Waterfowl Season Open House Slated in Lewiston

LEWISTON - Waterfowl hunters have a chance to comment on proposed 2005-2006 duck and goose seasons during an upcoming open house scheduled for Tuesday, August 23. Fish and Game personnel will be on hand to visit with the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fish and Game Clearwater office at 3316 16th Street. The open house format allows visitors to attend anytime during the session. Call 799-5010 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 developed the following recommended season for the Clearwater region of Idaho. A 105-day season for geese and ducks (except canvasbacks) running from October 8 through January 20, with a two day youth hunt on September 24 and 25 for those hunters aged 15 and under. In addition, a special 60-day canvasback season would run from October 1 to November 29 for the northern and eastern Idaho zones. The department is also recommending a seven duck daily bag limit which may contain no more than one canvasback, two female mallards, one pintail, two redheads, or three scaup. Because goose numbers remain particularly strong, the 2005-2006 goose season option includes daily bag limit of four geese of any kind. 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 29. Individuals with disabilities may request meeting accommodations by contacting Connie Stevens at the Fish and Game Clearwater office (799-5010) at the Fish and Game Clearwater Regional office or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-377-3529 (TDD).