Fish & Game: Politics tainting fee hike plan

COEUR d’ALENE — The Idaho Fish and Game Commission is concerned that a simple hunting and fishing license fee-increase proposal is getting tainted by politics.

Specifically, commissioners worry that rules allowing wealthier hunters greater access to tags could be added to Fish and Game’s fee increase request.

Fish and Game asked the Idaho Legislature to increase resident hunting and fishing license, tag and permit fees, as it has been 10 years since prices have changed. Non-resident fees were increased in 2009.

At Fish and Game’s urging, House Bill 32 was created. It would raise costs to resident hunters and fishermen approximately 20 percent, as operation costs have increased by 22 percent since 2005.

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