Commission to Set Big Game Seasons

Big game hunters may want to head to Boise the second week of March when the Idaho Fish and Game Commission is scheduled to set big game seasons. The Boise meeting, March 7-9, will be at Fish and Game headquarters, 600 S. Walnut. Commissioners are expected to set seasons for deer, elk, antelope, black bear and mountain lion. They also will get a legislative update and provide budget direction for the 2009 fiscal year. The three-day meeting kicks off with a public comment period at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, in the Trophy Room at Fish and Game headquarters. Commissioners get down to work Thursday morning, March 8, with a number of housekeeping items. About 10 a.m., they'll tackle the outfitter controlled tag allocation issue, followed by proposed changes to big game seasons and rules. In the afternoon, commissioners will cover budget issues and hear an update on the new license system. They will take up again at 8 a.m. Friday, March 9. The first item they'll tackle will be the proposed Yellowstone cutthroat trout management plan, followed by action on the proposed 2007-2012 Fish Management Plan for the state. Commissioners expect to take up changes to commercial fishing rules just before 9 a.m. After 9, they will consider the department's lands project to protect and improve wildlife and fish habitat. They will wind up the meeting with an update on wolf management. (Times on the agenda are approximate and subject to change.)