The Fee Proposal

twsnow18 · Feb 23, 2017

$5 increase for a hunting license. I like it.

Revenue from the proposed fee would be used for three purposes:

1. Provide additional money to compensate landowners for depredation damages
2. Create more resources for preventing big game depredations
3. Increase funding for more hunting and fishing access

#2 and #3 are good. Is #1 really that big of an issue? I don't mean that question in a condescending tone, but instead would like to be informed, hopefully some of you are landowners that can weigh in and educate. What do you guys think?

https://idfg.idaho.gov/new-fee-proposal

kimbersig · Feb 23, 2017

yes #1 is a pretty big issue with elk especially and they can cost farmers/ranchers a ton of money in a year like this. my only problem with it is that I think if you get a depredation payment then you should be required to open up your land to hunting. you shouldn't get it both ways. either you don't want the animals killed and are willing to accept the damages or you get payment which ultimately comes from hunters and you let people hunt to help reduce the chances of future damage.

customweld · Feb 23, 2017

I agree that in order to receive depredation funds, there must be some sort of access allowed to push these animals back off of the private ground. How about a one time pay out to have high fences installed around barns and haystacks?

OLDHORNHUNTER · Feb 23, 2017

I agreed 110 % also but they get away with it by saying they DO allow hunters !! Most in unit 31 have their land leased so there are very few people hunting it. They get extra landowner tags but again most of those are gave out to friends & family. What gets me is very very few of those so called landowner tags are actually used to harvest animals on that persons land !! The way F&G is wording their new proposal is to help depredation during spring & fall . I have hunted unit 31 for close to 35 years I have NEVER seen an elk on any of the lands deemed Crop land !! The ONLY time the elk are even down there is when we have a lot of snow !!

Homer · Feb 23, 2017

some of these farms and ranches that get lots of late winter damage from elk have never had an elk on them during an open season.....

GSJ · Feb 24, 2017

Scratch number one off the list.

the artist formerly known as "gemstatejake".

twsnow18 · Feb 24, 2017

>I agree that in order to
>receive depredation funds, there must
>be some sort of access
>allowed to push these animals
>back off of the private
>ground. How about a one
>time pay out to have
>high fences installed around barns
>and haystacks?

I actually like this idea the best. As mentioned above, the critters aren't usually on farm ground until winter though, after most of the open seasons.

It should be examined in a farm by farm basis. But obviously we don't have the funds for that currently. Maybe landowners should document when the damage is being done on their place with pictures, notes, exact times etc. and then apply for compensation. If all the damage is during season, allow hunters. Simple fix, deny their application. If it's all in December or later, helping them build high fences around their hay and barns would be a good start.

$5 - $8 added to every hunting license sold would more than pay for 1-2 new full time employees to examine depredation compensation applications case by case all year long.

Weiserbucks · Feb 24, 2017

$5 increase? I'll have to work 45 minutes to cover that !

Foxbow · Feb 25, 2017

Why don't ranchers have to pay the state back when their sheep and cattle eat off all the feed up on the mountain??

Homer · Feb 25, 2017

>Why don't ranchers have to
>pay the state back when
>their sheep and cattle eat
>off all the feed up
>on the mountain??

Really??

Foxbow · Feb 26, 2017

Yeah really
The livestock eats up the feed on the public land the deer and elk need
Maybe if they have better feed in the summer range they might not have to come down to the farms in the winter

andrew12gauge · Feb 27, 2017

The ignorance is strong in this one

Foxbow · Feb 27, 2017

Could just go shoot the game like people are doing
That keeps from farmers fields

GSJ · Feb 27, 2017

If they are not allowing access to anyone other than their buddies and business associates. They don't deserve a dime...

the artist formerly known as "gemstatejake".

Foxbow · Feb 27, 2017

Gemstate

You are absolutely right!

Homer · Feb 27, 2017

lol......

Rizzy · Mar 3, 2017

What is being farmed in winter?

GSJ · Mar 4, 2017

You should go count the dead starved out deer in northern Nevada, as a direct result of ranchers greed. Then "lol" about it ....those tags hunters wait years for will look just fine hanging from a ##### stink cow

the artist formerly known as "gemstatejake".

Foxbow · Mar 4, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Mar-04-17 AT 06:24PM (MST)[p]They don't farm now
But they charge the fish and game for deer and elk just coming onto their fields
Paid with our hunting license fees.