Fish and Game Switches Format to Get Comments

Wildlife managers at the Upper Snake Region of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game are hoping that there is some truth to the old adage, "The early bird catches the worm." Biologists later this month will be experimenting with replacing the traditional evening public meetings with three informal sportsman's breakfasts across the region. "We've had success with such informal meetings in the past and thought they would be a good way to scope the sportsmen on what ideas they have for big game hunting in the future," Regional Wildlife Manager Daryl Meints said. Each meeting will be attended by various regional staff and will feature a short presentation tailored to highlight the big game hunting of the surrounding area. While the breakfast meeting will be hosted by Fish and Game, individual attendees will be responsible for picking up their own tab for breakfast. This switch in meeting times is another example of how Fish and Game is looking for new ways to inform the public and hear what people have to say. Plans are under way to record management presentations and have them posted somewhere on the Internet, like YouTube, so that a wider audience can find out what Fish and Game is working on. "While we'll try this informal approach for our scoping meetings, we'll probably go back to the traditional evening meeting format at the end of February, when we have some actual proposals that we will be bringing out to the public," Meints said. Big Game Breakfast Meeting Schedule - all start at 7 a.m. - Saturday, January 26, Frontier Pies, 460 W 4th S, Rexburg. - Tuesday, January 29, Hometown Kitchen, 1540 W. Broadway, Idaho Falls. - Friday, February 1, Amy Lou's Steakhouse, 503 W. Custer, Mackay. Individuals with disabilities may request meeting accommodations by contacting Daryl Meints at the Idaho Department of Fish & Game at 525-7290 or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-377-3529(TDD). Individuals not able to attend, but wishing to comment may do so via E-mail at dmeints@idfg.idaho.gov or by regular mail to IDFG /4279 Commerce Circle in Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401.