With the grizzly bear population in eastern Idaho fully recovered and removed from federal protection, Idaho Fish and Game will host meetings in Idaho Falls and Boise regarding a proposed fall hunting season.
Idaho Falls
- April 17, 6:30 p.m., College of Eastern Idaho, 1600 South 2500 East, John Christofferson Multi-Purpose Building Cafeteria, Building #3
Boise
- April 19, 6:30 p.m., Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd
The current proposal is to offer a tag for one grizzly bear for the fall season of 2018. The meetings will be held to discuss the proposal and gather public input. They will involve a presentation and then an open house format to gather information and take comment. Comments will be gathered at the meeting, and also online at idfg.idaho.gov starting on April 16.
Hunting is part of the grizzly bear conservation strategy and consistent with the management of bears in the greater Yellowstone area outside of the park and in eastern Idaho. Grizzlies in north Idaho remain under federal protection.
Fish and Game is managing grizzly bears and proposing a hunting season based on an agreement with Montana and Wyoming. Idaho has the smallest portion of land in the grizzly’s range outside of Yellowstone National Park, and the hunting opportunity will always be relatively small compared to the other states.
The Fish and Game Commission has directed department staff to include public involvement for grizzly bear hunting proposal.
