10/23/09

BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ Out-of-state hunters have balked at buying
up nonresident deer and elk tags this year, citing the economy, a
growing wolf population blamed for eating big game _ and the 2009
Idaho Legislature's move to slap them with fee increases that dig
deeper into their wallets.

Department of Fish and Game Director Cal Groen told the
Spokesman-Review, ``At this time we are not sold out and we're
seeing a lag.''

Earlier this year, lawmakers balked at a proposed fee increases
for all hunters and anglers.

Instead, they passed a narrower alternative that targeted only
out-of-staters.

That had been projected to raise an additional $2.5 million
annually for the department to fund its ongoing activities, but
revenue from tag sales is down about 9 percent, or about $1
million, below the same point last year.

Sen. Joyce Broadsword of Sagle says ``it was just totally unfair
to put it all on out-of-state hunters.''
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Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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