The Idaho Fish and Game Commission during a July 8 meeting rejected a proposed change to muzzleloader rules and a proposed bonus point program and adopted several proposals that could change wolf hunting in Idaho.

Commissioners adopted rules that would allow the use of electronic calls for bears, mountain lions and wolves, and traps and snares for taking wolves in areas and with bag limits and seasons to be specified by the commission. The commission will set wolf seasons and limits during the August meeting in Idaho Falls.

They also adopted depredation hunts on black bears and wolves, and a provision that would allow hunters to take wolves incidental to hunting over bear bait, and extended the mandatory check-in for wolf hunts to 72 hours to report a kill and 10 days to check the skull and hide with Fish and Game.

They rejected the proposed bonus point program after several commissioners expressed their reservation about the program and the lack of clear public support.

The commissioners adopted a chukar and gray partridge season that will run October 1, 2011, through January 31, 2012, with a daily bag limit of six birds and a possession limit of 12 of each. They also moved the sage-grouse and quail seasons opening to October 1, effective in 2011. Starting next year, the chukar, gray partridge, quail and sage-grouse season will open October 1.

The commission adopted a forest grouse season opening August 30 statewide, and changed shooting hours for all upland game at CJ Strike, Fort Boise, Montour and Payette River wildlife management areas to 10 a.m., during the pheasant season, including youth hunts.

Other changes will:

· Prohibit shooting upland game birds from any watercraft.

· Prohibit use of telemetry or other electronic tracking to hunt game, except for use with hunting hounds or other sporting dogs.

· Allow collection and sale of up to six rattlesnakes a year; a hunting license is required and only four snakes may be in possession at any time.

They postponed action on a proposal to establish standardized rules for placement of traps and snares to their August meeting in Idaho Falls.

In other action, commissioners awarded one bighorn sheep auction tag to the national Wild Sheep Foundation, and one bighorn sheep lottery tag to the Idaho chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation.

The commission also approved several proposals to be submitted to the 2011 Legislature, including:

· Auction tags for existing and new big game species.

· Restrict collection of wildlife from the wild without a permit.

· Discretionary authority to create a mentored hunt program.

· Access Permit and fees for designated Fish and Game lands.

Other ideas to consider for possible legislation included:

· Allow the use of credit cards.

· Discontinue use of social security number as license identifier.

The commission also approved providing funds to the Animal Damage Control Board as recommended by Fish and Game in accordance with state law.

Several new laws took effect July 1 affecting the 2010 hunting seasons.

Nonresidents can now buy a three-day nonresident small game hunting license. The license is valid for upland game birds, migratory game birds, cottontail rabbits, huntable furbearers and unprotected and predatory birds three consecutive days.

Some species also require tags or permits. The license is valid for hunting turkeys as long as a valid tag is purchased as well. The license is not valid for hunting pheasants during the first five days of the season. The license costs $33.75, plus an issuance fee of $1.75.

Two changes for the 2010 season affect holders of nonresident deer or elk tags.

A nonresident deer or elk tag may be used on a black bear or mountain lion or gray wolf during the deer or elk season when the black bear, mountain lion or gray wolf season is open.

The addition of gray wolf to the nonresident deer tag is new for 2010. This will be the first year a nonresident elk tag would be valid for tagging a black bear, mountain lion or gray wolf.

Young turkey hunters may purchase a hunting license while they are 9 years old to apply for controlled turkey hunts, but they may not hunt until they are 10 years old.

I really detest the season changes for upland birds. It just piles everyone into the field at the same time, and shortens my total number of days in the field by at least five.

The 3 day out-of state license is nice, and the rejection of the bonus point system is excellent. JMO, Dutch.

quote:

Originally posted by Outdoor Writer:

· Discontinue use of social security number as license identifier.

Pa says they collect SSN's based on federal law.

quote:

Originally posted by dla69:

Pa says they collect SSN's based on federal law.

Right. But they can still collect it without using it on one's license. Thus, it is kept private within the agency's data file.

Here in AZ, we can choose either a generic # as our identifier or use the SSN. If you pick the generic, you still have to submit the SSN for the records as per federal law.

They also once used a person's SSN for the DL ID number but quit that years ago by issuing generic numbers.

Thanks for the explanation. Pa collects it and keeps it "private" as well.

Thanks for the post.