Commission Meets in Boise January 16-18

Marcus Gibbs will begin his first turn at the gavel when the Idaho Fish and Game Commission meets in Boise January 16-18. The Commission meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 16 and hold a public hearing from 6-8 p.m. in the Trophy Room at 600 South Walnut in Boise. The Commission will be in a legislative budget hearing at 8 a.m. January 17 and have a strategic planning workshop in the Trophy Room from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., reconvening the regular meeting at 3:15. They will reconvene at 8 a.m. on Friday Jan. 8. Gibbs will take over the chairmanship of the Commission from Dr. Fred Wood Jan. 17. Gibbs, a Grace area farmer, is in his first term and has not yet served as chairman. Among agenda items for this meeting are a report on wolf research in Lemhi County, results of a survey on the economic effects of chinook fishing in 2001, and a report on chronic wasting disease. Commissioners will act on rules for early bear baiting; possible closure of mountain goat season in Unit 59 due to declining populations and nonbiological rules for big game. The Commission will consider a report on the format for Commission public hearings and will present awards to hunter education instructors.