Public Meetings Scheduled On Turkey And Moose Hunting Season Proposals, And "Access Yes" Program

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) has scheduled two public meetings in the Panhandle Region. Proposals for turkey hunting regulations for the 2002 hunting season, moose seasons for 2003-2004, and a new program called "Access Yes" will be discussed. Both meetings have been scheduled for November 21 at 7 pm. Meetings will be held in Coeur d'Alene and St. Maries. The Coeur d'Alene meeting is scheduled for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Regional Office, 2750 Kathleen Ave. The St. Maries meeting will be held at the Avista Building. More opportunity to hunt wild turkeys and more consistency in the rules will be the result if Fish and Game regional proposals find favor with the public. Highlights of proposals for 2003 turkey hunting seasons include eliminating the spring controlled hunt in the Panhandle and opening the general season on April 15, as is the opening for other regions. All spring general seasons statewide would open April 15. The controlled hunt in the Panhandle was needed to help turkey flocks and the landowners who fed them through the winter as turkeys were established in the region. Turkey numbers are much higher now and the populations spread across the region, making the controlled hunt an unnecessary restriction. A general fall is proposed in the Panhandle, Clearwater, Southwest and parts of the Southeast Regions. The second turkey tag would be valid for spring hunts starting May 1 (two weeks earlier than in 2002) and would be valid for all fall hunts as well. Information on tags in the new turkey rules will be made easier to understand. Tags will be simplified but the total numbers of tags individual hunters may hold will remain the same. Tags for junior and disabled veteran hunters will be lowered to a cost of $9.75. The Panhandle moose season proposal calls for no additional bull permits, but cow permits could be made available for a small portion of the region. "Access Yes" is a program under consideration by the IDFG. As increasingly more private lands are developed or posted and not available for hunting, hunters are finding increasing difficulty gaining access to private land. The new program is intended to maintain access to private land currently open to hunting and expand opportunities on some properties not now available. The program proposal will be discussed at the meetings. Comments will be accepted at both of the meetings, and can also be made by contacting the IDFG at 769-1414. Persons needing special accommodations to attend the meeting due to disability should contact Jim Hayden at the above number no later than November 19, or call the Idaho Relay Service at TDD1-800-377-3529.