MAY TOWN HALL

IDAHO SPORTSMEN | ACCESS & OPPORTUNITY

MONTHLY REPORT

May 2026

The change of season is in full swing across Idaho. Days are getting longer, warmer, and busier with spring seasons for turkey and bear open. Fishing is kicking into gear. Sportsmen from Sandpoint to Rexburg are shifting fully into spring and summer recreation. With the May Primary Election right around the corner and outdoor activity ramping up across the state, this month’s Idaho Sportsmen Town Hall focused on the policy, management, and conservation issues that continue to shape Idaho’s sporting community and in the wake of the 2026 Legislative Session.

A major focus of the evening centered on active forest management and federal legislation currently moving through Congress. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the 2026 Farm Bill. The U.S. Seante is now in discussions to do the same. Importantly, some of the provisions included in previous versions included language around the use of hunting dogs. Thankfully, these sections were cut from the Farm Bill after sportsmen called on Idaho’s federal delegation and alerted them. We want to thank our U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators and their staff for continually working on our behalf and being quick to respond and alleviate our concerns by pulling the language related to hunting dogs.

The Farm Bill also contains proposals aimed at expanding forest management tools, increasing Good Neighbor Authority opportunities, and improving the ability to complete timber and restoration projects. The Nez-Clear and Panhandle National Forests were highlighted throughout the discussion. Concerns remain over the significant volume of timber projects tied up in litigation and the long-term impacts delays can have on forest health, wildfire risk, watershed conditions, Access and Opportunity and rural economies across the west.

Federal efforts to modernize public land mapping systems also gaining momentum in policy debates. This month’s discussions focused on proposals in the Farm Bill to digitize outdated paper maps and improve public land access information for hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreationists. Improved mapping accuracy is expected to help reduce confusion surrounding access boundaries while improving the public’s ability to navigate Idaho’s vast network of federal lands. Of note here, special attention is being paid to the outdated and hard to use paper maps in the Salmon Challis National Forest as a key example where this technology can help.

As Idaho prepares for another wildfire season, wildfire preparedness and forestry initiatives were a focus of conversation during the town hall. Collaborative stewardship efforts centered on watershed restoration, active forest management, and forest resiliency continue to move forward across the state. Conversations also highlighted ongoing concerns regarding wildfire conditions, staffing needs, and funding availability heading into the hotter summer months as well as discussions about the upcoming IDF&G commission meeting in Coeur d’Alene.

Wildlife management and public land access issues continued to generate strong discussion. Conversations touched on the balance between hunting opportunity, public access, and landowner-based programs in various regions of the state. Upcoming Fish and Game Commission meetings and future rulemaking discussions were also highlighted, with continued encouragement for sportsmen to stay engaged in public comment opportunities and management discussions. This will be important for Houndsmen, wolf hunters, trappers, and anglers, and more as seasons are set and the conversation continues around the use of technology.

Wolf management and depredation funding remained another major focus. Updates surrounding wolf removal efforts and concerns regarding proposed reductions to depredation reimbursement funding from IDF&G prompted broader conversations about maintaining effective wildlife management tools while ensuring support remains available for impacted producers and rural communities.

Additional conversations included updates on trapping litigation, federal grizzly bear management, and the ongoing discussion surrounding hunting technology restrictions and how evolving technology may impact future regulations and fair chase principles.

The May Town Hall ultimately reinforced the importance of continued collaboration between sportsmen, legislators, land managers, and local communities as Idaho moves into the busy summer season. With major policy discussions continuing at both the state and federal levels, Idaho Sportsmen Access & Opportunity will continue working to keep the public informed and engaged on the issues impacting the future of Idaho’s outdoor traditions.

Our next townhall is scheduled for June 2, at 6 p.m.