Home > Member Information > IOGA Bulletins > 2009 Bulletins > Mid-April 2009

Mid-April 2009

Idaho Parks and Recreation survey seeks comment on non-motorized boat registration and more. IOGA urges its member to take the time to complete this survey. Again…. IOGA urges its (boating) members to take the time to complete this survey. The results could be used to justify, or not, additional fees in the future. The survey will be open until mid-May. The survey is also being distributed randomly and to folks attending boat shows around the state.  The link to take the survey       http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/recreation/boating.aspx

For more information contact Dave Dahms, Boating Program Manager for IDPR at ddahms@idpr.idaho.gov

Approved State legislation taxes boats over 10 feet. H. 213 has been approved by the Idaho State Legislature and signed by Governor Otter. Boats greater than 10 feet in length will be taxed to support State efforts to prevent an invasive species called quaggra mussel from invading water waterways. While there is an emergency clause regarding implementation, it is unclear at this time whether the fee will be imposed right away or there will be a “wait” period while two state agencies, Ag and State Parks and Recreation, gear up. The fee schedule is in the legislation http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2009/H0213.pdf

Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick to host Town Hall on 2nd Amendment issues: Friday, April 17^th from 2:30 to 4 PM; in the Council chambers on the first floor of Meridian City Hall, 33 Broadway in Meridian; Congressman Walt Minnick and interested sportsmen, gun enthusiasts and community members. At the town hall, Minnick will update people on gun issues being considered (or not being considered) by this session of Congress, solicit feedback on a proposal of his own to reinforce 2^nd Amendment rights and take questions.

Endangered Chinook and float outfitting.  IOGA is working with both Middle Fork Salmon and Upper Salmon float outfitters regarding Forest Service permitting processes that will include the Service consulting with NOAA Fisheries regarding biological assessments and biological opinions that will be done prior to re-permitting both sets of outfitters for those eligible for 10 year priority permits in 2010. Both sets of outfitters will be provided one year extensions on their current permits for 2009 while the science is being compiled and analyzed. The Upper Main outfitters have had restrictions on their permits since the mid-1990s do to concerns that the agencies have had regarding endangered Chinook Salmon spawning in late summer. IOGA is also compiling science based research regarding floatboating and salmon spawning and will be providing ng this information to the federal agencies. IOGA is in hopes that a good case can be made that education can be the key instead of restrictions on float boating moving forward. A total of 30 outfitters are involved. For more information contact Grant Simonds at gsimonds@cableone.net 30 a stage of limbo while these processes unfold.

Wolf delisting rule for Northern Rocky Mountains published in Federal Register. Lawsuits expected. The federal rule that would remove gray wolves in Idaho from the endangered species list was published in the Federal Register Thursday, April 2. The delisting of the northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf population becomes effective May 4, which is 30 days after the publication of the final rule. Fish and Game would apply the same professional wildlife management practices to wolves as it has applied to all big game species, which all have recovered from low populations during the early 1900s, he said. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission in March set wolf hunting seasons, contingent on delisting, for the fall 2009. Seasons will be from September 1 through March 31 in the Lolo and Sawtooth wolf management zones; from September 15 through December 31 in the Selway and Middle Fork zones; and elsewhere from October 1 through December 31. A YouTube video is linked to the Fish and Game wolf management page outlining how the agency will manage wolves. The video link is in the upper right hand corner of the wolf page at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/wildlife/wolves/. The Fish and U.S. Wildlife Service delisting documents and other documents are available at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/wildlife/wolves/. Commissioners would set harvest quotas in August, pending delisting taking effect.

