HB 110: Protecting Poachers – 2019

House Bill 110 would strip fish and game conservation officers of their ability to search a suspect when they have probable cause of poaching or illegal activities regarding wildlife, unless they have a warrant.

Currently, officers can search suspects when they have probable cause that either fish or game was unlawfully taken or if the suspects are in position of equipment to take such wildlife. Under this bill, the standard for probable cause would be modified, and officers would need to have a warrant, and weaponry is not sufficient to establish probable cause.

Poaching has a significant impact on wildlife populations and is quite common in Idaho and this bill would make a poacher … harder to catch.