Ms. Worthington — Explained changes to Section 801 and the special big game tag programs in Sections 900 and 901.
Ms. Worthington — Described changes to special big game tag programs, including removing moose, keeping other species, and adding a minimum tag threshold and director discretion.
Ms. Worthington — Asked the committee to support adopting Rule Docket 1301-04-2401 and offered to answer additional questions.
Ms. Worthington — Boyle asks her to clarify whether the rule adds hunts or takes them away.
Ms. Worthington — She defers the question to the deputy director to avoid misspeaking.
Amber Worthington — Introduces herself as Deputy Director of Programs and Policy with the Department of Fish and Game and begins presenting the rule.
James Petzke — Named as a member of the non-resident tag issuance advisory group.
Mark Harris — Named as a member of the advisory group.
Ms. Worthy — Likely refers to Ms. Worthington; asked whether to take questions now or later.
Mr. Worthington — Likely refers to Amber Worthington; asked to respond to the allocation question.
Terry Reichert — Terry Reichert, the license manager with Idaho Fish and Game, explains the DAV tag allotment process, noting that disabled American veteran tags are separate from the general season non-resident tags and are drawn separately.
James Holtzclaw — Representative Miller questions why it is illegal to sell the LIP permit/tag, argues that a landowner should be able to benefit from selling the tag, and follows up by asking about the legality and correct terminology of 'selling that trespass.'
John Rochelle — Deputy Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, explaining that landowner appreciation program tags apply to the entire hunt area.
Deputy Director Worthington — Referenced as having indicated that some landowners sell access or designate a tag to someone else.
Judy Boyle — Asks why two units in Hells Canyon were added.
Judy Boyle — Referenced as the member asking for follow-up.
Judy Boyle — Asked whether adding the units implies support for returning domestic sheep to the areas.
Judy Boyle — The response is directed to Representative Boyle.
Judy Boyle — Addressed as the member asking the question.
Judy Boyle — The exchange is in response to Representative Boyle's question.
Judy Boyle — Raised concerns about past agreements involving domestic sheep, the Forest Service, and the Wild Sheep Foundation, and questioned why hunting opportunities are being increased now.
Judy Boyle — Continued the same concern about domestic sheep being removed and a constituent losing his livelihood.
Judy Boyle — Commented that the agreement is in Idaho Code and reiterated concern about a constituent whose sheep were removed and livelihood destroyed.
Judy Boyle — Continued the comment about the Idaho Code agreement and the constituent impact.
Judy Boyle — Begins explaining her opposition based on prior concerns about domestic sheep and constituent livelihoods.
Judy Boyle — Continues her argument that domestic sheep were unfairly blamed and cites research that the bacteria is also found in other species.
Judy Boyle — Opposes increasing tags until constituent livelihoods are restored and argues domestic sheep help reduce fire risk by eating brush.
Judy Boyle — Continues her opposition, saying fires destroy winter habitat and animals starve; then she moves to make a motion.
Judy Boyle — Restates that there are not enough animals to hunt in the area.
Judy Boyle — Says Units 13 and 18 are being added to the rule.
Judy Boyle — Asks whether the rule adds hunts to units not currently hunted or takes hunts away, and requests clarification from Ms. Worthington.
Judy Boyle — Referenced as the member whose concern about the areas is being addressed.
Judy Boyle — Responded that the commission's action seemed to be encouraging the addition of these hunts and that the tags would then apply.
Judy Boyle — Argued that approving the language would encourage the commission to add the hunts and that the committee would be agreeing to it.
Judy Boyle — Recorded as voting no.
Ms. Wardley — Explained that adding the units would provide additional hunting opportunity in Hells Canyon if populations are viable enough, and clarified the change applies to auction and lottery tags that alternate by year.
John Rochelle, Deputy Director, Idaho Department of Fish and Game — John Rochelle explained that the rule change should not be read as a statement on domestic sheep policy. He said Unit 13 has a small existing bighorn sheep population that is expected to grow slowly despite setbacks, and that adding Units 13 and 18 to the existing rule framework is meant to create separation if hunts are later established there. He also described a prior Unit 13 hunt in which multiple tag holders hunted the same band of rams, resulting in the harvest of the large rams and no subsequent hunt in that unit.
Steve Miller — Raised a question about page 28, section 550.01, and whether non-resident quotas increased from 14,000 to 15,500.
Steve Miller — Questioned whether the non-resident quota was increased and whether resident applications are being filled first.
Steve Miller — Asked whether resident applications are being filled before non-resident quotas are increased.
Steve Miller — Asked whether the disabled veteran tag quotas are used up.
Steve Miller — Asked whether hunts could be added now and whether passage of the rule would give the commission capability to add them.
Steve Miller — Recorded as voting no.
Unnamed witness/department representative — Explained that the quota numbers are not changing; the sections are being combined into one sale, and the Panhandle whitetail allocation still sells out.
Mr. Worthy — Confirmed that the 500 and 300 quotas are non-resident.
Sean Gunter — Identified as the sole testifier on the docket, but he says he signed up for the wrong docket and intended to speak on technology.
Sean Gunter — Sean Gunter is introduced as the first testifier and then begins his testimony, identifying himself as speaking on his own behalf and expressing support for the work of the HAP committee and Fish and Game.
Deputy Director John Rochelle — Deputy Director John Rochelle explains that the Fish and Game Commission has proclamation authority to establish hunting seasons in Units 11, 13, and 18, but the proposed rule change would not affect whether a hunt is established. Instead, it would prevent lottery and auction tag hunters from being in the same units in the same year, effectively alternating access between those hunter types by odd and even years.
Dan Garner — Appears to be the member being addressed as 'Representative Dygert' in the transcript, though the transcription is uncertain.
Charlie Shepherd — Questioned whether the Fish and Game Commission could add hunts in Units 13 and 18 outside this process.