A bill that would make all identification information a secret that cannot be obtained through a public records request passed the Senate Resources and Environment Committee today.
It drew opposition from only two senators, Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, and Sen. Elliot Werk, D-Boise.
The bill — hotly debated at times — comes from hunters who complained that they were identified and contacted following the state’s wolf hunt.

But openness advocates, including the Idaho Press Club and Idaho Allied Dailies, argued that the bill will whittle away at transparent government, which is in charge of managing natural resources.

Other arguments against the bill:
_ It takes away the ability of citizens to check up on a potential poacher’s license status before deciding to report the person to authorities.
_ It takes away the public’s ability to see if tags awarded through lottery systems are properly awarded — or simply going to family members of fish and game commissioners.
_ It takes away the right of citizens and media to check up on elected officials and candidates for office who claim to be avid hunters or anglers. (The bill allows records to be released only with their written permission.)

There was an interesting argument that a constituent wrote lawmakers before their vote: Hunters might be burglarized and have their guns stolen if their information is available.
There’s a couple things to consider with that, though.
First, home addresses of sportsmen licenses are currently not a public record and would not be released anyway. Also, Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale and the bill’s sponsor, was contacted by a hunter who’s so worried about harassment that he sleeps with a pistol at his side.
That alone should give any burglar pause before deciding to break into a hunter’s home.