Commission Meets in Montpelier

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will conduct its scheduled quarterly meeting in Montpelier, May 18 and 19. On Wednesday May 18 Commissioners will listen to public comments at the National Oregon/California Trail Center beginning at 7pm. The commission will meet at Butch Cassidy's Restaurant at 260 N. 4th Street in on Thursday May 19. Agenda items for commission action on the morning of May 19 include an update on the Snake River spring and summer Chinook Salmon run, and any changes to the rules for the salmon season that are deemed necessary. Also on the agenda for Thursday morning is action on proposed rules for sandhill cranes and doves. There are no proposed changes to dove rules, but Fish and Game is proposing to increase the number of crane tags available to hunters. The commission will also consider a proposal that would improve the management of private possession of wildlife by increasing coordination between the Department of Fish and Game and the Idaho Department of Agriculture. On Thursday afternoon the commission will decide whether to approve the proposed budget for fiscal year 2006. Finally, the commission will decide whether to broaden the rule that allows military personnel deployed to war zones to receive refunds or rain checks for tags.