Fish and Game seeks input on upland, turkey, furbearer and falconry seasons

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking public comments on proposed changes to the 2016 and 2017 upland game, turkey, furbearer, and falconry seasons. Some ideas that will be considered include:

• Extending the fall general turkey season to December 31 in Units 1, 2 (except Farragut State Park and Farragut WMA), 3, 4, 4A and 6.
• Restructuring fall controlled turkey Hunt No. 9018 (all of Units 22, 32, 32A; 125 permits) and Hunt No. 9019 (all of Unit 31; 20 permits). Combine Units 22 and 31 and maintain hunt in Units 32 (except that portion in Payette County) and 32A.
• Adding a new youth-only fall controlled turkey hunt in Units 22 and 31 with 20 permits.
• Creating a new fall controlled turkey hunt in all of Unit 38 and that portion of Unit 32 in Payette County (Hunt Area 38-2) with 40 permits.
• Splitting current spring controlled turkey Hunt No. 9003 (all of Unit 38 and that portion of Unit 32 in Payette County) into two separate hunts.
• Increasing turkey permits in each of the spring controlled hunts in Unit 54.
• Expanding the existing youth-only spring controlled turkey hunt in Unit 71 to include all of Units 70 and 71.
• Eliminating existing fall controlled turkey hunts in Units 71, 73, 74, 75, 77 and 78 and replace with a general season running September 15 through October 31.
• Adding Cartier Slough, Market Lake, and Mud Lake WMAs to the list of WMAs where shooting hours for upland game birds start at 10 a.m. during the pheasant season.
• A change to a beaver trapping quota in the Southeast Region; and changes to areas open or closed to beaver trapping in the Magic Valley, Southeast and Upper Snake regions.

Interested hunters and trappers are encouraged to attend an upcoming open house meeting or visit their nearest Fish and Game regional office.

• Coeur d' Alene, December 10 - 23, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Panhandle Region Office, 2885 W. Kathleen Ave, 208-769-1414.
• Lewiston, Clearwater Region office, 3316 16th Street, 208-799-5010.
• Nampa, Thursday, December 17, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, December 18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Southwest Region office, 3101 S. Powerline Road, 208-465-8465.
• Jerome, Wednesday, December 16, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Magic Valley Region Office, 324 S. 417 E. Suite #1, 208-324-4359.
• Pocatello, Monday December 21, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Southeast Region Office, 1345 Barton Road, 208-232-4703.
• Idaho Falls, Upper Snake Region office, 4279 Commerce Circle, 208-525-7290.
• Salmon, December 10 - 23, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Salmon Region Office, 99 Highway 93 North, 208-756-2271.

Anyone unable to attend an open house may submit their comments by mail to 2016-17 Upland Game Comments, P.O. Box 25, Boise ID 83707, by contacting a regional wildlife manager, or by going online to the public involvement page on Fish and Game's website at https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/content/public-involvement. The deadline for submitting comments is December 28. All public comments will be summarized and presented to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission for their consideration before seasons are set in January.