F & G Changes Date for Wildlife Summit

In response to hunter concerns, Idaho Fish and Game has changed the date for its planned Wildlife Summit this fall. Fish and Game plans to convene the "Idaho Wildlife Summit" on August 24, 25 and 26 at the Riverside Hotel in Boise, to discuss how Fish and Game manages wildlife and whether the agency should engage a broader base of support. "We've heard from several archery hunters who are expressing concern about the September dates originally set for the Wildlife Summit," Fish and Game Director Virgil Moore said. "The Wildlife Summit is all about listening to our hunters, anglers, trappers and other wildlife conservationists, and we need input from our archery hunters too." Many archery seasons open August 30 and would conflict with the early September dates. As a result of numerous concerns, Fish and Game decided to move the dates forward a couple of weeks. Additional information will be posted on the Fish and Game website as it become available: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov. Early last year, Moore laid out for his staff the agency's dilemma: legal mandates and public expectations have outgrown funding sources. Now Moore wants to lay it out for the rest of Idaho. He wants to discuss how to meet those mandates and expectations without infringing on the agency's core mission of stewardship of wildlife to provide opportunities for hunting, fishing and trapping. Other details are still being worked out, including an agenda for the discussion. The physical size of the facility will limit the number of people who can attend - but Fish and Game is working on ways to reach those who are interested, such as online connections and video conferencing.