Idfg Hosts Open House For Comments On 2005 Sandhill Crane, Dove & Early Goose Seasons

IDAHO FALLS - As part of developing seasons for hunting sandhill cranes, doves and goose next fall the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) will be holding a daylong open house at their regional office located at 4279 Commerce Circle in Idaho. The open house will take place from 8:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday, May 4th. Because sandhill cranes are a migratory species, harvest totals are based on allocations set by the multi-agency flyway committee. Idaho's harvest allocation for 2005 is 168 birds. IDFG is recommending issuing 440 permits, a 40% increase from last year's number of 261. This increase is because of a recommendation by the flyway committee to stimulate harvest in anticipation of increased crane populations and to offset lower success rates last year. The season will still have a daily bag limit to two birds and a season limit of nine. While these numbers might sound dramatic, hunters only harvested 142 birds statewide last year. Under the current plan hunters would obtain their first tag via the standard drawing method and would then be able to purchase an additional eight tags from any vendor as leftover tags. This year the cost for each crane permit and tag is $27.50, plus an application fee of $6.25. No changes are being recommended for dove season. The season would run from 9/1 - 9/30. The daily possession would be 10 birds with a possession limit of 20. No early goose seasons are being recommended in the region for next fall. All of the available days allowed by the flyway committee will be incorporated into the late season. The actual regular goose season will be set by the Idaho Fish & Game Commission as part of their August conference call. Because not everyone can drop in, individuals interested in commenting can do so without actually attending the open house. They can either call Regional Wildlife Daryl Meints by telephone or send input via E-mail on the Internet. Meints can be reached at the 525-7290, or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-377-3529(TDD); his E-mail address is dmeints@idfg.idaho.gov. Persons with disabilities wishing to attend the open house or requiring special meeting accommodations should contact the Department through one of the previously listed options. The deadline for comments is 5:00 P.M. on Friday, May 4, 2005.