Fewer Duck Days Likely

Idaho duck hunters may be asked soon to state their opinions about how to make the best of a shortened duck season. No specific Fish and Game proposals have been outlined yet. Federal guidelines for duck seasons have not yet been issued and not all the figures are collected on this year's duck populations. Counts of Canadian prairie potholes show what may be a record low, boding ill for the rearing of new broods of dabbling ducks. Carryover of adult birds from last year, however, was fairly good. Wildlife authorities are debating the implications for this fall's duck hunting, but a reduction in harvestÑprobably through shorter seasons as well as reduced bag limitsÑis nearly assured. Fish and Game waterfowl manager Tom Hemker said he expects season guidelines somewhat like those of the early 1990s when Idaho ran duck hunting season with fairly long splits between early and late hunting. Specific proposals will go out for public comment soon after federal authorities set final guidelines. Some Idahoans who are not accustomed to hearing from Fish and Game recently received a survey form. This survey is an important part of a large effort to make sure Fish and Game is serving the people of Idaho as well as possible and in the most efficient ways. The survey has been sent to a scientifically randomized sample of Idahoans, regardless of whether they are licensed anglers or hunters. Because the department serves all the people of Idaho whether or not they fish or hunt, opinions are sought from the broadest possible sampling of citizens. Questionnaires were mailed to 7,700 randomly selected households in Idaho on June 7. Answers are kept confidential and the survey is voluntary. However, from a scientific perspective, it is important that the department receive as many completed surveys as possible. In order to maximize the number of completed questionnaires returned, the questionnaire will be mailed a second time to those people who have not returned theirs after three weeks. Each questionnaire has a unique number on it to track who has and hasn't returned their questionnaire. After the data is entered into a database for analysis, the list of names is destroyed so that individuals' names can never be connected to the results in any way. The survey includes questions about participation in wildlife-based recreation, public involvement in decision-making, issues facing Fish and Game, the importance and performance of several management activities and programs, funding, and the Nongame Program. Results from this survey will be used to develop a strategic plan for the department. The fish and wildlife in Idaho belong to the citizens of the state. As the governmental agency responsible for managing fish and wildlife, it is important that what the department does is aligned with what Idahoans expect. The department is doing more than a "strategic plan" - it is part of a "comprehensive management system", which is intended to help the department become more effective and efficient. The plan answers four general questions: 1) Where are we now? 2) Where do we want to be? 3) How do we get there? and, 4) Did we make it? A comprehensive management system using a well-developed strategic plan allows the agency to easily determine where money has been spent and where it needs to be spent to accomplish the goals - in short, it enhances the department's ability to be accountable. The public survey is only one source of input the agency is using to develop a strategic plan. The department has conducted personal interviews with top staff, all seven Fish and Game Commissioners, and 12 state legislators to uncover existing issues. Through a series of workshops, employees and the Commissioners identified key issues and priorities affecting fish and wildlife and their management. Although it is important to know what the fish and wildlife professionals and the Commissioners think about the direction of the department, the agency's goals and actions must be aligned with what Idaho citizens expect and desire from the agency. Therefore, the strategic planning process was designed to be "heavy" on public input. Before the public survey was designed, the department conducted 35 "focus groups" around the state. A focus group is a group interview with 8-15 invited people who share some characteristics. Five focus groups were held in each of the seven regions. The five stakeholder groups were hunters, anglers, people with interests in wildlife other than hunting and fishing such as birdwatchers, landowners, and commercial interests. Focus groups differ from other kinds of "public meetings" because they are designed exclusively for listening. Department personnel conducted these focus groups to learn how and why people feel about issues, not to inform them or seek support for programs. Almost 400 Idahoans participated in these focus groups. Early next year, a series of roundtables with stakeholders will be held to assist the department in developing goals that will address the strategic issues. A department team will compile all information, draft a strategic plan, and distribute it for public review and comment. The team will then revise the plan based on public comments and publish a strategic plan with an estimated completion date of June 2003.