Commission Adopts Big Game Rules

Where weather and habitat conditions have been unkind to mule deer in recent years, hunters will find seasons this fall considerably different from last year. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission adopted most recommendations for big game hunting this fall as presented by department staff but made some modifications for the southeast area where department biologists and hunters are not satisfied with mule deer populations. The Commission voted to accept: Deer - Shift opening dates to October 9 from October 10 in northern Idaho to take advantage of a Saturday opener. - Reduce antlerless harvest in Clearwater Region in response to last year's disease outbreak. - Reduce late season harvest mortality by eliminating muzzleloader hunts or converting existing muzzleloader hunts to traditional muzzleloader. - Convert controlled any buck hunt in Unit 56 to short general season. Elk - Shift opening dates to October 9 from October 10 in B' tag hunts to take advantage of a Saturday opener. - Increase antlerless harvest opportunity in agricultural areas within the Clearwater Region. Pronghorn - Add units 44, 48, 52 to general archery season. - Convert existing hunts in units 30A and 47 to traditional muzzleloader hunts Black bear - Expand harvest opportunity in Clearwater and Panhandle regions. Mountain lion - Expand harvest opportunity in Clearwater Region. Commissioners added a provision that a nonresident youth mentored hunter must have a mentor with a tag valid in the same hunt and that the nonresident mentored tags not be valid for bear and lion. The Commission adopted mule deer hunts in the Magic Valley, Southeast and Upper Snake Regions that all open October 5. In the Upper Snake, all units except 69 close Oct. 24. Unit 69 and the youth either-sex hunts close Oct. 19. General season in the Magic Valley region season closes on various dates; the Southeast Region season closes Oct. 19, except for units 70 and 73. Commissioners enacted a four-point or better rule for Units 70 and 73 with general season dates of October 5-9. All archery and muzzleloader hunts in the Southeast Region will be for male deer only.