Big Game Season Open Houses Slated

Though months away, the 2005 hunting season is up for discussion at a series of open houses hosted by Fish and Game. Plan now to attend and provide input that will help shape this fall's hunting seasons in Idaho's Southwest region. To learn more about the meetings, contact Fish and Game's Nampa office at 465-8465 or the McCall office at 634-8137. Hunters can expect seasons to be nearly identical to those in 2004. "Last year was a pretty good year for hunters and their quarry," Fish and Game wildlife manager Jon Rachael noted. "So after extensive discussions among Fish and Game staff, we've decided to do something different by proposing no changes in big game seasons for 2005." Open houses are scheduled for the following dates and locations. Plan to attend an open house anytime between 4pm and 7pm: Mountain Home, Thursday, March 10 Mountain Home Bingo Parlor 3285 Airbase Road McCall, Thursday, March 10 Fish and Game Office 555 Deinhard Lane Nampa, Friday, March 11 Fish and Game Office 3101 S. Powerline Road Adoption of the white-tailed deer management plan earlier this year will result in some changes in white-tailed deer hunting options in hunt units 23 and 24 "We're proposing a new white-tailed deer season to run from November 1 through November 20 in these two units," Fish and Game wildlife manager Jeff Rohlman said. "We're also proposing a youth hunt for any whitetail deer during the same period in units 23 and 24." Otherwise, hunters can expect seasons in the southwest region to look the same as they did last year for deer, elk, antelope, black bear, and mountain lion. Some minor changes are in the offing, however. "We plan to clarify boundary descriptions for a hunt or two, and we may recommend making some minor adjustments to permit numbers for antlerless controlled hunts for deer and elk in a couple of units," Rachael said. "We'll be better informed after we have a chance to evaluate our winter population survey results as they are completed in the next week or two, but any changes that are made should be minor."