LEWISTON, Idaho -- An association of Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers is troubled that the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing board awarded a guide's license to an Orofino man who has several fish and game violations.
James McCarthy was given a probationary guide's license at the board's December meeting after initially being denied the license because of his history of violations.Fish and Game officers said between 1988 and 1997, McCarthy was cited nine times for a variety of violations.
His hunting privileges were twice suspended, once for possessing 47 ducks and once for purchasing a combination hunting and fishing license when his hunting privileges were suspended.
"We find it almost impossible to understand the reasoning used to issue a guide's license to a subject with nine fish and game violations," John Scott, chairman of the Idaho Conservation Officers Association, wrote in a letter to the licensing board. "How can the board justify allowing such a person to occupy the front lines of wildlife harvest?"
The second two-year suspension included both hunting and fishing privileges and two of the citations, one for exceeding the season limits on salmon and another for failure to validate a salmon card, were dropped as part of a plea bargain in which McCarthy pleaded guilty to buying the combination hunting and fishing license.
He requested an appeal hearing before the five-member board, which is made up of three representatives from the outfitters and guides industry, one from the state Fish and Game Department and a representative for the public at large. At the hearing, McCarthy, his lawyer and employer, Evelyn Kaide, owner of the Guide Shop and Clearwater Drifters in Orofino, convinced a majority of board members that he deserves a probationary license.
Three of the board members, Bill Bernt of Salmon, Scott Farr of Challis and Wayne Hunsucker of Boise, were swayed by the arguments of Kaide and McCarthy. Board Chairwoman Diana Swift of Cascade and Ray Lion of Boise voted against giving McCarthy a guide's license.
"The state has very high standards both for outfitters and guides, and I really felt his background was contrary to the standards of professionalism in the industry," Swift said.