[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6352412,"mediaKeyId","2224572-93a40c084d58fdcb5f842a32bfa9b383","parentId",2224572,"title","Committee adopts three Fish and Game rule dockets on bear ID test, game-management zones and spearfishing","audioSeconds",1852,"startMs",3939000,"endMs",5791000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2224572-93a40c084d58fdcb5f842a32bfa9b383&start=3939&end=5791","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2224572-93a40c084d58fdcb5f842a32bfa9b383/thumbnail_3939000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6352412/Idaho/Committee-adopts-three-Fish-and-Game-rule-dockets-on-bear-ID-test-game-management-zones-and-spearfishing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352412-cea34f43bac2f434ed2d148ec09cd343/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137686&Signature=cQgJtw1Zvi1DE5f1BRujOEB5EskLL4qxOwo2JtYxfY5eg6dyd8td8eDRTncX5pI7tmK6KSFGJ6eGkJx070g7EJtsCsLM5wme6j~yEO0siuVJdkC-Flq-tI2fNGclDfpOusfAw4GPYJYUmvt93PCku2LOtZHZGNd0Btd3vNh1Mz7kpKYm0GYw84fnQR~zo0MuT8Z~1rr7rg6RiP3GvajDFnuv4rGUmNYhQKXFwRrbmlS-HQQhNRbsJuwYdgtCY1qXmEb9W9KJP7isnbq7xguNWsFZnk-FgXKfin3km-Is6IJAtlOtWnNgCfJk43IwqqPMZOZxJQKzD7dcvSVdHoA7hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Idaho House of Representatives","date","2025-01-27T00:00:00Z","article","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.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Resources & Conservation Meeting January 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","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.","taxTitle","Resources and Conservation, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Idaho","taxId",56899,"location","Idaho","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6352417,"Fish and Game director briefs committee on agency performance, chronic wasting disease and wolf trends",3264,635000,3899000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2224572-93a40c084d58fdcb5f842a32bfa9b383&start=635&end=3899","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2224572-93a40c084d58fdcb5f842a32bfa9b383/thumbnail_635000.jpg","/articles/6352417/Idaho/Fish-and-Game-director-briefs-committee-on-agency-performance-chronic-wasting-disease-and-wolf-trends","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352417-e0b132e62eabedd894bdd928d6350d0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137686&Signature=WcC2-yID4EQhZEE4EipE-wHldS5yEsd1l~XlT7FgE~sjIJEF-7MJt7YMmAPV61SZkZJQGUX~nTvqHAf41vEYHCugZBtV7j7JOB8U2m7BAFxHxgkpJsL7QZuHHn60qG9vHuCgNmuIBkVB4XMZFrMyNrjCchAgXbjf9qnjwXVcsdatwLUBJoO0tk-HAdqu2LHwQiBLq7iAeFUmyUUGYgQGj36HxPZOv9eTeFf7fZMQYRS~10XQ0r7C5WY9j38TG8Wei~cdLEJn6naAm0lmzxdF5QMAQVqA-fDUwek2BLFk12Wj-lECEOvcPkmRO-s0B1beNmwv3Mbp5IMFyFM4t17c0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jim Fredericks, director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, told the House Resources and Conservation Committee the agency’s core functions include communications, enforcement, engineering, technical services, fisheries and wildlife, and noted the department receives no general fund dollars, relying primarily on license sales, excise taxes and federal grants.

The director summarized performance metrics: a 9.5% violation rate in FY24 for checked licenses (target under 10%), near-target fish stocking numbers with adjustments for natural Kokanee recovery in Lake Pend Oreille, and personnel metrics showing a slight dip in two-year retention. Fredericks said license and tag prices are set in statute and noted inflationary effects on revenue and operations.

Chronic wasting disease: Fredericks described CWD as an untreatable prion disease that affects deer, elk and moose and “prions are virtually impossible to destroy.” He said CWD prions can persist in soil “in excess of 17 years,” are shed in saliva, urine and feces, and can spread by contact with infected animals or contaminated environments. The department’s surveillance history dates to 1997. Idaho’s first detection was in Slate Creek in Game Management Unit (GMU) 14; the commission established a CWD management zone in Units 14 and 15 and increased harvest and mandatory testing. Fredericks said the Panhandle detection north of Bonners Ferry produced low prevalence (under 0.5% after ~1,400 samples). He also reported two recently positive captive elk facilities in eastern Idaho near Rigby; the Idaho State Department of Agriculture is leading the response for the captive facilities.

Fredericks summarized management lessons from other jurisdictions: aggressive, focal reductions of deer populations in infected areas can keep prevalence lower over time; jurisdictions that stopped active reduction efforts saw prevalence rise. He said the department’s approach mixes increased harvest opportunity, targeted removals (landowner tags, agency operations, voluntary programs) and mandatory testing in management zones.

