Hunt Outfitter Update

IOGA Hunt Outfitter Regional Meetings

Please join us! IOGA will host and provide the agenda for the meetings. These meetings will be virtual (via Zoom) with hunt outfitters, respective regional Commissioners, and Regional Fish and Game staff. 

The F&G proposals for deer and elk seasons for each region are now posted on the F&G website. Please review them before this Zoom meeting. As the zone you operate in comes up, introduce yourself (company name, species you hunt).Your suggestions to F&G staff should cover season dates, herd stability and numbers, access issues, and allocation. IOGA will manage the meeting. Be on time and concise, time for discussion will be divided between all outfitters in the zone / unit. 

This meeting will take place via Zoom. If you have questions about how to use Zoom, please contact Jeff (208) 315 -1840 or Lauren (208) 342 -1438 prior to the meeting.

• February 18 – Regions 1 and 2  1:00-4:00PM PST

• February 19 – Regions 3 and 7  1:00-4:00PM MST

• February 22 – Regions 4, 5, 6     1:00-4:00PM MST

• Decided to allocate the additional 40% of historic use in the elk zones with non-resident tags which became capped at their December meeting.

• IOGA supported the inclusion of the remaining 40% of allocated outfitted tags to bring the number of allocated outfitted elk tags in these newly capped Zones to 100% of the historic use by outfitted hunters. Many of you wrote emails to the Commissioners, including letters from your communities. The Commissioners heard you! These additional tags are important to your business, community, and economy. Their YES vote to accept the Department proposal was because of IOGA and your response.

• Number of outfitted allocated tags in each hunt that was approved by the Commission

• Rick Ward, IDFG Deer and Elk Program Coordinator, presented the update to the Commission on the condition of elk and deer herds around the state. 

Click here for presentation slides

Click here for presentation overview

IOGLB Meeting Update

IOGLB met on Feb. 1st to consider the Committee report on reviewing the 2018 and 2019 use reports submitted by Outfitters to the Board to change their historic use of elk and deer tags in the newly capped hunts. The Committee reported to the Board that they had developed a set of recommendations to follow when examining the revised use reports.

Click here for committee recommendations 

What’s Next?…

IDFG has sent the number of allocated outfitted elk tags approved by the Commission to the IOGLB. The IOGLB is in the process of verifying the 2018 and 2019 use reports that Outfitters sent in last December. Outfitters have until Feb 12th to return their verification documents. Outfitters who do not return any verification documents will have their previously reported numbers used. Hunts that have corrected historical use data will be forwarded to the F&G Department for recommendations to the Commission to consider additional allocated tags.

The elk hunts that do not have contested past use reports will be designated first. To check the status: google “IOGLB portal home” — click “Allocated Tags” (on the left side) — click “Status of 2021 New Hunts”

Click here for status of 2021 New Hunts

IOGLB will send an email notification to outfitters of their designated number of allocated tags. Outfitters will have two weeks to appeal their designated tag number. Any hunt that is appealed will have all the outfitters in the hunt notified for their input, then the Board will decide the appeal.

It is unlikely that the new allocated outfitted tags will be available to purchase before the first part of March.

The Fish and Game Commission meets March 18th to set big game seasons and set the number of outfitted allocated tags in previously capped elk hunts and controlled hunts. IOGA has sent a letter to the Department and the Commissioners requesting that they follow the statues and rules of allocation when considering these allocations. These allocated outfitted tags will follow the same process, so don’t expect them until late April.

Click here to see IOGA’s letter