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Committee approves hunter-education and spearfishing rule dockets, holds game-zone rule for follow-up
Summary
The Senate Resources & Environment Committee approved two rule dockets from the Department of Fish and Game — a mandatory online education test for black bear hunters and a spearfishing definition and related gear clarifications — and held a separate docket revising game management zone boundaries for follow-up questions.
The Senate Resources & Environment Committee approved two Fish and Game rule dockets and held a third for additional review.
Amber Worthington, deputy director of programs and policy for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, presented three dockets. The committee approved docket 13-0102-2401, a temporary and pending rule requiring passage of an online test to support black bear hunting traditions while reducing mistaken identity of grizzly bears. Worthington said the test — currently available from Montana and Washington or through a new Idaho online exam — is brief: "For instance it took me only 4 minutes to do the test. Studying is about 13 minutes," she said. Senator Guthrie asked about pass/fail mechanics; Worthington said applicants may retake the test until they pass and that the pass threshold is 80 percent.
The committee held docket 13-0107-2401, which would change boundaries of four game management zones (Owyhee, Boise River, Big Desert and Snake River) and add language reaffirming the state's position that the federal government cannot commandeer Idaho personnel to enforce federal wildlife take laws. Several senators asked whether language of that kind belonged in statute rather than rule; the committee voted to hold the docket at the call of the chair to allow follow-up and clarification.
The committee approved docket 13-0111-2401, which adds a definition for spearfishing to distinguish underwater spearfishing from above-water spear use and clarifies that unprotected fish may still be taken by certain methods when seasons are open. Worthington said the spearfishing changes resulted from a petition and negotiated rulemaking with interested parties in North Idaho.
Votes: the committee approved dockets 13-0102-2401 and 13-0111-2401; docket 13-0107-2401 was held for further review. For docket 13-0102-2401 a single negative vote was recorded in the transcript (one senator said "Nay").
