Idaho Right to Hunt, Fish,and Trap

[bay'emup]

There is currently a bill in the Idaho Legislature that seeks to protect our right to hunt, fish, and trap. It is termed HJR002A by the legislature. I just finished reading the bill, and the intent is great, but I don't feel the language is specific enough. It says that the "traditional methods" will be protected. You all know as well as I do that any environmental lawyer will tear that language apart. If we want to avoid the same problem that our friends in California are facing right now, please call your local representative and ask them to put in language that specifically protects hound hunting. All you have to do is Google ''Idaho Legislature" and it has all the contact info you need to reach your rep. and tell them to add hound language. Probably take less than ten minutes. Just make sure and have HJR002A ready so they know what bill you are referencing. I already talked to my rep's office and had three other houndsmen call as well. The more of us that call, the better chance we have of averting disaster in the near future.

[cowboy32]

I've read the bill as well and I can see where the opposing sides could butcher the wording of the bill. On the other hand, the "traditional method" is pretty vague so you could also argue that hound hunting has been a tradition along with the use of rifles, bows, and any other sort of hunting. I believe the person who wrote the bill may have left it more vague in order to protect the bill from coming under attack if they left something out. Lets just say it passed and a year later someone comes in and says, well this wasn't in the bill so it's not protected and they want to take it away. Using a broad spectrum might result in more protection from anti hunting groups. I do believe the bill should be a little more in depth and worded better but I also believe that leaving the wording slightly vague may work out better in the long run in case they forget to put something in there. I mean who is to say what traditional is and what it isn't. Just my two cents on the matter.

[cowboy32]

Also, this bill passed the House yesterday 64-4. It now is open to go to the Senate so if you have any changes you want to make, start contacting your senators and ask them to file for an amendment.

[cowboy32]

Just wanted to put this update up for everyone, this bill has passed both the house and senate and now goes to the governer before it is final.

[brycejohnson]

I will say one thing, even though the bill may not have been worded perfectly I would like to congratulate those hunters living in Idaho. I personally live in California, and I can just say were not having the same type of luck, unfortunately. I'm glad to hear the right thing is being done somewhere!

[nait hadya]

might be easier to defend if it is somewhat of a blanket statement. you can't get much more traditional than hound hunting,it is the epitome of traditional hunting.