At the request of the Blaine County Commission and Idaho House Minority Leader Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has scheduled a public open house in Hailey to discuss the agency's proposed wolf population management plan.
If adopted, the plan will establish the rules to guide a future Idaho wolf hunt.
The Hailey meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 17, at the Community Campus, 1050 Fox Acres Road.
Confirming the meeting date late last week was the Fish and Game's Magic Valley Regional Manager David Parrish. Parrish said the open house will be like other meetings that are already taking place at locations throughout the state.
During those meetings, Fish and Game staff have been on hand with displays related to the proposed wolf population management plan. A total of nine meetings are being held throughout the month of December.
An open house will be held in Boise at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 13. The meeting will be held in the Trophy Room at Fish and Game headquarters, 600 South Walnut St.
Parrish said the meetings don't include time for public comment because of the intense emotions that surround wolf management. He said in lieu of accepting oral public comments, Fish and Game will ask the public to submit written comments during or after the meeting.
Parrish said he will stay for the last hour of the meeting during which the Blaine County Commission and Jaquet will be in charge and will accept public comment.
"People can get up and speak their piece," he said. "I'm going to stay around and hear what people have to say."
To view the Fish and Game's draft wolf population management plan before next week's meeting, go to fishandgame.idaho.gov/ and click on "Wolf Management Plan Public Meetings Set."
Written comments on the plan can be submitted online at the Fish and Game's Web site, or by mailing them to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 25, Boise, ID 83707.
The deadline for submitting comments on the wolf plan is Dec. 31.
A lone gray wolf stands over a dead cow elk near Stanley in 2005. Photo courtesy of Lynne Stone
