With the threads (and experiences) regarding the recent Idaho nonresident tag sale fresh in people's minds, I'd like to start a discussion regarding an effort in which I have been engaged with the Idaho Fish and Game Commission since last fall. Sorry if this is going to be a long post, but I hope to garner support from Idaho resident and nonresident hunters alike in my effort to convince the Idaho Department of Fish and Game that it needs to eliminate its fundamentally unfair practice of allowing one individual to purchase tags for other individuals who are not physically present at the point of sale. This is not an effort to prevent proxy purchases, which I contend are totally legitimate and should continue to be allowed. Heck, my wife has stood in line for me and purchased tags in the past when I've been out of town. My proposal is that the Department allow the sale of one tag (of however many species desired) for one person physically present and this should be the Department's in-person tag sales practice going forward. This is also not an effort to address the significant (think 2022) issues the Department has had with its contractor who handles its online sales. Rather, mine is an effort to eliminate tag purchase abuses at points of sale that are (primarily) administered by the Department in its physical offices. I know this suggestion won't sit well with the folks who have been making money by acting as brokers to purchase 20 tags for others who are "too busy" to stand in line or live in locations they can't make it to Idaho for the tag sales event or those who think they are exercising social responsibility to "get theirs" and let our fellow hunters standing in line for hours (or days) behind them go to hell because the Department allows people to buy multiple tags for hunters who aren't present and have no skin in the game. I contend that both of these practices are fundamentally unfair. If you haven't had the pleasurable experience of literally standing in line for days for a tag sale, it is a sacrifice.
On that happy (and potentially contentious) note, here we go. Tag demand for all of Idaho's big game species has been growing substantially since 2018 (according to Department Public Information Specialist Roger Phillips) and it is unlikely this trend will diminish. I've been playing this stand-in-line game for tags off and on for ten or so years. One year, I went to a merchant that was in possession of one of the terminals connected to the Department's database for license and tag sales. I waited for a few hours and was the first person in line. Just prior to 10 AM, the owner of the business came in and took over the operation of the terminal from the clerk I had been chatting with while waiting. When he (the owner) started securing tags from a list of people he had written on a piece of paper in his hand, I asked him what was happening. This man let me know in no uncertain terms that I was first in line after he secured tags for the people on his list. And, if I didn't like it, I could leave. I assumed that he was purchasing tags for friends or relatives, but it was more than mildly frustrating to stand there while that occurred. Another time, I went to a different merchant and was third or fourth in line and something similar occurred. In this instance, the person operating the terminal told the first guy in line that he had failed to "get on the list" with his $100 donation to the business for this early tag sales service. These sort of shenanigans won't likely be eliminated by my proposal, but I hope people smarter than me can figure out mechanisms to narrow these abuses as well in the planned changes to the Department's online sales system that are underway. This new system should theoretically account for outfitters who have legitimate reasons for the purchase of third party tags for business purposes.
Think of it this way: the first five guys in line at a Department facility with ten names each can virtually eliminate any potential for the multitude of people standing behind them in line to have the opportunity to purchase high demand tags (think Sawtooth Zone elk) by tying up all of the Department's available computer terminals before the tags sell out. I'll say right up front that the Department's license sales representatives make a tremendous effort to service everyone as quickly as they can and they do an exceptional job. But, they can't work miracles and magically increase the number of tags for sale.
Here's what I hope folks consider: if you believe my effort to eliminate the Department's practice of selling tags to one person for third parties who are not present at the point of sale is a valid one, get involved! Communicate your sentiments with the appointees on the Idaho Fish and Game Commission relative to this issue. I've been doing so (via email) since September and I traveled to Lewiston from Boise last month to have the opportunity to speak at the public meeting that occurred the night before the Commission's quarterly scheduled meeting. I had the opportunity to speak to a few of the Commissioners after the meeting and through those contacts, I was able to determine that my position was an issue that the Commission had discussed in the past with the Department and its Director. The next Idaho Fish and Game Commission meeting is scheduled for January 26, 2024, in Boise and the public meeting where people will have an opportunity to communicate with the Commission will occur the previous day at 7 PM at the Department's Headquarters Office at 600 South Walnut Street. There is a three-minute time limit for public presentations, but written statements can be submitted to the Commissioner prior to the public meetings for presentation at that forum.
If you believe in this effort, please don't be apathetic. Send an email to the Commissioners to express your thoughts.
