Idaho Fish and Game Commissioners agreed to set November as a deadline to decide the fate of the coveted Sawtooth Elk Zone tags. The popular tags have been available on a limited, first-come, first-served basis for many years, which has created high demand at license vendors and online sales. Sawtooth tags have sold out in minutes, which left many hunters empty handed and disappointed.
Commissioners are considering continuing the status quo, converting the Sawtooth Zone to controlled hunts, or a combination of the two.
The cap on A and B Sawtooth Zone tags (Units 33, 34, 35, and 36) is to limit hunter participation and harvest because the zone’s elk herds remain below Fish and Game’s management plan objectives. Elk populations within the zone have steadily improved since the number of tags was limited, and so has hunter success, but the elk herds still remain below objectives.
(Photo source: Ty Hartwig)