Hunter Privacy Bill Passes Idaho State House
Monday, March 08, 2010
On Thursday, March 4, the Idaho State House successfully passed House Bill 531aa by a vote of 55 to 14. HB 531a now moves to the Senate where it awaits committee assignment.
This important legislation, sponsored by Representative Judy Boyle (R-Midvale), would amend Idaho’s existing law to limit public access to Fish and Game records of issued tags. HB 531aa would also prohibit future harassment, intimidation and threats relating to the lawful taking and control of fish and wildlife. As the law currently stands, any person or organization can contact Fish and Game and request the names of all people who have been issued tags and what type of hunting tag they have been issued.
During the 2009 hunting season, the names of everyone who had a wolf tag were printed in a local paper and subsequently broadcasted nationally. Although these hunters followed the law and direction by Idaho’s wildlife experts, they were incessantly harassed by anti-hunting groups and radical animal “rights” extremists. It is the intention of Representative Boyle to prevent such future harassment and the NRA supports her effort to protect hunters’ rights to privacy and protection.
