Register Now for the Idaho Wildlife Summit

Anyone who wants a voice in how wildlife is managed in Idaho should plan to attend the Idaho Wildlife Summit August 24, 25 and 26. For a taste of what's at stake, checkout the Fish and Game Wildlife Summit website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/about/?getPage=318#speaker1 for a short statement by Shane Mahoney, noted wildlife biologist and international conservation spokesman and featured speaker at the Summit. In his statement, Mahoney talks about the fracturing of a long-standing coalition of hunters, anglers as well as nonhunters working for wildlife conservation. The future of wildlife in North America depends on healing the fracture and finding ways to bring groups together, rather than forcing them apart. "We need to forge a broad coalition of parties that will commit to wildlife conservation and do so with the same vigor as the founders of this movement did 120 years ago," Mahoney said "This is our challenge, and we simply cannot fail." The Summit will convene at the Riverside Hotel in Boise and six concurrent satellite sites in Coeur d'Alene, Lewiston, Salmon, Twin Falls, Pocatello and Idaho Falls. People also may participate online. Participation is free, but registration is required because of limited seating. For information and to register, go online to http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/summit/. Locations and capacities are:

• Riverside Hotel, Boise - 500.
• North Idaho College, Coeur d'Alene - 100.
• Shilo Inn Suites Hotel, Idaho Falls - 100.
• Red Lion, Lewiston - 100.
• Red Lion Hotel, Pocatello - 100.
• Idaho Fish and Game office, Salmon - 100.
• Canyon Crest, Twin Falls - 100.

No registration is required to participate online. This statewide event will allow residents to participate and to interact in real time. The purpose is to involve as many people as possible in helping to set the direction for how wildlife is managed in Idaho, to find common ground, and ultimately to build a broader base of support for wildlife conservation. The Summit will start Friday afternoon, continue through Saturday and end about Sunday noon. It will feature presentations by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter; Shane Mahoney, a spokesman for wildlife conservation from Newfoundland, Canada; Toni Hardesty, director for The Nature Conservancy-Idaho; Jim Posewitz, founder of Orion The Hunter's Institute; and by Michael J. Manfredo, researcher on the role of social science in natural resource management. On Saturday afternoon, participants will gather in a series of rotating groups of four to discuss a series of questions. Throughout the event, information booths at all seven sites staffed by Fish and Game employees will be open to provide information about the breadth of activities of Idaho Fish and Game.