Supervised Depredation Goose Hunts Planned

In an effort to reduce conflicts with the ever-increasing resident Canada goose population, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will open several sites in the valley to hunting. Personnel from the three agencies will supervise all hunts. "Last year, hunters harvested quite a few geese and applied pressure to move them throughout the valley," said Regional Wildlife Biologist Miles Benker. "Hunting was also reported to improve in outlying areas where hunting is allowed. Most of this land is in private ownership, so make sure to ask for permission to hunt." The hunts are planned in the Lewiston/Clarkston Valley in areas normally closed to hunting. The scheduled dates have not been determined, but will occur in mid- December and January, 2002. IDFG will accept names of goose hunters interested in applying for the special hunt during the week of November 26-30 only. Hunters will be asked to designate which State they wish to hunt. Hunters will be selected using a computerized random drawing, and will then be contacted and provided more specific instructions about the hunt. Individuals applying for the hunt must meet the following requirements: Arrange to have 3 other members in your group

• Posses all State licenses and permits required for the State in which you will be hunting
• Federal Waterfowl Stamp and Federal Migratory Game Bird Harvest Information Program Validation
• Minimum of 2 dozen decoys per group

On each hunt date, four hunters will be allowed at each site from a half-hour before sunrise until 1:00 P.M. Special arrangements will be made for disabled hunters. IDFG will only accept applications from November 26-30, 2001. For more information, interested hunters can call the Clearwater Region Office at 208-799-5010.