Public comments sought on state's proposed migratory bird seasons

Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials are seeking public comments regarding proposed changes to the upcoming migratory game bird seasons.

People can view and comment on the season proposals by going online to the Fish and Game's public involvement page at https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/content/public-involvement.

Beginning this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will use a new process and schedule for setting annual migratory game bird hunting regulations. This will allow the department to set migratory game bird hunting seasons earlier, which will also allow the commission to set seasons for all migratory game birds at the same time, fish and game officials said.

This means hunters will have more time to plan their hunts with seasons for all ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, doves and crows posted in the same brochure.

Proposals for the 2016 to 2017 seasons include the following:

* Waterfowl -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which oversees waterfowl management at the national level, authorized Fish and Game to hold a waterfowl season similar to the 2015 to 2016 season. Using that authorization as a framework, officials conducted a hunter opinion survey recently to assess hunter preferences on how to structure waterfowl seasons for the next five years.

As a result of this survey, Fish and Game proposed a 105-day season and a two-day youth hunt identical in length to last year's season.

For ducks and Canada geese, the 107 days can only occur between Sept. 24 and Jan. 29. For white-fronted geese and light geese, the 107 days can only occur between Sept. 24 and March 10.

The proposed youth waterfowl season is Sept. 24 and 25.

A seven-bird daily bag limit for ducks but not more than two female mallards, two redhead, three scaup, two pintail or two canvasback is also part of the new season proposal.

* Sandhill Crane -- Fish and Game proposes to increase tag numbers to a total of 465 tags, extend season length in some hunt areas and close a small section of the Jefferson County Hunt Area. The proposed daily limit is two birds for all hunts, and the season limit is two birds for each hunter.

Sandhill crane tags will be made available on a first-come first-served basis beginning at 10 a.m. Aug. 1 at all license vendors.

* Dove -- The proposed season structure for doves is Sept. 1 to Oct. 30 statewide with a daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate.

* Crow -- The proposed season structure for American crows is Oct. 1 to Jan. 31 statewide with no daily bag limit.

Hunters can also visit their nearest Fish and Game office for copies of the proposed seasons and comment forms. They can submit written comments through April 13 by mailing them to 2016-17 Waterfowl Seasons, P.O. Box 25, Boise, ID 83707.

Information collected will be summarized and presented to the Fish and Game Commission, which will set the final waterfowl seasons April 21.

The 2016-2017 Migratory Game Bird Seasons and Rules brochure, which now includes waterfowl, sandhill crane, dove and crow season information, will be available at all license vendors and online by late July.