Panhandle Elk, Deer Harvests May Be Cut

Elk and deer harvests in the Panhandle may be lighter this year.

That’s the proposal the Idaho Fish and Game Department will lay on the table when it holds four meetings in the area next week.

Department biologists will talk about the results of the 1997 bear, lion, deer and elk seasons and the outlook for 1998. Fish and Game is proposing more conservative deer and elk seasons because of winter kill in the Panhandle.

Simultaneously, the department is proposing more liberal mountain lion seasons because of recent increases in the Panhandle population. No change is proposed for the bear season until a new bear plan is developed late this year.

The first public meetings will be held Feb. 5 in St. Maries and Wallace, according to the Idaho Fish and Game Department. The St. Maries meeting will be held at the Eagles Hall.

The meeting in Wallace will be held at Miner Hall in the High School. Both run from 7 to 9 p.m.

Fish and Game will hold the same public meeting at the Coeur d’Alene Inn Conference Center and the Bonners Ferry Junior High School cafeteria Feb. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Individuals with disabilities who need special accommodations should contact Jim Hayden at 769-1414 at least one day prior to the meetings. , DataTimes