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bill</title></head><body>
<div><tt><font color="#000000">Not only is the price reduced, but the
hunt will be a blood hunt with no carcass recovery required. No
mention yet as to how many tags might be offered. To add insult to
injury, the article seems to be implying that the tag fees collected,
including auction tags, will not offset the cost of managing the
program at the level the federal government has done through state
delegation. That means the wolf "management program" will be
subsidized by money collected from other hunting tags. So know ahead
of time when you purchase your hunting license and big game or upland
bird tag that some portion of that money is going to help Idaho kill
wolves whether you believe in it or not.</font></tt></div>
<div><tt><font color="#000000"><br></font></tt></div>
<div><tt><font color="#000000">And our Senator Schroeder helped lead
the way.</font></tt></div>
<div><tt><font color="#000000"><br></font></tt></div>
<div><tt><font color="#000000">Mark</font></tt></div>
<div><tt><font color="#000000"><br></font></tt></div>
<div><tt><font color="#000000">*******</font></tt></div>
<div><tt><font color="#000000">Idaho reduces cost of wolf
tags</font></tt></div>
<div><tt><font color="#000000">Hunters to pay $9.75; same for bears,
cougars</font></tt></div>
<div><tt><font color="#000000"><br>
Parker Howell<br>
Staff writer<br>
February 6, 2007<br>
<br>
BOISE - A tag to hunt wolf in Idaho will cost about $10 - less
than state wildlife officials initially planned.<br>
<br>
If wolves are removed from the federal list of endangered species as
proposed, gray-wolf tags will cost in-state hunters $9.75, the same
price the Department of Fish and Game charges for bear and cougar
tags, according to a bill introduced Monday. Moose tags cost $165, 17
times more.<br>
<br>
The Fish and Game Commission originally set the price of a wolf tag at
$26.50 for Idahoans.<br>
<br>
Advertisement<br>
The Senate Resources and Environment Committee unanimously voted to
introduce the bill authorizing wolf hunting in preparation for federal
action revoking wolves' protected status - a process that has
already begun. A Fish and Game spokesman has said wolf hunting could
begin this year.<br>
<br>
Sen. Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, a bill sponsor, said wolves will be
treated like other big-game carnivores, and the state has "done a
very good job of managing those species over the years."
Officials collect statistics about where bears and cougars are killed
and set seasons to maintain animal populations.<br>
<br>
"I want to take the opportunity to assure the American people
that Idaho is going to be very responsible in the management of its
wolves," he said. "We're not going to eliminate them; we're
not going to try to eliminate them."<br>
<br>
Tags will cost $150 for non-residents. Fees would help offset about
$720,000 in federal wolf management funds that the state will lose
once the species is delisted, according to the legislation.<br>
<br>
The commission initially proposed that wolf tags pay for the
wolf-management program, suggesting the larger fee for wolves and
raising the bear and cougar fees. But those proposed higher fees
caused concern, and commissioners decided to keep prices stable, said
Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, another bill sponsor.<br>
<br>
The sponsors estimate that wolf tag sales could mirror those of other
predatory animals. Bear tag sales total about $301,000 a year, and
mountain lion tags bring in about $67,400.<br>
<br>
As many as 10 wolf tags would be available for special auctions or
lotteries. Auction sales could net as much as $100,000, according to
the bill.<br>
<br>
Schroeder said moose, sheep and goat tags cost much more because of
consumer demand. Wolves, while popular at first, likely won't have
high long-term demand, he said.<br>
<br>
Idaho law would not require hunters to use or remove wolf carcasses as
they must do with noncarnivorous animals and bears.<br>
<br>
Schroeder said hunters will "take ownership" of wolves to
make sure they aren't overhunted. Wolf populations will remain robust
in the state's more remote areas, while wolves near cities, where they
may prey on livestock and pets, will be hunted, he said. "I
suspect the wolves are going to become very wary and very difficult to
get," he said.</font></tt><br>
<tt><font color="#000000"></font></tt></div>
<div><tt><font color="#000000">The committee will have a hearing on
wolf hunting next week, Schroeder said.</font></tt></div>
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