BOISE, Idaho — Both mule and white-tailed deer draft management plans are now available for online comment and review on the Idaho Fish and Game website. The public is asked to provide feedback to the department on the overall concepts of the plans and anything that might improve them. The plans describe statewide management directions and strategies.

Hunters have until June 21 to comment on the plans online, at open house or by phone by calling a regional offices. Open houses will be held statewide to discuss the management plans and hunters are asked to review the plans before attending. You can find the full list of open houses below.

There are separate plans for mule and white-tailed deer, but both focus on topics including population management 

and frameworks for hunting seasons that will maintain sustainable deer herds to meet hunter's expectations.

Both plans are the result of hunter surveys done in 2017-18 where mule deer and white-tailed hunters shared their expectations. Those surveys were incorporated into draft plans which will guide deer herd management over the next six years.

The plans are a mix of scientific and plain language, but should be easily understood by the average hunter. They mostly outline broad management prescriptions and concepts, but do not go into unit-by-unit detail. The plans also do not provide season frameworks or specific rules, which are addressed in the big game season setting and rules process.

After hunters review and comment on the draft plans, wildlife managers will incorporate those comments and revise plans. They will then present a final draft to the Fish and Game Commission over the summer.

Review the mule deer plan and the white-tailed deer plan.

Deer plan open house schedules:

Panhandle Region

Coeur d’Alene: June 12, 5 to 7 p.m., F&G Regional Office, 2885 W. Kathleen Ave., Roosevelt Room.
St. Maries: June 15, 8 to 10 a.m., St. Maries Fire Hall, 308 W. Jefferson Ave.
Ponderay: June 19, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ponderay Events Center, 401 Bonner Mall, Suite E.

Clearwater Region

Lewiston: June 11, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., F&G Regional Office, 3316 16th St.

Southwest Region

Nampa: June 13, 5:30 to 8 p.m., F&G Regional Office, 15950 North Gate Blvd. (Note: this is the new Nampa regional office)
McCall: June 19, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., F&G Regional Office, 555 Deinhard Lane

Southeast Region

Pocatello: June 18, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., F&G Regional Office, 1345 Barton Rd.

Magic Valley Region

Jerome: June 12 from 3 to 8 p.m., F&G Regional Office, 324 South 417 East, Suite 1

Upper Snake Region

Idaho Falls: June 19, 4 to 8 p.m., F&G Regional Office, 4279 Commerce Circle.

Salmon Region

Salmon: June 18, 4 to 7 p.m., F&G Regional Office, 99 Hwy 93 North
Challis: June 19, 4 to 7 p.m., Challis Event Center, 411 Clinic Road

Story re-posted from Kivitiv. Written by Katie Kloppenburg