Big Game Season Open Houses Slated

Though months away, the 2006 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. ATV restrictions are the focus of the only major Fish and Game proposal for the 2006 season. "We gathered comment on the state's mule deer initiative action plan last year, and the number one comment we received from hunters was the need for additional ATV restrictions," Fish and Game wildlife biologist Jake Powell noted. "So, we've developed a proposal calling for additional ATV restrictions throughout the southwest region. And now we'd like to hear from the public regarding that proposal." Other proposals call for eliminating the late antlerless hunt in unit 32, establishing October 24 as the season ending date for deer hunting in units 22, 31, 32 and 32A, and establishing October 31 as the season ending date for antlerless white-tailed deer hunting in units 23 and 24. Minor changes in some controlled hunt permit levels are also being proposed, together with shortening the McCall A tag muzzleloader elk hunt by 15 days. Open houses are scheduled for the following dates and locations. Plan to attend an open house anytime between 2pm and 8pm: Tuesday, February 21 Fish and Game Office 3101 S. Powerline Road, Nampa Wednesday, February 22 Hunter Education Center 109 W. 44th Street, Boise Thursday, February 23 Fish and Game Office 555 Deinhard Lane, McCall Fish and Game is going to extra efforts to gather comment on the ATV proposal. In the next few days, 2000 randomly-selected license holders will receive an ATV questionnaire in the mail. "We want to encourage folks to complete the survey and return it to us," Powell said. In addition to regional issues, a summary of statewide proposals will be available for public review at each meeting. For those unable to attend, proposals and the opportunity to comment on each one are available on the Fish and Game website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/surveys/atv/.