Hunters are reminded that Sandhill crane will be available on a first-come first-served basis beginning at 10 a.m. (MDT) August 1.
Tags can be purchased at Fish and Game license vendors, online at https://idfg.idaho.gov, or with a credit card by calling (800) 554-8685.
Hunters can find Sandhill crane hunting information in the new 2016-2017 Migratory Game Bird Seasons and Rules brochure, which now includes season information for waterfowl, Sandhill crane, dove and crow. The brochure is available online at https://idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/rules/migratory, or at license vendors by July 22.
Sandhill tag numbers were increased to a total of 465 tags, season lengths were extended in some hunt areas, and a small section of the Jefferson County Hunt Area was closed. The daily limit is two birds for all hunts, and the season limit is two birds for each hunter.
Waterfowl seasons will be similar to last year, except seasons in northern and eastern Idaho will begin two weeks earlier than last year to allow hunting opportunities prior to wetlands freezing. Overall, hunters will enjoy a 105 day season for ducks and Canada geese with a 2-day youth hunt scheduled statewide on September 24 and 25, 2016.
The daily bag limit is seven ducks; but not more than two female mallards, three scaup, two redheads, two pintails, or two canvasbacks.
The daily bag limit is four Canada geese, except in a portion of southeast Idaho where the daily limit is five from September 1 - 15th; 10 white-fronted geese; and 20 light geese (Snow and Ross's geese). The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.
Waterfowl season opening and closing dates vary by different management zones of the state.
The dove season runs September 1 to October 30 statewide, with a daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate.
The season for American crows is October 1 to January 31 statewide, with no daily bag limit.
A new process and schedule, established in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was used this year that allowed migratory game bird hunting seasons and rules to be set earlier than in the past. The Fish and Game Commission can now set all migratory game bird seasons at the same time, allowing seasons and rules for all migratory game birds to be available in the same brochure and more time for hunters to plan their hunts.