36-408. COMMISSION’S AUTHORITY — TAGS — PERMITS — NONRESIDENTS LIMITED — OUTFITTERS SET-ASIDE. (1) Tags and Permits — Method of Use. The commission is hereby authorized to prescribe the number and kind of wildlife that may be taken under authority of the several types of tags and permits provided for in this title and the manner in which said tags and permits shall be used and validated.

(2) Limit — Licenses, Tags or Permits — Controlled Hunts. The commission is hereby authorized to establish a limit annually as to the number of each kind and class of licenses, tags, or permits to be sold or issued and is further authorized to limit the number or prohibit entirely the participation by nonresidents in controlled hunts.

(3) Outfitted Hunter Tags Set-Aside. When the commission establishes a limit as to the number of nonresident deer tags and nonresident elk tags, it shall set aside, when setting big game seasons, in a statewide pool, a maximum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the nonresident deer tag and nonresident elk tag limit. These tags may be allocated to the outfitted hunters in capped zones and controlled hunts and set aside for outfitted hunter use in general hunts.

Such outfitted allocated set-aside tags shall be separate from the tag numbers set for residents and nonresidents in each capped or controlled zone, unit, or game management area. The set-aside tags shall be sold pursuant to commission rule, only to persons that have entered into a signed agreement for that year to utilize the services of an outfitter licensed pursuant to chapter 21, title 36, Idaho Code.

In order for a person to purchase any set-aside nonresident deer tag or nonresident elk tag, that person’s outfitter must submit an application with the proper fees as required by the director. If any nonresident deer tags or nonresident elk tags set aside for use in general hunts pursuant to this subsection are unsold by July 15 of the year in which they were set aside, they may be sold by the department to the general public pursuant to commission rule. If any nonresident deer tags or nonresident elk tags set aside as allocated tags pursuant to this subsection are unsold by July 31 of the year in which they were set aside, they may be sold by the department to the general public pursuant to commission rule.

The commission may promulgate all necessary rules to implement the provisions of this subsection.

(4) Deer and Elk Tag Allocation. When setting big game seasons, if the commission limits the number of deer or elk tags available for use in any game management area, unit, or zone, the commission may allocate by rule, where there are outfitted operations, a number of deer and elk tags from the outfitted hunter set-aside pool of tags for use by hunters that have entered into a signed agreement for that year to utilize the services of an outfitter licensed pursuant to chapter 21, title 36, Idaho Code.

In addition to rules promulgated by the commission regarding allocation, or pursuant to this section, in capped zones the commission may allocate the number of outfitted hunter elk and deer tags based on the highest number within each of the last two (2) years of all elk or deer tags using the services of an outfitter in each capped zone. Any additional tags above the original outfitted hunter tag quota may come from the nonresident outfitted hunter set-aside pool or the nonresident quota in the capped zone, not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the nonresident quota for each capped zone. In capped zones, when tag numbers change, they will apply proportionally to all user groups.

In controlled hunts, the commission may allocate the number of outfitted hunter elk or deer tags based on a number compiled from each outfitter’s highest year within the last two (2) years of all elk or deer tags using the services of an outfitter for each controlled hunt. Any additional tags above the original outfitted hunter tag quota may come from the nonresident outfitted hunter set-aside pool or the nonresident quota in the controlled hunt, not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the nonresident quota for each controlled hunt.

Outfitted hunter tag use history will be provided through records from the sale of outfitted hunter tags compiled by the Idaho department of fish and game and verified use other than allocated tags recorded with the department by December 20 by outfitters. The department shall distribute the allocated outfitted tags through its point-of-sale machines.

Beginning January 1, 2021, all outfitted deer and elk tag use shall be verified in order to qualify for allocated outfitted hunter tag use history. Verification consists of the purchase of allocated tags from the Idaho department of fish and game or the use of an outfitter-provided agreement, including the tag number that is recorded with the department.

