BOISE, Idaho — The House Resources and Conservation committee unanimously sent House Bill 404 (HB404) to the House floor Monday after little conversation.
The legislation would allow government agencies, including the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), to deny public record requests of specific wildlife animal locations. It’s a practice by some hunters that bill supporters call unethical.
"It's against fair chase," Former Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation (IWSF) President Bill London said. "People have done it, and with the advances in technology, it's expanding."
Big Horn Sheep are a highly valued animal for Idaho hunters. Legally, hunters can only get one tag in their lifetime; IWSF has been concerned about this use of GPS tracking data for years. A fellow hunter observing the committee - who did not publicly testify - also opposes the practice.
"I don't think there's any pride in being able to shoot something where this technology is involved," Jim Runsvold told KTVB after the committee meeting ended. "Get out there among them, track them down, and use your hunting skills."
The government tracks wildlife through collars or other devices to map migration patterns, understand how herds mingle with each other, and promote the overall health of the population, according to London.
"One of the big problems with bighorn sheep medicine, disease. So, it's important to know which herds are moving in and intermingling with others," London said. "[Abusing the data] also compromises wildlife research. The agencies naturally are hesitant to collar some animals, because it makes them more vulnerable."
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission testified in support of the bill alongside bill sponsor Rep. James Petzke (R-Meridian). The bill language also allows the government to exempt PRR requests for field camera locations; Rep. Josh Tanner (R-Eagle) voiced concern with that portion of the bill.
The committee held no further discussion before passing the legislation.
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