"What they are considering," Stapleton writes, "is issuing landowners up to 10 percent of the November controlled mule deer buck permits in units 40, 41, 42 and 56. This proposal is of interest in two ways. First, to my knowledge, this is the first time the Idaho Commission has seriously entertained the landowner permit question. It is, of course, an accepted practice in many other states in the West, as a way of allowing landowners to recover some of their losses due to wildlife. It has proven to be a strong element in the ongoing efforts to mend sportsmen/landowner relations. In fact, they have nicknamed the proposed permits `Landowner Appreciation Permits.'
"The real value to us as hunters, especially as nonresident hunters, is that it promises to allow us access to some hunting that would otherwise not be available. As for the specific units selected for this `trial balloon,' three of them (Units 40, 41, 42) are located in the southeastern corner of the state. These units have historically held good bucks, as has unit 56, which is more centrally located.
"Currently, these units have seasons restricting the harvest to two-point or smaller deer. The goal is to let deer herds here recover to the levels they enjoyed in the late 1980s and early 90s. Word I have is, the deer are beginning to recover, which means this new opportunity is well worth following. I'll do just that, and will file an update as circumstances warrant."
........(continued)
