The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking public comments on proposed changes to the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 upland game, furbearer and falconry seasons; and the 2010 and 2011 turkey seasons.
The public comment period opens Monday, December 21, and comments will be accepted through Friday, January 15. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will set seasons for the next two years during its meeting January 28.
The proposed changes are:
Pheasants
- Southeast and Upper Snake regions: Currently, the pheasant season in Area 2 ends on November 30. To maintain consistency, simplicity and opportunity for hunters, Fish and Game is considering extending the pheasant season in Area 2 through December 31 to make it consistent with the rest of the state. Stocking will not continue on wildlife management areas beyond November 30.
- Southwest, Magic Valley, Southeast and Upper Snake regions: Currently, the pheasant season in Areas 2 and 3 opens at noon on opening day of the pheasant season. Fish and Game is considering changing shooting hours on opening day of pheasant season to begin a half hour before sunrise, instead of noon, in Areas 2 and 3 to make it consistent with the rest of the state. Fish and Game is also considering changing shooting hours on opening day of the pheasant season to begin at 10 a.m., instead of noon, on wildlife management areas where pheasants are stocked in Areas 2 and 3.
Pheasants on Wildlife Management Areas
- Southwest, Magic Valley, Southeast and Upper Snake regions: Currently, hunters may use any shot type to pursue upland game on wildlife management areas where pheasants are stocked. A substantial amount of lead shot is being deposited on wildlife management areas that include important waterfowl habitat. Fish and Game is considering requiring nontoxic shot for waterfowl, upland game and turkeys on nine wildlife management areas where pheasants are stocked. They include the Fort Boise, Payette River, Montour, C.J. Strike, Sterling, Market Lake, Mud Lake, Cartier Slough, and Niagara Springs wildlife management areas.
Turkeys
- Statewide: The youth-only (15 and younger) turkey season is currently the first full weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and the weekdays prior to the general season opener. Depending on the calendar year, this can range from two to seven days. To provide hunting opportunity and recruitment of new hunters, Fish and Game is considering starting the youth-only turkey season (general and controlled hunts) seven days before the general turkey season opener.
- Clearwater Region: There are nuisance turkey issues on private land in Units 13, 14, 15, and 18. Fish and Game is considering offering a late season from November 21 to December 31 on private lands to help resolve this issue.
This framework currently exists for Units 8, 8A, 10, 11, and 11A. This approach should be viewed as a tool to address depredations rather than a population control measure in these units.
- Southeast Region: Currently, each of the spring controlled hunts in Unit 71 (9012, 9013 & 9014) allow for 50 permits. Idaho Fish and Game biologists conclude turkey populations in this unit can support more hunting opportunity. To provide hunting opportunity and recruitment of new hunters, Fish and Game is considering increasing the number of permits for each controlled hunt to 75 permits.
- Salmon Region: Currently, the hunt area for controlled hunts 9015 and 9016 does not include a small area of expansion of the turkey population, and the area description has caused some confusion. To increase opportunity and simplify the regulations, Fish and Game proposes to increase the hunt area as follows: All of Unit 36B, 37, and 37A, and that part of Unit 28 upstream from and including the Hat Creek drainage.
Beaver
- Magic Valley Region: Currently, there is a beaver trapping closure in Lincoln County. The closure was originally adopted in cooperation with the Wood River Resource Conservation and Development Beaver Committee and is no longer needed. Fish and Game is considering eliminating the beaver trapping closure in Lincoln County.
Otter
- Southeast Region: Currently, in the Southeast Region there is an otter harvest limit (quota) of two. Otter populations in this region exist in the major drainages (Snake, Blackfoot and Bear) and can support a higher harvest. Fish and Game proposes to increase the harvest limit to five.
Anyone interested may provide comments online at the Fish and Game Website at
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/public/. Written comments may be mailed to Upland Game Comments, Idaho Fish and Game, P.O. Box 25, Boise ID 83707.
The deadline for comments is January 15.
Comments will be summarized and forwarded to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission for consideration before setting season rules.
