Idaho Fish and Game is seeking public comments on proposed waterfowl and sage-grouse seasons for 2008.
Open house meetings are being planned at regional Fish and Game offices around the state and the proposed rules are posted on the agency Website at:
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/public/ for public review and comment, or comments may be mailed to: 2008-09 Waterfowl Seasons, P.O. Box 25, Boise, Idaho 83707.
Open house meetings are planned in:
- Southeast Region: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 6, at the Fish and Game office, 1345 Barton Road, Pocatello.
- Clearwater Region: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, August 7, at the Fish and Game office, 3316 16th Street, Lewiston.
- Southwest Region: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 7, at the Fish and Game office 3101 S. Powerline Road, Nampa.
- Magic Valley Region: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, August 11, at the Fish and Game office, 324 S. 417 E. Suite 1, Jerome.
In the Upper Snake Region, anyone with interest or comments should contact Regional Wildlife Manager Daryl Meints at 525-7290 by the close of business on Friday, August 8.
In the Panhandle Region, anyone with interest or comments should contact Regional Wildlife Manager Jim Hayden at 208-769-1414 by the close of business on Friday, August 8.
Fish and Game has received the tentative waterfowl season framework from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which oversees waterfowl management at the national level. The season recommendations are expected to take the maximum allowed hunt days with two zones and may include season restrictions for scaup, pintail and other ducks.
Fish and Game's proposals include:
- No change in the goose seasons from last year with a 107-day season. It would run from October 4 through January 16, 2009, in northern and eastern Idaho and the Fort Hall Reservation; and to run from October 11 through January 23, 2009, in the southwestern part of the state.
- A bag limit of four geese.
- For most ducks, a 107-day season, running from October 4 through January 16, 2009, in northern and eastern Idaho and the Fort Hall Reservation; and from October 11 through January 23, 2009, in the southwestern part of the state.
- A bag limit of seven ducks.
- For scaup, a shorter 86-day season is proposed. It would run from October 4 through December 26 in northern and eastern Idaho and the Fort Hall Reservation; and from October 11 through January 2, 2009, in the southwestern part of the state.
- By federal rule, the 2008 season will be closed for canvasbacks.
- The youth waterfowl hunt is proposed to run September 27 and 28, for those license youth age 15 and under.
Fish and Game also recommended sage-grouse seasons opening September 20 in:
- Southwestern Owyhee County, 23 day season, two-bird bag limit.
- Northwestern Owyhee County, seven day season, one-bird limit.
- Eastern Owyhee County, closed.
- Magic Valley, seven day season, one-bird limit.
- Parts of Power, Oneida and Cassia counties, seven day season, one-bird limit, reopening areas that have been closed since 2001.
- Most of the Upper Snake Region as well as Lemhi and part of Custer counties, 23 day season, two-bird limit.
- Big Desert area West of Interstate 15 and south of U.S. Highway 20, seven day season, one-bird limit.
- Southeastern part of the state, east of Interstate 15 and south of U.S. Highway 26, closed.
The open house format allows visitors to attend anytime during the session and visit with Fish and Game personnel about the proposals.
The deadline for comments is 5 p.m. Friday, August 8. Information collected from across the state will be summarized and presented to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission, which will set the seasons during a telephone conference call at 8 a.m. Tuesday, August 12.