Below are the names of the Commissioners and their email addresses if you'd like to communicate with them on this (or any other) subject pertaining to Idaho's fish and game:
Chairman - Don Ebert, Weippe, Idaho (Clearwater Region) - [email protected]
Vice-Chairman - Ron Davies, Clayton, Idaho (Salmon Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Dave Bobbitt, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (Panhandle Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Tim Murphy, McCall, Idaho (Southwest Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Greg Cameron, Rupert, Idaho (Magic Valley Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Jordan Cheirrett, Lava Hot Spring, Idaho (Southeast Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Derick Attebury, Idaho Falls, Idaho (Upper Snake Region) - [email protected]
Copies of communications can also be sent to Idaho Department of Fish and Game Director Jim Fredricks at [email protected].
On that happy (and potentially contentious) note, here we go. Tag demand for all of Idaho's big game species has been growing substantially since 2018 (according to Department Public Information Specialist Roger Phillips) and it is unlikely this trend will diminish. I've been playing this stand-in-line game for tags off and on for ten or so years. One year, I went to a merchant that was in possession of one of the terminals connected to the Department's database for license and tag sales. I waited for a few hours and was the first person in line. Just prior to 10 AM, the owner of the business came in and took over the operation of the terminal from the clerk I had been chatting with while waiting. When he (the owner) started securing tags from a list of people he had written on a piece of paper in his hand, I asked him what was happening. This man let me know in no uncertain terms that I was first in line after he secured tags for the people on his list. And, if I didn't like it, I could leave. I assumed that he was purchasing tags for friends or relatives, but it was more than mildly frustrating to stand there while that occurred. Another time, I went to a different merchant and was third or fourth in line and something similar occurred. In this instance, the person operating the terminal told the first guy in line that he had failed to "get on the list" with his $100 donation to the business for this early tag sales service. These sort of shenanigans won't likely be eliminated by my proposal, but I hope people smarter than me can figure out mechanisms to narrow these abuses as well in the planned changes to the Department's online sales system that are underway. This new system should theoretically account for outfitters who have legitimate reasons for the purchase of third party tags for business purposes.
Think of it this way: the first five guys in line at a Department facility with ten names each can virtually eliminate any potential for the multitude of people standing behind them in line to have the opportunity to purchase high demand tags (think Sawtooth Zone elk) by tying up all of the Department's available computer terminals before the tags sell out. I'll say right up front that the Department's license sales representatives make a tremendous effort to service everyone as quickly as they can and they do an exceptional job. But, they can't work miracles and magically increase the number of tags for sale.
Here's what I hope folks consider: if you believe my effort to eliminate the Department's practice of selling tags to one person for third parties who are not present at the point of sale is a valid one, get involved! Communicate your sentiments with the appointees on the Idaho Fish and Game Commission relative to this issue. I've been doing so (via email) since September and I traveled to Lewiston from Boise last month to have the opportunity to speak at the public meeting that occurred the night before the Commission's quarterly scheduled meeting. I had the opportunity to speak to a few of the Commissioners after the meeting and through those contacts, I was able to determine that my position was an issue that the Commission had discussed in the past with the Department and its Director. The next Idaho Fish and Game Commission meeting is scheduled for January 26, 2024, in Boise and the public meeting where people will have an opportunity to communicate with the Commission will occur the previous day at 7 PM at the Department's Headquarters Office at 600 South Walnut Street. There is a three-minute time limit for public presentations, but written statements can be submitted to the Commissioner prior to the public meetings for presentation at that forum.
If you believe in this effort, please don't be apathetic. Send an email to the Commissioners to express your thoughts.
Below are the names of the Commissioners and their email addresses if you'd like to communicate with them on this (or any other) subject pertaining to Idaho's fish and game:
Chairman - Don Ebert, Weippe, Idaho (Clearwater Region) - [email protected]
Vice-Chairman - Ron Davies, Clayton, Idaho (Salmon Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Dave Bobbitt, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (Panhandle Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Tim Murphy, McCall, Idaho (Southwest Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Greg Cameron, Rupert, Idaho (Magic Valley Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Jordan Cheirrett, Lava Hot Spring, Idaho (Southeast Region) - [email protected]
Commissioner - Derick Attebury, Idaho Falls, Idaho (Upper Snake Region) - [email protected]
Copies of communications can also be sent to Idaho Department of Fish and Game Director Jim Fredricks at [email protected].
