Sage-grouse season set

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved a restrictive season for sage-grouse. The 2015 season will run from September 19 to September 25, with a daily bag limit of one bird, and a possession limit of two birds. The season will take place in the same areas as last year's hunt with the exception of re-opening an area in eastern Owyhee County and western Twin Falls County. Although sage-grouse are proposed for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act, sage-grouse experts have determined that carefully regulated hunting is not a primary threat to populations. Threats to sage-grouse are largely due to habitat loss from wildfire, human infrastructure, and invasive plants like cheat grass. Current sage-grouse lek data indicate that many populations are stable to increasing. Fish and Game closely monitors sage-grouse annually to ensure hunting will not compromise the population. Fish and Game follows guidelines that allow the flexibility to also close areas to hunting due to low population numbers, insufficient data, or impacts of wildfire and West Nile virus. The Sage-grouse Seasons and Rules brochures, including a map of areas open to sage-grouse hunting, will be available soon at all license vendors, Fish and Game offices and website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.