Question:
I didn’t see many deer this hunting season, and then I hear that the G&F is increasing the number of nonresident licenses by 40 percent. Why are you doing that?

Answer:
There are no plans to increase nonresident license quotas. What you are referring to is a proposal to increase the nonresident “special” deer license quota from 20 to 40 percent.

Legislation creating “special” licenses was enacted more than 10 years ago. It created two prices of nonresident licenses for elk, deer and antelope and established quotas of 20 percent for deer, 30 percent for antelope and 40 percent for elk, which come out of the established nonresident quota. For example, if a limited-quota deer area had 100 total licenses, the number issued to nonresidents is 20, since nonresidents get 20 percent of the quota. Currently, 20 percent or four licenses are set aside for those who apply for the special licenses.

Under the proposal, “special” license quotas would be standardized at 40 percent for elk, deer and antelope. In the example just used, 40 percent or eight of these licenses will be set aside for the special drawing. The total nonresident licenses will still be 20, but they will just be distributed differently. Overall resident and nonresident quotas will stay the same.

Question:
My 10-year-old received a new BB gun for Christmas. Do you offer a
class that will teach him to use it safely?

Answer:
As with many things, it is the parents' call as to when a youth is responsible enough to own a gun, whether it is a firearm or air rifle. Teaching gun safety to youngsters is a continual effort which usually falls on older family members. To add to this home instruction, there are hunter education courses offered across the state which, among other things, teach safe, responsible use of firearms. Call your local G&F office or (800) 842-1934 or check the G&F Web site at gf.state.wy.us for upcoming courses. The winter months are a good time to take hunter education, because classes are frequently offered.

Question:
I am looking for another muzzleloader rifle and I see that most manufacturers are making rifles that take number 209 primers rather than caps. Is it true that these primers are not legal in Idaho?

Answer:
True, in muzzleloader-only and traditional muzzleloader seasons, Idaho's rules on muzzleloaders require that they are "equipped only with a flint or percussion cap." If you are hunting in an any-weapon season with a muzzleloader, there is no restriction on primers or caps.

Question:
My daughter is 10 and wants to hunt. How can she get this free license we have heard about?

Answer:
It's only free for graduates of an Idaho hunter education course who have never had a hunting license, age 10-17. Call your regional Fish and Game office and find out when the next registration day is. On that day, sign her up for a course. After successfully completing the course she will receive the free license. It is good for hunting upland game and waterfowl. It is not good for turkeys or sandhill cranes. If she is interested in hunting turkeys or sandhill cranes, she needs to get the Youth Small Game Hunting License for $6.50. For big game, she'll have to wait until she's 12 and get the Junior Hunting License.