Pheasant Permit Expands, Gets New Name

Bird hunters who want to hunt stocked pheasants on wildlife management areas must now buy a wildlife management area upland game bird permit instead of the pheasant permit. A new law that went into effect July 1 expands the scope of the wildlife management area pheasant permit to include other stocked upland game birds. The law was supported by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Future stocking programs on wildlife management areas may be expanded to include other game birds, such as chukars, thus the name modification. But hunters will see no change in the use of the permit this year, because for the 2007-2008 upland bird season the permit will still only be used for stocked pheasants. All rules regarding hunting stocked pheasants on the nine wildlife management areas where a permit is required are found in the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 Upland Game and Furbearer Seasons and Rules brochure. Under the new law, all hunters older than 16 must buy a wildlife management area upland game bird permit to hunt stocked pheasants and other stocked upland game birds on state wildlife management areas designated by the commission. The permit cost remains at $23.75.