Long-time subscribers will remember that Conservation Force's John J. Jackson, III has been pressuring Idaho for some time about its unfair and perhaps illegal discrimination against nonresidents in the allocation of moose permits. Clearly, that pressure made a difference and the hunting community owes Jackson a lot for his efforts here. Also, the commission itself is to commended for making what is clearly a good and fair decision.
Still in Idaho, but on another matter, anyone planning to hunt here as a nonresident should note that the commission has clarified its "10 percent rule" for nonresident controlled hunt permits. Now, nonresidents will be strictly limited to 10 percent of the total number of permits issued by species across the state. The big change here is in the way sheep permits will be issued. Up to now, nonresident have been allowed to draw a permit in areas where less than 10 permits are available. The end result statewide has been a significant tilt toward nonresidents. This past year, for example, nonresidents managed to draw 25 of the 105 permits that were issued, or 24 percent of the total.
To prevent undue hardship to sheep outfitters, who rely on nonresident hunters for much of their income, the state has decided to implement the new........(continued)
