Sportsmen hear F&G discuss significant cuts in area hunts

Sportsmen hunting in this area will see several new opportunities and a few minor adjustments in this year's hunting regulations.

Many of those changes were discussed during last Thursday morning's sportsman's breakfast at AJ's, sponsored by the Department of Fish and Game. The breakfast gave hunters and fisherman a chance to meet one-on-one with area F&G officials and commissioners.

Some of the biggest changes were made to the mule deer season with the implementation on the new Mule Deer Plan.

"This year we began implementing Idaho's new Mule Deer Plan that provides direction to balance hunting opportunities with the desires of hunters," said Randy Smith, Magic Valley Regional Wildlife Manager.

"A couple of the changes weren't without controversy, but we think we've made a good start at improving mule deer hunting in southern Idaho. The new plan is about much more than hunting, and I encourage Idaho hunters to take a look at it and get involved in mule deer management issues."

Some of the biggest changes to take place have been in the antlerless controlled hunt opportunities. After an all-unit survey of Unit 45, which winters most of the summering deer from Units 43, 44, and 45, biologists determined range conditions could sustain a larger population of mule deer. To help increase overall deer numbers, hunters will see a decrease in antlerless permits in Units, 43, 44-1, and 45.

Permits were reduced in Unit 43 from 700 permits to 250; in Hunt Area 44-1 from 450 permits to 250, and in Unit 45 from 700 permits to 250.

Sportsmen need to check the regulations closely this year because several of the season dates in the controlled hunts have been modified to accommodate other changes.

Elk hunters will also see a few changes in the regulations. The Bennett Hills Zone A-Tag will offer muzzleloaders a great opportunity with a Sept. 15-30 antlerless hunt, however, the spike hunt will no longer be offered.

To see a copy of the 2008 Big Game Seasons regulations go to http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/rules/bg/. Hard copies of the regulations are reaching vendors now and until the end of the month.