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Committee adopts three Fish and Game rule dockets on bear ID test, game-management zones and spearfishing
Summary
The House Resources and Conservation Committee considered three Fish and Game rule dockets and approved rules on black-bear identification education, revisions to game-management zones and a definition/clarification for spearfishing.
The House Resources and Conservation Committee considered three rule dockets from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and took separate actions.
Black-bear identification educational test: Deputy Director Amber Worthington presented a temporary rule (effective Jan. 1 under the Commission’s temporary action) that would make an online identification test a requirement to hunt black bear. The department said the short online module is intended to reduce mistaken identification of grizzly bears and to show that hunters are taking steps to avoid incidental take of federally protected species. Worthington said the Idaho version of the test takes under 15 minutes to review and under five minutes to complete; she said it is free and that vendors and registration systems will notify purchasers about the requirement.
Representative Vander Wood initially moved to reject the pending rule; Representative Boyle then offered a substitute motion to adopt the rule. The committee adopted the substitute motion by voice vote. Committee discussion indicated the department will use discretion and education during the rule’s early implementation and that enforcement likely will begin with warnings for first-time noncompliance while hunters learn the new requirement.
Game-management zone boundary revisions and policy language: Deputy Director Worthington presented a second docket revising the boundaries for several Game Management Zones (Owyhee, Boise River, Big Desert and Snake River) to reflect changes in elk abundance, development and access over the last decade. The pending rule also adds language reaffirming Idaho’s policy position that the federal government cannot commandeer Idaho personnel or resources to enforce federal wildlife take laws. Representative Mickelson moved to accept the docket and the committee approved the pending rule by voice vote.
Spearfishing rule: The third docket established a definition of spearfishing and clarified that unprotected fish may be taken by the methods listed when a season is open; the department said the changes follow negotiated rulemaking with spearfishing advocates. A remote testifier, who described decades of competitive spearfishing experience on Lake Pend Oreille, urged adoption. Representative Mickelson moved to accept that docket; the committee approved it by voice vote.
Votes at a glance: the committee approved the pending bear-identification rule (substitute motion to adopt passed by voice vote), approved the game-management-zone revisions and policy language (accepted by voice vote), and approved the spearfishing rule (accepted by voice vote). The committee record shows voice votes; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.
Ending: Department staff said they will continue public outreach about the bear-identification test and that the Idaho State Department of Agriculture leads regulation and response for captive-facility CWD cases. Committee members asked for continued education, leniency during early enforcement and clarification of administrative processes for tag sales and vendor notification.
