Senate Votes 17-16 For New Big-Game Tags
Senators voted 17-16 to give hunters more chances to open their wallets for exclusive opportunities to shoot big game.
Friday’s narrowest of victory margins underscores lawmakers’ concern such high-priced tags turn over Idaho wildlife to the wealthy few.
Sen. Steve Bair of Blackfoot argued the chance to raise $200,000 annually for the Department of Fish and Game by creating 12 “Governor’s Big Game Auction Tags” for elk, sheep, goats, moose and antelope couldn’t be ignored.
Passage came despite the Idaho Fish and Game Commission’s recent vote against the measure.
Foes feared offering expensive tags to the highest bidder at private auctions tinkers with Idaho’s legacy of preserving big game for everyone, not just the privileged few.
Pocatello Sen. Diane Bilyeu called it elitist.
The measure now goes to the House.
