The Idaho Fish and Game Commission, in a conference call meeting September 18, honored a Forest Service request to close more than half of Unit 28 to hunting.

Part of Unit 28 was burned in the 200,000-acre Clear Creek fire. Salmon-Challis National Forest supervisor George Matejko asked the Commission to consider the closure, citing fire-caused dangers to hunters, further damage to forest resources and potential hazard for workers doing rehabilitation in the burn.

The Commission voted unanimously to close the burned area for one year, to begin immediately. The closure affects about 60 percent of the popular hunting unit. These are the boundaries of the closure requested by the Forest Service and approved by the Commission:
Beginning at Myers Cove, thence NE along Silver Creek Road #108 to its junction with the Panther Creek Road #055, thence SE along the 055 road to Morgan Creek summit, thence NE along Unit 28 boundary to Trail #093 south of Hat Creek lakes, then north along 093 to Iron Lake, thence NE along the Ridge Road #020 to the Wallace Lake junction #391, thence W along the Stock Driveway which follows the hydrologic divide to the Moose Creek Road #061 (same as the #300 road), thence NE along the 061 road to the junction with the 023 road W and N to where the 023 road crosses East Boulder Creek just north of East Boulder Meadows, then down East Boulder Creek to the Salmon River, then west and south following the Unit 28 boundary back to Meyers Cove.


Montana — Change in Deadline for Mt. Lion Application

The deadline for submitting an application for a special permit (not the mountain lion license) to hunt lions in certain hunting districts in Region 1, Kalispell area, has been changed from August 31 to October 10, 2000. This administrative change is being made to accommodate those lion license buyers who had their application postmarked by August 31, but had not received their lion license through the mail in time for the special permit deadline. The drawing for permits will take place on October 13 in Region 1. Hunters will be notified the week of October 16 if they are successful. See page 2 of the 2000 Mountain Lion Regulations for detailed special permit information.


Arizona — Licenses Available On the Internet

Arizona hunting and fishing licenses will be available electronically starting September 29 through the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Internet Home Page at www.azgfd.com.

"This has been a long time coming and will make getting a hunting or fishing license much more convenient for our customers. Technologically and customer-service wise, we've now entered the 21st Century. It's a good feeling," said Jim Burton, assistant director for the department's Information and Education Division.

Those wishing to buy a license electronically can also call 1-866-GO-AZGFD. The electronic license sales are actually being handled by an outside contractor, Systems Consultants in Nevada, and the firm is charging a $2 transactional fee.

The only licenses that are not available are those that require documentation, such as the Pioneer and Lifetime licenses. "Our next major challenge is getting watercraft registration on-line, but that is an effort that could take some time to accomplish," Burton said. Systems Consultants is also providing this type of on-line hunting and fishing license service in many other states across the nation.


Idaho — Successful Hunters Need To Report

Successful elk and deer hunters are now the only ones who need to send a harvest report to Fish and Game.

This is a change from the last two hunting seasons when all deer and elk hunters were required to file harvest reports. Reports are to be filed within 10 days of taking an animal. No report is required of those who do not kill
an animal.

Reports may be sent to Harvest Report Processing, PO Box 70007, Boise, ID, 83707 or faxed to 1-900-773-4263. A small line fee will be charged for faxing. Reports may also be dropped off at Fish and Game offices.


Idaho — How Many Bears Can A Hunter Take?

According to a rule change recently approved by the Fish and Game Commission, you can take as many big game animals as you legally have tags for that species, and you can take them all on the same day if you have the opportunity. Since the holder of a nonresident deer tag can take either a deer, bear or mountain lion, and residents can now purchase nonresident deer tags, the answer is three. One on the regular bear tag, one on the second bear tag in units where it is legal, and one on the nonresident deer tag. The same applies to mountain lions, but remember some units have quotas which can't be exceeded, even if you have the tags.


Idaho — Refund Date Change

Meeting by telephone conference call on September 12, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission voted to set October 1 as the deadline to apply for a refund, rain check for next season, or exchange a big game tag for one in another area. The deadline, previously November 15, was changed because weather conditions have allowed hunters to get afield much sooner than anticipated.

The Commission created the refund policy in late August, when large areas of the state were closed to all access because of wildfires. As of September 11, $41,356 in refund requests, and 60 requests for a "rain check" or tag good for the same hunt next year have been received. Most requests have been from nonresidents.