swampmule
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BOISE - Two Magic Valley legislators introduced a bill Monday that would keep the price of hunting tags for gray wolves - which are expected to be delisted within the year - the same as those for mountain lions and bears.
Rep. Bert Stevenson, R-Rupert, and Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, presented to the Senate Resources Committee legislation that would ensure the price of tags for wolves stays at $9.75, the same as for mountain lions and black bears. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission last month set the tags at $26.50.
Wood is a former chairman of the commission.
The legislators said that after deliberations between the commission and lawmakers, it was agreed to keep the price at $9.75 for Idahoans. Nonresidents still would pay $150.
Both lawmakers said they juggled with raising tag prices for some animals and lowering them for others and, in the end, decided to leave everything as is.
"We realized we had to make some changes," Stevenson told the committee. "There was some thought that we might treat them differently."
The legislation will now go to the House floor for its first reading.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal last month to remove the gray wolf in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming from the endangered species list. Wolf recovery started in Idaho with the release of 35 wolves in 1995; there are now more than 650 in Idaho and nearly 1,200 in the three-state region.
The legislation would leave open a date for when tag prices could be raised, but Wood said afterward that he expects an increase next year.
Once the animals are officially delisted, the control of wolf hunting would fall under the commission's jurisdiction. Idaho has never had a hunting season on wolves.
Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has said he wants the wolf population down to 100 wolves, or 10 wolf packs - and is willing to buy the first tag. His comments have been criticized by some wildlife organizations.
Because it is the middle of the hunting season, it was not necessary to raise the tags, Stevenson said. Legislation, as per law, would not go into effect until July 1.
The commission has $720,000 in federal money for an ongoing wolf management program. Stevenson said that money might dry up when the current hunting season is finished.
Sharon Kiefer, a legislative liaison for the commission, said final plans for wolf hunting are expected by November.
"The bottom line is the intent all along was bears, lions and wolves would have similar tag prices rather than trying to bring bears and lions up," Kiefer said.
Rep. Bert Stevenson, R-Rupert, and Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, presented to the Senate Resources Committee legislation that would ensure the price of tags for wolves stays at $9.75, the same as for mountain lions and black bears. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission last month set the tags at $26.50.
Wood is a former chairman of the commission.
The legislators said that after deliberations between the commission and lawmakers, it was agreed to keep the price at $9.75 for Idahoans. Nonresidents still would pay $150.
Both lawmakers said they juggled with raising tag prices for some animals and lowering them for others and, in the end, decided to leave everything as is.
"We realized we had to make some changes," Stevenson told the committee. "There was some thought that we might treat them differently."
The legislation will now go to the House floor for its first reading.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal last month to remove the gray wolf in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming from the endangered species list. Wolf recovery started in Idaho with the release of 35 wolves in 1995; there are now more than 650 in Idaho and nearly 1,200 in the three-state region.
The legislation would leave open a date for when tag prices could be raised, but Wood said afterward that he expects an increase next year.
Once the animals are officially delisted, the control of wolf hunting would fall under the commission's jurisdiction. Idaho has never had a hunting season on wolves.
Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has said he wants the wolf population down to 100 wolves, or 10 wolf packs - and is willing to buy the first tag. His comments have been criticized by some wildlife organizations.
Because it is the middle of the hunting season, it was not necessary to raise the tags, Stevenson said. Legislation, as per law, would not go into effect until July 1.
The commission has $720,000 in federal money for an ongoing wolf management program. Stevenson said that money might dry up when the current hunting season is finished.
Sharon Kiefer, a legislative liaison for the commission, said final plans for wolf hunting are expected by November.
"The bottom line is the intent all along was bears, lions and wolves would have similar tag prices rather than trying to bring bears and lions up," Kiefer said.
