APRIL TOWN HALL
IDAHO SPORTSMEN | ACCESS & OPPORTUNITY
MONTHLY REPORT
April 2026
The 2026 Idaho Legislature is done. Lawmakers are back home campaigning. The Governor is sorting through a stack of bills in his inbox. The halls of the Capitol are silent.
What that means for the rest of us is more time to focus on the things we love. Opening day of turkey season is just around the corner. Hunters keen to chase moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goats have until the end of the month to apply for tags. For anglers, the warm weather is a signal to get after it on Idaho’s lakes, ponds and rivers.
Before we launch into the recap of our April townhall, take a moment to consider attending this event of interest for Idaho sportsmen. On Monday April 13th, the Idaho Recreation Council will be hosting a half-day summit in Boise exploring the future of outdoor recreation in the state. Anyone interested in attending can do so by registering here.
As always, a thank you to all who turned out for our April townhall on April 7th. We always appreciate the interest and input from the leaders and members of various sporting groups across the state. If you missed it, well, we spent a lot of time looking back at some of the significant legislation that will in some way shape or form impact what we do in the wild going forward. Here’s a rundown.
Let’s start with some positive developments, including:
The Governor recently signed legislation regulating the use of thermal imaging, night vision, transmitting trail cameras and drones for hunting. The new law includes exemptions for predators, wolves and agricultural purposes.
The House and Senate passed a joint memorial providing support and encouragement for Idaho to continue pursuing wildlife crossings as a tool for protecting big game herds and public safety.
The Governor has signed a bill modifying eligibility for an Idaho lifetime hunting/fishing license. The change requires a resident to have lived in the state for at least five years, up from the current six-month duration.
A new law signed by Gov. Little enables wolf trappers to use remote trail cameras as a way to inspect traps.
The House and Senate approved a memorial stating the value of Idaho’s vast inventory of public lands and the importance of having unfettered access to those lands.
Another law signed by the Governor sets reasonable protections for the lawful use of working animals in commerce and service and prohibits state or local government entities from adopting more restrictive rules that could prohibit such use. This was known as the so-called “working dogs” legislation.
There was also some legislation of concern, including:
A property rights bill, brought by the Idaho Farm Bureau, and signed by Gov. Little. This law will require law enforcement, including fish and game officers, to obtain a warrant before entering private property as part of their investigation. It also creates civil and criminal penalties. This is something we will continue to work to fix in 2027 as conservation officers are treated different than other POST certified law enforcement under this bill.
The House and Senate passed legislation that would require Governors’ selection and Senate confirmation for directors of Fish and Game, Department of Parks and Recreation and Department of Transportation.
There was also discussion, and some frustration, with the fact the Legislature trimmed $10 million from the fiscal year 2027 budget for Fish and Game. Irritation with lawmakers stems from the fact that the money cut comes from dedicated accounts, meaning the funds derive from user fees or tags rather than tax dollars. It doesn’t save the state any money, the agency just can’t use it. Fish and Game Director Jim Fredericks said the money was designated for replacement items, such as vehicles, firearms and other aging equipment. Fredericks said he is committed to working with legislative budget writers next year to get access to those funds.
To learn more about other outdoors and sportsmen related legislation from the 2026 session, you can visit the bill tracker page on our website.
Now, for a little more background and context on the Idaho Recreation Council event on April 13th.
Dan Waugh, Director of the Idaho Recreation Council, said the summit will explore access to state lands, parks and interagency partnerships, sustainable recreation, and managing the growth of a recreation industry that accounts for $4.5 billion in annual GDP in Idaho. A collection of industry thought leaders, policy makers, and entrepreneurs will have a chance to share insights and help take a first step in developing a statewide vision for the future of the state’s outdoor recreation industry.
“I’m hoping we can begin chasing solutions to some of the problems we’re dealing with and look for common sense strategies,” Waugh said. “This is really an opportunity to begin to create a singular, statewide strategy for outdoor recreation.”
The last bit of significant news deals with efforts from sportsmen across the country related to proposed legislation impacting hunting dogs in the most recent version of the federal Farm Bill. Hunters in Idaho and beyond are concerned specifically about language that could be construed as a ban on “live lure training,” wording critics believe could threaten training for bird dogs, retrievers, hounds and field trials.
Idaho Sportsman Access and Opportunity Founder, Benn Brocksome, said he has already reached out to Idaho’s congressional delegation to warn about the language. Brocksome added that a lot of people and hunting organizations across the country are working hard to have the language changed or removed. Stay tuned for updates on this.
Finally, one other tidbit from the legislative session. In November, Idahoans will have the opportunity to vote and determine the official Idaho state gun. There will be a variety of options on the ballot. But we’re excited to see the will of voters and we celebrate the idea of Idaho putting its stamp on an important part of our culture and way of life. To learn more about the opportunity, visit this legislative webpage.
As always, we appreciate your support and interest. Anyone interested in attending our next meeting, it’s set for Tuesday May 5th at 6 p.m. at the Fish and Game headquarters in Boise. Information to join virtually is available here on our website. We look forward to hearing about your Turkey season success.