All big game tags used in outfitted hunts must be recorded by outfitters with the department prior to December 20 each year. An administrative fee of five dollars ($5.00) shall be assessed for each outfitted big game tag sold at a point-of-sale machine. An administrative fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be assessed for each big game tag submitted for verification as being outfitted.

The allocated tags shall be designated by the Idaho outfitters and guides licensing board to those authorized outfitting operations licensed for elk and deer hunting for the use by the outfitted hunter, pursuant to section 36-2107(j), Idaho Code.

Those tags not qualified for allocated tag use history include emergency depredation, landowner appreciation program hunts, or meat packing without an outfitted allocated deer or elk tag.

The commission may promulgate all necessary rules to implement the provisions of this subsection.

(5) Special Game Tags. The commission is hereby authorized to issue two (2) special bighorn sheep tags per year.

(a) Auction bighorn sheep tag. One (1) special bighorn sheep tag shall be auctioned off by an incorporated nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife conservation selected by the commission. The tag shall be issued by the department of fish and game to the highest eligible bidder. No more than five percent (5%) of all proceeds for the tag may be retained by the organization. The tag to be issued pursuant to this subsection shall be taken from the nonresident bighorn sheep tag quota. The net proceeds shall be forwarded to the director for deposit in the fish and game expendable trust account and shall be used for bighorn sheep research and management purposes. Moneys raised pursuant to this subsection may not be used to transplant additional bighorn sheep into that portion of southwest Idaho south of the Snake river and west of U.S. highway no. 93, nor for litigation or environmental impact statements involving bighorn sheep. No transplants of bighorn sheep accomplished with moneys raised pursuant to this subsection shall occur in any area until hearings are conducted in the area. Provided however, that none of the proceeds generated from the auction of bighorn sheep tags pursuant to this paragraph be used to purchase or acquire private property or federally managed grazing permits, nor shall any proceeds generated be used for matching funds for the purchase of private property or the retirement or the acquisition of federally managed grazing permits.

(b) Lottery bighorn sheep tag. The commission is also authorized to issue one (1) special bighorn sheep tag, which will be disposed of by lottery. The lottery permit can be marketed by the department of fish and game or a nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife conservation selected by the commission. The tag will be issued by the department of fish and game to an eligible person drawn from the lottery provided in this subsection. No more than twenty-five percent (25%) of gross revenue can be retained for administrative costs by the organization. All net proceeds for the tag disposed of by lottery pursuant to this subsection shall be remitted to the department and deposited in the fish and game expendable trust account. Moneys in the account from the lottery bighorn sheep tag shall be utilized by the department in solving problems between bighorn sheep and domestic sheep, solving problems between wildlife and domestic animals or improving relationships between sportsmen and private landowners.

(6) Issuance of Free Permit or Tag to Minor Children with Life-Threatening Medical Conditions. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commission may issue free big game permits or tags to minor children who have life-threatening medical conditions that have been certified eligible by a qualified organization. The commission may prescribe by rule the manner and conditions of issuing and using the permits or tags authorized under this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, a "qualified organization" means a nonprofit organization that is qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that affords opportunities and experiences to minor children with life-threatening medical conditions.

(7) Issuance of Free Permit or Tag to Military Veterans with Disabilities. The commission may prescribe by rule the manner and conditions of using the permits or tags authorized under this subsection. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commission shall issue five (5) free big game permits or tags to disabled military veterans whose disability has been certified eligible by the Idaho division of veterans services. All veterans applying must be sponsored by a "qualified organization," which for purposes of this subsection means a governmental agency that assists veterans or a nonprofit organization that is qualified under section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code and that affords opportunities, experiences and assistance to disabled veterans. The Idaho division of veterans services shall screen all applicants to ensure only the most deserving disabled veterans shall be issued these permits or tags. A list of screened applicants shall be provided to the commission in priority order for issuance. The commission shall issue one (1) permit or tag each to the top two (2) candidates for a sponsored hunt as designated by the Idaho division of veterans services and the three (3) remaining permits or tags to candidates sponsored by a qualified organization as described in this subsection.