Wolves: Fredericks described changes in monitoring methods — from collars and winter aerial counts to a trail-camera grid and, recently, a genetics-based estimate using teeth collected from harvested wolves. He said independent camera- and genetics-based methods show the statewide wolf population declined after 2021. The agency projects that achieving a management objective of a long-term average near 500 wolves would require roughly 37% annual human-caused mortality (combined hunting, trapping, agency removals). He told the committee human-caused mortality in recent years averaged about 37% and confirmed that reported wolf-livestock depredations have declined since a 2018 peak, although he cautioned that not all depredations may be reported.

Fredericks explained a federal-court injunction in spring 2024 limited recreational wolf trapping in 19 counties defined as grizzly bear habitat (trapping allowed only when grizzlies are denning), a ruling that the state is seeking to have reconsidered. He said the injunction affects counties that historically contributed a large share of trap harvest and that trapping typically accounts for a little over half of wolf harvest. The department said other tools — hunting, agency removals, producer grants and wolf-kill permits for producers — remain available and are not covered by the injunction.

Ending: Fredericks said the department will continue monitoring CWD and wolf populations and work with partner agencies; committee members asked follow-up questions about carcass disposal, captive-facility import protocols and surveillance.","Idaho Department of Fish and Game Director Jim Fredericks presented the agency’s performance report, outlined the department’s chronic wasting disease (CWD) response and gave updated population and monitoring information for wolves, including effects of a federal injunction on trapping.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6352422,"House committee introduces RS31929 to clarify groundwater-district annexation, telemetry and billing dates",512,86000,598000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2224572-93a40c084d58fdcb5f842a32bfa9b383&start=86&end=598","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2224572-93a40c084d58fdcb5f842a32bfa9b383/thumbnail_86000.jpg","/articles/6352422/Idaho/House-committee-introduces-RS31929-to-clarify-groundwater-district-annexation-telemetry-and-billing-dates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352422-d3898fbd4d8f7eb280ea669e06e6d757/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137686&Signature=aQsC-pvscQQkO~PHYzSqOis5Mq03ljg44SBLtU~OFw1ASHXQTupAIDU0mj-N0WX-ydXNvZ2MehhFhxMLP-0Y9t7-zCMu87KGb3NqPr20CyFSevINS8sSu0NnucgSA2ZmsJMlKgBx0TmXJ7IlV73XhXb57FGNujhkWnuREBYJBCWY2ayOfo5a9SNj5iQDxfwoo58pdp-BMSAqMjnB9i5TsP09rFnqDH0YL57acZbtWF1FBsXOJn2AbdCiMA22M1p066O~GtHLGxz4dra6bXOuadT6VGCIbQtTLweLpm3YTpkn7UuS7AMFl9U4u5RUPxdISBEPvCxAMygU-nn~NIQ~hA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Heather Mickelson, speaking for Legislative District 32, told the House Resources and Conservation Committee that RS31929 would correct gaps in recent legislation that required basins and subbasins of the Eastern Snake River Plain aquifer to form or join groundwater districts.

Mickelson said the proposal “simply gives us the ability to annex those groundwater districts into an existing district” and would allow affected areas to add board members so newly annexed residents have representation. She also said the draft changes adjust statutory timelines for billing and delinquency notices and permit the use of telemetry devices to measure water use rather than relying only on mechanical meters.

The nut graf: Committee members heard that the changes respond to problems that emerged after the last legislative session’s enactment of what Mickelson referred to as “Senate bill 1341” (as recalled by the presenter). Committee discussion focused on practical effects: representation for newly annexed areas, workable billing schedules, and modernizing measurement methods.

During questioning, Representative Miller asked whether the draft would let an existing district subdivide. Mickelson clarified it would not permit a district to split itself; it would allow a separate subbasin to form its own district or to join an existing one and, if annexed, to receive board representation. She also described a local example: a portion of Bonneville County known locally as the Ryrie area sought to join the Bonneville–Jefferson Groundwater District and requested board seats to represent the annexed area.

Mickelson said the timeline changes respond to real-world billing constraints: under the current schedule, assessments mailed Dec. 1 left too little time to process payments before delinquency actions were due in January. She also testified that many irrigators find modern telemetry preferable to the traditional meters because telemetry provides real-time data and avoids frequent, costly meter replacements.

The committee approved a motion to introduce RS31929. Representative Raybould moved “I move we introduce RS31929”; the committee voice-voted in favor and the measure will be introduced for the legislative process.

Ending: The RS will move through the drafting and introduction process; the committee did not debate a final statutory text or take a recorded roll-call at this meeting.","Representative Mickelson presented RS31929 to permit annexation of subbasins into existing groundwater districts, add board representation, adjust assessment timelines and allow telemetry devices; the committee voted to introduce the request for statute (RS31929).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts three Fish and Game rule dockets on bear ID test, game-management zones and spearfishing

Fish and Game director briefs committee on agency performance, chronic wasting disease and wolf trends

House committee introduces RS31929 to clarify groundwater-district annexation, telemetry and billing dates