Fish and Game Commission to Meet in Kellogg in July

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission during a July meeting in Kellogg will consider additional methods in taking wolves and other changes to big game rules. The commissioners will meet July 7 - 9 at the Silver Mountain Resort and a public comment period will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 7. The agenda includes a list of proposed rules that would:

• Allow the use of sabots in muzzleloader-only hunts.
• Prohibit the use of radio telemetry to locate game animals - the rule would not prohibit telemetry use on hunting dogs.
• Prohibit shooting upland game from boats.
• Establish a bonus point system.
• Change some upland game seasons.
• Change the landowner appreciation program.

Other proposed rule changes would:

• Change methods of take for wolves to include allowing foothold traps, electronic calls and wolves incidentally encountered at bear bait.
• Extend mandatory check-in for wolves to 72 hours to report a kill and 10 days to check skull and hide.
• Allow depredation hunts for big game to include bears and wolves.

The commission agenda also includes nonresident deer and elk tag quotas; nonresident deer and elk tag outfitter set-aside; season setting for sandhill cranes; a briefing for 2011-2012 fishing seasons; consider release of bighorn sheep and wolf tags for auction and lottery; commission direction on the expenditure of Animal Damage Control funds; legislative proposals; migratory game birds briefing; and fiscal 2012 budget direction.