Commission to consider rule changes at Bonners Ferry meeting

July 17, 2017

By Mike Demick IDFG Conservation Information Supervisor When the Idaho Fish and Game Commission meets July 26 and 27 in Bonners Ferry, they will consider routine agenda items as well conduct formal rulemaking to consider rules that are simple in nature and do not implement new regulatory requirements. Individuals may provide comments on these rules at the Commission public hearing beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 26 at the Kootenai River Inn, 7169 Plaza Street. The proposed rules are:   * Revise reference to mandatory school for Unit 39 controlled archery hunt to reflect current implementation of mandatory hunter orientation.   * Revise rule prescribing elements of Mandatory Harvest Report Form submission to reflect current implementation.   * Refine reporting requirements for wolf harvest to rescind telephone reporting, which is no longer applicable to management because there are no longer zone quotas. Mandatory check of harvested wolves will still be required.   * Consider a temporary and proposed rule that would rescind rule requiring payment of moose, bighorn sheep, or mountain goat tag fee at the time of controlled hunt application to coincide with the new, increased application fee for these species beginning with 2018 license sales. A detailed agenda, including a draft of the rule proposals, will be posted on the Fish and Game website when it becomes available. Individuals with disabilities may request meeting accommodations by contacting the Idaho Fish and Game director's office at (208) 334-5159 or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-377-2529 (TDD). Should the Commission adopt any of the proposed rules, they are published for an additional 21 day public input period in the Administrative Bulletin before the Commission adopts them as pending rules, at which point they must be upheld by the 2018 Idaho Legislature to become final rules.