Open House Set for New Upland Bird and Furbearer Seasons

Bird hunters, falconers, and trappers will have the opportunity to review the Department of Fish and Game's recommendations for the 2002 - 03 and 2003 - 04 seasons at an open house in Jerome on Thursday, April 18. This open house will be from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the regional office, 868 East Main. Individuals who cannot attend on the 18th may call the regional office anytime before then to offer input or ask questions. Changes being considered for pheasants include an extension of the season in this region through December 31, requiring a WMA permit to hunt pheasants on the Niagara Springs WMA, increasing the bag and possession limits on all WMA's to three and six, and increasing the Youth Pheasant Hunt bag and possession limits to three and six. Two alternatives for sage grouse both involve opening the Big Desert (sage grouse Area 2) and Birch Creek (sage grouse Area 3), and closing the Curlew National Grasslands area. There are three alternatives for sharp-tailed grouse, and two of them are designed to open the sharptail season with the sage grouse season. No changes in season lengths, bag or possession limits are being proposed. There are no changes proposed for forest grouse, quail, chukars or gray partridge, and no changes are being proposed in falconry seasons. A proposal is offered to close the pygmy rabbit season; however, no changes are planned for cottontail rabbit or snowshoe hare seasons. The harvest season for bobcats is being proposed as December 14, 2002 through February 16, 2003 and December 13, 2003 through February 15, 2004, statewide. This option splits the difference between those who prefer a December season and those wanting a February season. There will no requirement for bobcat jaws, but trappers will be encouraged to turn them in voluntarily. A maximum of two otters will be allowed for each trapper, providing the regional quota has not been met. The Magic Valley Region's harvest quota will be increased to 20 animals. Otters must be recorded and tagged in the region where they are trapped. Trappers may also be required to purchase bobcat and otter record cards. Individual trappers could purchase two otter record cards and any number of bobcat record cards for a nonrefundable fee of $2.00 each. These would be valid for one trapping season only and would replace the fee charged for tagging pelts. Cards would be removed from the pelts and kept by the Department after tagging with either a CITES or state tag. If bobcat and otter pelts brought in for tagging have record cards attached, there would be no need to charge a pelt-tagging fee. This would allow field personnel to tag pelts, and save trappers a trip to a regional office. The deadline for the mandatory trapping report is proposed to change from July 31 to April 30, to allow more time to get the annual report done in a timely manner. It is also proposed to publish the trapping rules and regulations in a separate brochure from the upland game bird brochure. For further clarification, questions and comments, call the Magic Valley Regional Office, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 324-4359.