(8) Special Wolf Tags. The commission is hereby authorized to issue up to ten (10) special auction or lottery tags for hunting wolves. Special wolf tags will be auctioned off or made available through lottery by incorporated nonprofit organizations dedicated to wildlife conservation and selected by the director. No more than five percent (5%) of all proceeds for each tag may be retained by the nonprofit organization for administrative costs involved. Each wolf tag shall be issued by the department of fish and game and awarded to the highest eligible bidder or winner of a lottery. Each tag will be good for the harvest of one (1) wolf pursuant to commission rule. The proceeds from each tag will be sent to the director to be placed in the department general license fund.

(9) Special Big Game Auction Tags — Governor’s Wildlife Partnership Tags. The commission is hereby authorized to issue special big game auction tags hereafter named and referred to as "Governor’s wildlife partnership tags" for hunting designated species on dates and in areas designated by the commission. To enhance and sustain the value of Idaho’s wildlife, up to three (3) tags per species per year may be issued for deer, elk and pronghorn antelope, one (1) tag per year may be issued for moose, and one (1) tag per species per year may be issued for mountain goat and bighorn sheep. Each tag will be signed by the governor of Idaho prior to auction to the public and be available to either residents or nonresidents of Idaho. Governor’s wildlife partnership tags issued for deer, elk, pronghorn antelope and moose pursuant to this subsection shall be taken from the nonresident controlled hunt programs for these species adopted by the fish and game commission. Governor’s wildlife partnership tags issued for mountain goat and bighorn sheep shall be taken from the nonresident mountain goat and bighorn sheep quota. Governor’s wildlife partnership tags shall be auctioned off by incorporated nonprofit organizations dedicated to wildlife conservation and selected by the director. No more than five percent (5%) of all proceeds from each tag sale may be retained by the nonprofit organization for administrative costs involved, including in the event a tag is redonated and reauctioned. Each tag shall be issued by the department of fish and game and awarded to the highest eligible bidder. Each tag shall be good for the harvest of one (1) big game animal pursuant to commission rule consistent with the provisions of this subsection. The proceeds from each tag shall be sent to the director to be allocated up to thirty percent (30%) for sportsmen access programs, such as access yes, and the balance for wildlife habitat projects, wildlife management projects to increase the quantity and quality of big game herds, and other research and management activities approved by the commission. Provided however, that none of the proceeds generated from the auctions pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be used to purchase or acquire private property or federally managed grazing permits, nor shall any proceeds generated be used for matching funds for the purchase of private property or the retirement or the acquisition of federally managed grazing permits. Moneys raised pursuant to this subsection may not be used to transplant additional bighorn sheep into that portion of southwest Idaho south of the Snake river and west of U.S. highway no. 93, nor for litigation or environmental impact statements involving bighorn sheep.

History:

[36-408, added 1976, ch. 95, sec. 2, p. 337; am. 1986, ch. 235, sec. 1, p. 647; am. 1987, ch. 322, sec. 1, p. 677; am. 1991, ch. 144, sec. 1, p. 342; am. 1995, ch. 287, sec. 14, p. 962; am. 1997, ch. 136, sec. 1, p. 404; am. 2001, ch. 170, sec. 1, p. 583; am. 2006, ch. 169, sec. 2, p. 521; am. 2007, ch. 73, sec. 1, p. 196; am. 2009, ch. 117, sec. 2, p. 374; am. 2009, ch. 314, sec. 2, p. 918; am. 2012, ch. 101, sec. 1, p. 270; am. 2012, ch. 254, sec. 1, p. 700; am. 2014, ch. 266, sec. 1, p. 662; am. 2019, ch. 216, sec. 1, p. 655; am. 2019, ch. 243, sec. 1, p. 735.]