Idaho non game wildlife conservation fund

Most IDFG funds come directly, in the form of license and tag fees from hunters and anglers, or indirectly from federal excise taxes on sporting equipment. Most non-game funding comes from the voluntary tax form check-off, wildlife license plate purchases and direct donations.

Tax check-off funds for wildlife have fallen off severely in recent years as several other check-off programs have been added to the tax form. Idaho Fish and Game has statutory responsibility for approximately 10, species - fish, wildlife and plants. Of these, about are vertebrate animals, 80 percent of which are classified as "nongame wildlife. Besides the check-off, the other major source of funding for nongame programs is through the sale of the distinctive bluebird, cutthroat trout and elk license plates.

Legislation established the state's first income tax check-off on the income tax form, which still continues as an important source of program income today. In , the Idaho Legislature passed the wildlife license plate bill that allowed a portion of the wildlife license plate proceeds to benefit nongame species.

The bluebird plate became available in The elk plate was added in and the cutthroat trout plate in Nongame programs include education, species conservation and wildlife-based recreation such as bird watching and wildlife photography. Examples of nongame wildlife projects include producing popular educational publications and conducting monitoring of species' populations. Better information about a species helps wildlife management efforts and could help keep some from becoming rare or endangered.

The number of Idaho residents participating in wildlife related activities, such as bird and wildlife watching, wildlife photography, bird feeding and conservation education, continues to rise. While this constituency continues to grow, the problem of how to fund key programs and meet ever-increasing demands continues. Idaho Fish and Game has statutory responsibility for approximately 10, species - fish, wildlife and plants. Nongame programs include education, species conservation and wildlife-based recreation such as bird watching and wildlife photography.

Examples of nongame wildlife projects include producing popular educational publications and conducting monitoring of species' populations. Better information about a species helps wildlife management efforts and could help keep some from becoming rare or endangered. The number of Idaho residents participating in wildlife related activities, such as bird and wildlife watching, wildlife photography, bird feeding and conservation education, continues to rise.

While this constituency continues to grow, the problem of how to fund key programs and meet ever-increasing demands continues. Idaho Fish and Game has statutory responsibility for approximately 10, species - fish, wildlife and plants.