S
Salmonfg
Guest
A draft of Idaho's mule deer management plan is on line and public meetings have begun. See news release at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/releases/view.cfm?NewsID=4128 for a link to the draft plan, meeting details, and a link to on-line commenting. Comments on this draft are due Dec 31. There will be some additional opportunity for comment on the final draft through the Commission approval process in Jan '08.
This is a general plan that will guide mule deer management in Idaho for the next 10 years. Specific season structure, etc. will be guided by the plan through the normal season setting process (goal is to move to setting seasons once every 2 years).
The plan covers all aspects of mule deer management, but one of the most important pieces for hunters is the issue of variety in buck hunting opportunity. Plan direction is very heavily based on the deer hunter survey conducted earlier this year. The survey said most hunters want to hunt more big bucks every year. Unfortunately, this desire is virtually impossible to meet (though it could be done with extremely severe restrictions like all hunting limited to archery gear).
Therefore, the plan proposes increased amounts of hunting opportunity for mature bucks through 2 levels of management: "quality" and "trophy." There are several management tools that can be applied to produce these kinds of opportunities (point regulations, controlled hunts, weapon types, etc.). ALL tools require trade-offs in how often, where, and what individuals can use to hunt bucks. A very important question for hunters is what level of trade-off are you willing to accept? How much of a region (or state) should be managed for more mature bucks as opposed to somewhere people can go hunting each year with family and friends? Are you willing to essentially give up hunting in your traditional location? What will happen to hunting conditions in adjacent units when hunters are displaced from a mature buck unit? Then, if some level of mature buck management is desired, which management tool(s) are acceptable to reduce buck harvest?
Hunter input is critical for biologists and managers to develop specific hunting regulations.
Please
1. take the time to review the plan,
2. carefully consider the trade-offs of various scenarios, and
3. provide comments on the plan.
Thanks,
Tom Keegan
IDFG Salmon Region Wildlife Manager
This is a general plan that will guide mule deer management in Idaho for the next 10 years. Specific season structure, etc. will be guided by the plan through the normal season setting process (goal is to move to setting seasons once every 2 years).
The plan covers all aspects of mule deer management, but one of the most important pieces for hunters is the issue of variety in buck hunting opportunity. Plan direction is very heavily based on the deer hunter survey conducted earlier this year. The survey said most hunters want to hunt more big bucks every year. Unfortunately, this desire is virtually impossible to meet (though it could be done with extremely severe restrictions like all hunting limited to archery gear).
Therefore, the plan proposes increased amounts of hunting opportunity for mature bucks through 2 levels of management: "quality" and "trophy." There are several management tools that can be applied to produce these kinds of opportunities (point regulations, controlled hunts, weapon types, etc.). ALL tools require trade-offs in how often, where, and what individuals can use to hunt bucks. A very important question for hunters is what level of trade-off are you willing to accept? How much of a region (or state) should be managed for more mature bucks as opposed to somewhere people can go hunting each year with family and friends? Are you willing to essentially give up hunting in your traditional location? What will happen to hunting conditions in adjacent units when hunters are displaced from a mature buck unit? Then, if some level of mature buck management is desired, which management tool(s) are acceptable to reduce buck harvest?
Hunter input is critical for biologists and managers to develop specific hunting regulations.
Please
1. take the time to review the plan,
2. carefully consider the trade-offs of various scenarios, and
3. provide comments on the plan.
Thanks,
Tom Keegan
IDFG Salmon Region Wildlife Manager
