Upland Game/Furbearer Open House Slated

The public is invited to comment on this year's upland game seasons at any of two upcoming open houses hosted by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. On Wednesday, April 12 from 4-7pm, Fish and Game's Nampa office (3101 S. Powerline Road) will host an open house. A second open house will be held at Fish and Game's McCall office (555 Deinhard Lane) on Thursday, April 13 from 4-7pm. For more information, call the Nampa office at 465-8465 or the McCall office at 634-8137. One proposal calls for mandatory wearing of hunter orange by all hunters accessing any Fish and Game wildlife management areas where rooster pheasants are routinely stocked. In southwest Idaho, this proposal would have application for hunters utilizing C.J. Strike, Fort Boise, Montour and Payette River Wildlife Management Areas. "As these areas continue to grow in popularity with the hunting public, hunter densities have created some real safety issues," Fish and Game wildlife biologist Jake Powell noted. "This rule would make hunters more visible to their counterparts in the field, thereby reducing the chances of a hunting incident." Other proposals call for altering closing dates for chukar/gray partridge and quail seasons in some regions to have a consistent statewide season closing date. A questionnaire regarding all 2006-2007 upland and furbearer proposals will be available at each open house. The questionnaire is also available on the Fish and Game website (http://fishandgame.idaho.gov) through April 24. Public comments from across the state will be assembled and presented to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission for review at their next regular meeting. After evaluating the comments, the Commission will determine whether any rule or season changes are warranted.