wants to get out of the management of Idaho’s public lands, then let the government turn this land over to Idaho for management by the State Land Board. The state could surely manage this land better than the federal government.

The Idaho Fish and Game Department can not become a political entity of state government. Now the F&G receives no state tax revenues to keep it operating. The organization is funded solely by hunting licenses and fishing licenses. It must remain that way.

Hunters and anglers want wildlife policies that give them a great outdoor experience now and for future generations. Idaho’s rank and file hunters and anglers must be heard.


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About Dave Langston

Outdoor writer Dave Langston resides in Chubbuck. He grew up in the Midwest and south fishing and hunting across the country.

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