Waterfowl Season Open House Slated

Waterfowl hunters have a chance to comment on proposed 2004-2005 duck and goose seasons during an upcoming open house hosted by Idaho Fish and Game. On Wednesday, August 18, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Fish and Game personnel will be on hand to visit with the public at the Nampa Fish and Game office. The open house format allows visitors to attend anytime during the session. Call 465-8465 for more information. For those who can't make the open house, Fish and Game is taking waterfowl season comments on their web site at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which oversees waterfowl management at the national level, has authorized Fish and Game to hold a waterfowl season very similar to last year's. Using that authorization as a framework, Fish and Game has crafted several options for southwest region waterfowlers to choose from. They are: A liberal, 105-day season running from October 9 through January 21; a moderate, 84-day split season from October 9 through October 15 and from November 1 through January 16; and a moderate 84-day late start season from October 23 through January 14. All of the options include the following: a 60-day season for pintails and canvasbacks (pintail and canvasback seasons would start on the opening date for duck season and would run concurrent with the duck season for 60 days); snipe and coot season would be the same as duck season; and a two-day youth hunt, September 25-26 for youths ages 12 to 15. The liberal season option includes a seven-duck daily bag limit (only two mallard hens, one canvasback, one pintail, four scaup and one redhead). Both moderate seasons options include a seven-duck bag limit with the following restrictions: five mallards (only two mallard hens), one canvasback, one pintail, four scaup and one redhead. Because goose numbers remain particularly strong, the 2004-2005 goose season will mirror the duck hunting option adopted by Fish and Game, which will include a four goose daily bag limit. Information collected at public open houses across the state will be summarized and presented to the Fish and Game Commission, which will set the final waterfowl seasons on August 24.