|
|
|
Hunters can extend their seasons with second
tags |
|
August 16, 2016 |
By Mike Demick, Conservation
Information Supervisor
Idaho Fish and Game
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission reduced the
price for second elk tags if purchased during
August, and hunters are taking advantage of the
savings.
More than 380 elk hunters purchased second elk
tags as of Friday, August 12. The price
reduction coincides with high populations of
deer and elk due to a series of mild winters and
good survival.
Through August only, resident and nonresident
hunters can buy remaining nonresident elk tags
as second tags for $299, which is discounted
from the regular price of $416. Starting
September 1, prices will return to their regular
price. These prices do not include the $1.75
vendor fees.
Second deer tags are also available but will not
be discounted due to high demand. The price for
second deer tags is $300 (plus $1.75 vendor fee)
while supplies last.
Second elk and deer tags are sold on a first
come, first served basis and are available until
the nonresident tag quotas are reached. Tags can
be purchased at all license vendors, Fish and
Game offices, online at https://idfg.idaho.gov,
and by phone with a credit card at
1-800-554-8685.
Fish and Game is forecasting good deer and elk
hunting this year because of consecutive mild
winters and good survival. Hunters had excellent
success last year and deer and elk populations
remain strong. For a preview on the upcoming
season, go to
https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/idaho-hunters-another-great-big-game-season
The second tag program has been popular with
hunters. For many years, portions of the
nonresident quota of 12,815 elk tags and 15,000
deer tags went unsold. Since 2000, they have
been available as second tags for residents and
nonresidents alike, although the majority of
second tags (about 70 percent) are sold to
residents.
Nonresident tag quotas are factored into
projected harvest rates, so Fish and Game
officials don’t expect increased sales, either
as nonresident tags or second tags, will lead to
overharvesting of deer or elk. Last year,
hunters using second tags accounted for 1.4
percent of the statewide elk harvest and 3.5
percent of the statewide deer harvest. There
were over 168,000 deer and 101,000 elk tags sold
in Idaho in 2015.
For more information about the second tags,
including frequently asked question, go to
https://idfg.idaho.gov/buy/second-tag. |
|
|
|
Questions or comments about this
article?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