In the meantime, expect a coalition of enviros led by the Defenders of Wildlife and a coalition of associations and entities that include the Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association to file suit for different reasons. For more information…..

http://www.defenders.org/newsroom/press_releases_folder/2009/04_01_2009_wolves_back_in_the_crosshairs_after_sal

azar_decision_to_remove_federal_protection_in_the_northern_rockies.php

http://www.LoboWatch.com/PressReleases.html  

Idaho outfitters, Idaho sportsmen and the Idaho Fish and Game Department continue to deal with the negative impacts of the unmanaged wolf population, which now number 800 percent more than agreed to numbers in the USFWS plan of 1994. During the recent March IDFG Commission meeting, a new round of restrictions on hunting opportunity were approved including reductions of up to 50 percent for hunters utilizing the Sawtooth Elk Management Zone, which has now essentially become the Lolo Zone of southern Idaho—wolves having additive impacts on elk populations. Should federal delisting be shelved again due to lawsuits, look for the IDFG to seek public comment on its plan under the 10j rule of the Endangered Species Act to reduce the wolf population in the Lolo Zone. Should this occur, outfitters will want to comment. The bottom line from the industry viewpoint is that unmanaged wolves continue to have a significant impact on elk populations in specific areas of Idaho, IDFG tag sales and marketing of outfitted elk hunts.

Owyhee Initiative legislation celebrated in Idaho April 14^th. Idaho U.S. Senator Mike Crapo congratulated collaborators on their eight year process that he supported that has resulted in protection of 517,000 acres of Wilderness and 315 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers in southwestern Idaho's Owyhee County. Crapo and other spoke during gatherings at both the Owyhee County Historical Museum in Murphy and the Mark Lisk Gallery in downtown Boise. The eight year collaborative process supported by Senator Crapo involving Owyhee County officials, conservationists, ranchers, the Shoshone Paiute Tribe and the outfitting industry now moves to the implementation stage that will involve BLM wilderness and wild and scenic planning, funding for land trades, sales and private buy-outs of grazing. A science review center must also be funded. The legislation calls for the establishment of an Owyhee Initiative Board of Directors and Grant Simonds will continue to represent the industry on the Board as implementation moves forward. Simonds will be keeping a close eye on recreation access that was negotiated for both water and land based recreation—places like put-ins and take-outs on the Bruneau and Owyhee River systems along with a number of historical roads that have been “cherry stemmed” that hunters will appreciate.  For more information, contact Grant Simonds at gsimonds@cableone.net                   See this article from the Idaho Statesman. http://www.idahostatesman.com/531/story/732922.html

Need a cook? I am looking for a position as lodge cook for the 2009 fall hunting season (I am available September through mid-October, as I have another lodge cook position for the remainder of the season). 
 
The following is a brief description of my experience:  I have worked for guided hunts at base camps as well as lodges and have cooked with wood burning stove/ovens, dutch ovens and standard grills, propane stove top and conventional ovens to prepare the meals as well as bake breads, cakes, cookies, biscuits and the like.  I can set my own menus and can shop for the needed supplies.  I completed a course for camp cooking with LeRee'  Hensen at Royaltine Camp Cook School (in Phillipsburg, MT) and I have worked as the cook on a yacht for hunters in Southeast AK, as the lodge cook with an outfitter in Cold Bay AK, and as the camp cook for pack in camps in Idaho and Colorado.  I can provide references if needed.
 
If you are interested, please contact me at jrb51@hotmail.com and we can discuss my background and your operation.  
Thank you. Joann

 

Welcome to IOGA  New Members ---February 4 to April 15, 2009

 

Outfitters

 

Rulon & Kathy Jones

Broadmouth Canyon Ranch

P O Box 472, Firth, ID 83236

208.346.6648  Fax:  208.346.6243

rulon@utahelkhunt.com

www.utahelkhunt.com

Hunting:  Deer, Elk.  F&G Unit 69.  Newly licensed due to a new opportunity.

