Idaho Reviews Handling of Public Land Leases

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho is reconsidering its land lease policies after years of denying requests from groups looking to set up publicly inaccessible hunting operations.

The Spokesman-Review reports the Idaho Department of Lands has denied six previous proposals, and officials are expecting a request from a group looking to set up pheasant hunting on endowment land in the eastern part of the state. Officials are concerned with balancing public use with the state's mandate to get a maximum return on endowment land, which largely supports Idaho schools.

Gov. Butch Otter says these problematic leases have to be managed for maximum financial gain. He has asked Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden to look at liability issues.