Introducing: The Legislative “Season”

Photo: File/IWF

Why the legislative season deserves space on every Idahoans yearly hunting, fishing, outdoor calendar

By Daniel A. Ritz, Idaho Wildlife Federation staff

As sportsmen and women, we all have certain dates circled on our respective calendars. 

Undoubtedly, a number of these yearly holidays mark the seasons of your favorite pursuits: big game, upland or migratory birds, fish, ascents of alpine summits or descents of your favorite river. 

We at Idaho Wildlife Federation (IWF) encourage Idaho sportsmen and women to make the Idaho legislature a season you’re prepared for and active during. 

Monday, January 10th, 2022 was opening day for the Idaho state legislative session and, below, we’ve come up with just a few reasons why we believe the “Legislative Season” is a season like many others that IWF supporters are familiar with, and why it deserves a place on your calendar. 

Training

Success starts in the weeks, months and years before your favorite season starts. Whether it’s catching your favorite native trout species high in the Sawtooths or chugging up the hill chasing chukar, you don’t lace up your boots on Day 1. 

Conservation advocacy requires the same level of preparation. IWF works year-round to facilitate strategic legislative planning, and so should you. For starters, you can find out what representatives represent you in the capitol HERE. 

Scouting

Any experienced sportsman or woman will tell you that while discovering new places may be enjoyable, you’d be best to think of discovery and effectiveness as mutually exclusive. Knowing the lay-of-the-land and being comfortable with the terrain is essential to confidently and efficiently carrying out your goals for your season.  

While the geographical “where” of the legislative session isn’t as involved as scouring maps and spending weekends touring a future elk unit, we at IWF suggest becoming more familiar with the issues that impact your hunting, fishing and outdoor experiences. The Idaho Wildlife Federation represents 29 different clubs and organizations, as well as their thousands of members- a unified voice for sportsmen and women for wildlife management. 

We share the understanding that individuals within and among the various organizations may differ on political or personal philosophies, or even the preferred pursuit of wildlife, but we share a common passion for the resource nonetheless. Fish and wildlife do not choose political alliances; they do not support ideology- they simply need abundant, healthy habitat and science based management, a non-partisan issue.

Learn more and find your community with an IWF Affiliate that’s right for you. 

The Hunt

How many times have you heard, “that’s why they call it fishing, not ‘catching.” 

We roll our eyes just like you do, but that doesn’t mean the saying isn’t true. 

A successful season occurs through persistence. It’s rising well before the sun in order to set-up in your favorite turkey haunt or duck blind. It’s cresting the next bluff. It’s enduring an intense upriver wind on your yearly steelhead trip. 

t’s maintaining hope through adversity. 

IWF professionally represents sportsmen’s interests in the legislature each and every day. From committee to the House and/or Senate, IWF staff is keyed into each and every development from the beginning and passage of or death of a piece of legislation. 

Track the bills all sportsmen and women need to know about - in real time, HERE

Execution

In every hunting, fishing, and  outdoor adventure, there comes pivotal moments that require timely and carefully planned action. Thousands of feet climbed, months of exhaustive research done and dollars spent could all be for nought if sportsmen and women can’t capitalize when the opportunity presents itself. 

You guessed it. The same goes for the legislative season. 

All year-long, but especially when your elected officials are voting on legislation in the Capitol, IWF promptly disseminates action alerts to our groups and supporters. These Action Alerts will allow you to easily and promptly engage with your elected officials, receive urgent notifications when sportsmen and women are needed at the Capitol during the legislative session, and any other matters that require responsive grassroots action by all of us who hunt, fish, and enjoy our outdoor traditions

Be sure to subscribe to receive IWF Action Alerts and conservation advocacy information, HERE

Reflection

One of the most important and often understated values of the sportsmen experience is the intense connection that engagement with Idaho’s fish and wildlife, public lands and habitat provides. 

When sharing a fine meal of wild game with family, reflecting on a great day on one of Idaho’s rivers or with friends around a campfire in one the Gem State’s iconic public lands, IWF encourages you to remember that conservation is a cycle requiring constant nurturing and attention. And a vital component of that cycle is the engagement with lawmakers who impact hunting and fishing for better or worse.

This year and in  perpetuity, Idaho Wildlife Federation wishes you successful, fulfilling and rewarding seasons. 

We’ll see you out there.