 

Guides

Ty Cole

124 S. Montana St.

Dillon, MT 59725

406.925.9957       Fax:  406.683.3656

tykcole@qwestoffice.net Hunting guide for Idaho Wilderness Company

 

Business Associate Members

 

Bryan & Kristina Wilkins

Cedar Creek Creations

P O Box 637

Kamiah ID  83536

208.935.1800

bryan@cedarcreekcreations.com

www.cedarcreekcreations.com

Embroidery, screen printing and digital printing on clothing, hats, etc.

 

Dan Ratliffe

Sun Valley Insurance

P O Box 5808

Ketchum ID  83340

208.725.0977

dan@svins.net

Outfitter and guide insurance

 

Linda Bighter

Fairfield Inn Boise Airport

3300 S Shoshone

Boise ID  83705

208.331.5656

Fax:  208.424.3169

boisedos@thesummitgroupinc.com

www.marriott.com/boifi

Hotel near the airport with free shuttle and deluxe continental breakfast

Bonus Coverage For this IOGA bulletin

Outfitting for bird hunts back on table

Agencies are considering allowing outfitting for turkey, upland bird hunting

By Eric Barker of the Lewiston Morning Tribune

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Bird hunters could have the option of using guides if a 20-year moratorium on issuing outfitting licenses for upland game bird, waterfowl and turkey outfitters is lifted.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board are in the initial stages of re-examining an informal 20-year-old moratorium on allowing people to outfit and guide turkey, upland game bird and waterfowl hunters.

Since 1989, the state has largely rejected license applications for people who want to guide for the different bird species. But that policy has never been formally written into law or regulations.

"By and large, the commission and the department have opposed those activities and, by and large, the licensing board has not approved any of them," said Virgil Moore, Fish and Game deputy director at Boise.

He said the general non-outfitted hunting public tends to oppose outfitting for birds out of a fear it could further restrict access to private property if guides are willing to pay for exclusive access.

In recent years, the state board that licenses outfitters has been receiving more and more requests from people who want to guide turkey, upland and waterfowl hunters on private land.

"I've heard from our membership as well as John Q. Public that there is an interest," said Grant Simonds, executive director of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association. "Somehow there is a distinction in some people's minds between the outfitted and non-outfitted public in this state. Both publics are public and in my opinion deserve to be able to utilize an outfitter or go do it on their own."

The Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board oversees and regulates outfitting and guiding in the state. Executive Director Jake Howard said the industry has traditionally been based on federal land. When the board assesses an application for outfitting on federal land there is a formal public process it follows. But no such process exists on private land.

Howard said if the board is going to continue to reject outfitting license applications for bird hunting, even on private land, there needs to be a formal policy in place. If the board approves some applications but not others it needs to have a way to justify that.

"When we get an application we need to give the applicant a qualified answer of either yes or no," he said. "If we are going to put some limitation on their licenses there has to be some way to substantiate what those limitations are."

Howard and Moore are working together to outline a framework to re-examine and update the policy. Moore said that process could lead to a continuation of the moratorium or find ways to allow some outfitting for upland, waterfowl and turkey to occur.

"We are initiating a collaborative process among hunters and the outfitters and guides licensing board to see if that particular issue needs to be re-examined or reaffirmed," he said.

Howard stressed the process is in the initial stages and nothing is on the immediate horizon. Both men know any change in the policy is likely to be controversial.

"The comments the department has received from the turkey federation folks, from waterfowl organization folks and from individual hunters are adamantly opposed," Moore said. "Any discussion of change would be through some sort of collaborative process where everybody would sit at a table and work through it and see if there is a different outcome."

Moore said some private property owners have asked what authority the department and the Idaho Fish and Game Commission have to regulate hunting on their land. He said the state has authority for wildlife whether it's on private or public land.

But the department doesn't have control over who gets outfitting and guiding licenses. That is the responsibility of the Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board and the two entities have a history of working together.

"They are fairly sensitive to comments from land management agencies and our agency. But they are not obligated to follow them," Moore said.

Both men said they will have a draft framework for looking at the issue and more formal discussions could begin in July.