Commission to Deal with Big Game Changes

The Idaho Fish and Game Department will recommend capping sales of bull elk tags in two hunting zones and changing seasons in Unit 39 when the Fish and Game Commission meets in Boise March 13-15. The public will have a chance to see big game hunting recommendations from around the state in an open house set for 7 p.m.-8 p.m. March 13. A public hearing is scheduled for 8 p.m.-9 p.m. The open house, hearing and meeting will all be held in the Trophy Room of Fish and Game headquarters at 600 South Walnut in Boise. The Commission makes final decisions on the coming fall's big game hunting seasons at its March meeting. The big game proclamation booklet is printed and distributed shortly thereafter. The Commission will hear a recommendation to cap the sale of B tags to limit the take of bull elk in the Dworshak and Elk City zones. The recommended cap in the Dworshak elk hunting zone is 2,380 while the Elk City zone cap is set at 1,790. Rather than set a cap on B tags in Unit 39 near Boise, the recommendation is to change the "any weapon" hunt from October 15-October 24 to November 1-November 9. The September traditional muzzleloader hunt and the November-December archery hunt held last year will be swapped so that the archery hunt will be held August 30-September 30 and the traditional muzzleloader hunt is set for November 10-24. The Commission will also discuss rules for other big game hunting for 2002, expanded limits for steelhead fishing this spring, and landowner appreciation big game permits. A complete Commission agenda is available on the website.