Commission Adopts Whitetail plan

At its quarterly meeting in Boise, The Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved a new plan for managing white-tailed deer in Idaho. The new plan is designed to offer more opportunity and flexibility to Idaho hunters. Hunters purchasing a general deer tag (any-weapon) will be able to hunt white-tailed deer and mule deer, but will be limited to earlier hunts, primarily in October. Hunters opting for a white-tailed deer tag (any weapon) will be limited to taking white-tailed deer only, however they will be able to hunt open seasons statewide and will be given the latitude to continue hunting in November where late hunts are available. The Department of Fish and Game will work to standardize the seasons as much as possible. The addition of white-tailed deer tags does away with the need for Clearwater tags, giving hunters more options while alleviating concerns of landowners in North Idaho. Biologists will work to improve white-tail deer habitat statewide, and will work with private and public landowner to improve habitat and increase access. The plan also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a good percentage of mature white-tailed bucks in Idaho. The goal will be to maintain the harvest of bucks with five points or more on the right antler at a statewide minimum of 15 percent. The goal in North Idaho is to maintain the five point buck harvest at a minimum of 17 percent in the Panhandle Region and the west half of the Clearwater Region.