I’ve been listening to the discussion of the Joint Committee of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife about the elimination of a “Superpack” hunting license. The discussion has gone from eliminating the Superpack to amending or “fixing” the one that is there.
It amazes me, as I continue to listen, that none of the discussion involves anything biological or scientific. It is all about the money and meeting the demands of the license holders.
One issue is the inclusion of the expanded archery season for bow hunters into the Superpack license. It appears that the proposed Superpack will now include expanded archery. The discussion is whether that inclusion has any limits as to how many antlerless deer a Superpack license holder for expanded archery will be allowed to take. One proposal was for unlimited.
Now the discussion is whether a Superpack license should be sold to anyone who doesn’t have proof they have completed all safety courses required to hold other licenses.
It appears that the driving force behind keeping the Superpack license alive is to give hunters who can afford a Superpack a chance at getting a guaranteed antlerless deer permit with the license. It was discussed that if the time comes that the number of Superpack licenses sold is greater than the percentage of permits allowed through the Superpack deal, then somebody or somebodys will not get an antlerless deer permit. Last year there were about 750 Superpack licenses sold but those did NOT include expanded archery. A percentage is set up in four WMDs for the allotment of Any-Deer permits to Superpack licenses.
The committee seems to be hung up on hunters showing proof of safety courses. I am at sea over this because I don’t know how they can buy any license, whether rifle or archery without first showing proof of completing a safety course.
My thoughts at the moment are that it’s too complicated for any benefit it might have. It also falls into that category of taking hunting opportunities away from those who cannot afford a Superpack – debatable.
The committee is still hung up on showing proof of hunter safety. To buy a Superpack license online through MOSES, there is no system in place to verify an applicant’s successful completion of a safety course – honor system.
It has just been voted on to amend LD 605 to place a limit of 5 antlerless deer permits for a Superpack holder for expanded archery and to work out the details of how to verify safety course requirements for applicants. A revised LD 605 will be brought back to the committee for further work.
Tom Remington
