July 06–TWIN FALLS — Confusion over a new law lowering the minimum age to hunt big game in Idaho created a public relations problem for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
The new law — which lowered the minimum big game hunting age from 12 to 10 — took effect July 1.
But the controlled-hunt drawing took place in June. The department’s eligibility guidelines were unclear, resulting in 283 underage applicants drawing tags that eligible youth and adult hunters should have gotten.
Because of the new law, some underaged youths — thinking they were eligible — entered the drawing and drew tags.
The problem stemmed from a computer glitch that didn’t recognize underaged applicants, a Fish and Game spokeswoman told the Times-News Thursday. Before the new law took effect, children of 10 or 11 could only hunt birds and small animals, she said.
“Some kids entered the drawing, and they were only 9, and that’s what got me fired up,” said Darren Funk, of Kimberly. “I know it started a big controversy.”
Adult hunters were angry because the number of underaged hunters who entered the June drawing reduced adults’ odds of drawing a tag, Funk said.
In an effort to restore hunter confidence in the department, Director Virgil Moore announced a special drawing for an additional 283 controlled-hunt tags for children 12 to 18 for deer, elk and pronghorn.
In addition, 1,500 young hunters who did not enter the controlled-hunt drawing will receive a
$6.25 certificate toward the purchase of a future license or tag.
Moore explained his reasoning last week in an open letter to Idaho hunters, citing language in the 2014 Big Game season and rulebook that “was not clear and consistent.”
The department will honor the tags drawn by underaged applicants, he said.
“I stand by these kids, their parents and their excitement, in allowing them to proceed with their first hunting opportunity for big game using these permits,” he wrote. “I simply cannot bring myself to disappoint them given the confusion about this issue.”
Those eligible for the special controlled-hunt drawing will be automatically entered, and the results of the drawing will be available by July 10 on the Fish and Game’s website.
Under the law now in effect, any hunter who will be at least 10 by the start of the controlled hunt will be eligible to apply. Applications for the second drawing will be accepted Aug. 5 through Aug. 15.