Open house set for big game seasons discussion

Big Game hunters will soon have opportunities across the state to participate in the season-setting process for 2014 Idaho big game hunting seasons. Season proposals have been developed and meetings are being scheduled throughout Idaho.

A complete list of statewide deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear and mountain lion proposals will soon be available on the Idaho Department of Fish and Game website. Comments on the proposals will be accepted both on the website and at open houses planned around the state.

In the Panhandle, an open house is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27 at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn at the corner of U.S. 95 and Appleway from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Several changes are being proposed for units in the Panhandle.

Proposed changes for white-tailed deer, elk, black bear, mountain lion and gray wolf seasons were developed with the objective of increasing hunter opportunity and reducing depredations where applicable.

Fish and Game is proposing to open the antlerless whitetail season earlier, Oct. 10, in units 1, 2, 3, 4A, 5 and 6. The antlerless whitetail season already opens Oct. 10 in units 4, 7 and 9.

Also proposed is increasing the number of controlled hunt extra antlerless deer tags on private land in units 1 and 3.

Fish and Game proposes modifying black bear seasons in the Panhandle to meet black bear management plan objectives and to reduce the impacts of predation on elk populations.

The current proposal lengthens the spring black bear seasons in units 2, 3, 4, 4A and 5 and allows a second bear tag and the use of electronic calls in unit 4A.

Lengthening the mountain lion season in units 2, 3, 4, 4A and 5 is proposed, as is the opportunity to use a second lion tag and electronic calls in unit 6. These changes are intended to bring lion harvest closer to management plan objectives.

Allowing the use of bait for hunting wolves, similar to the current regulation that allows the use of bait for black bears, is being proposed to address elk predation issues while still managing wolves within guidelines set in Idaho's wolf conservation and management plan.

The Fish and Game proposal would increase the number of either sex elk controlled hunt permits in unit 5 to address depredation issues. The unit 3 and unit 5 antlerless controlled hunt season lengths and permit numbers are proposed to increase.

The proposals will be discussed and participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions during the open house. Those who prefer to review the season proposals and comment from home can do so by visiting the Fish and Game website: fishandgame.idaho.gov.

Individuals with disabilities may request meeting accommodations at the open house by contacting the Panhandle Region Fish and Game office at (208) 769-1414, or through the Idaho Relay Service at (800) 377-3529 (TDD).

Phil Cooper is a wildlife conservation educator in Coeur d'Alene for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.