Commissioners adopted the recommendations with several muzzleloader hunts changed to short-range-weapons to allow the use of inline weapons.
Panhandle Region Commissioner Tony McDermott proposed that muzzleloader-only hunts in units 4, 7 and 9 as well as the December 2-9 spike-elk-only muzzleloader hunts be changed to short-range weapons hunts.
Clearwater Region Commissioner Alex Irby proposed that muzzleloader seasons in units 10A and 16 be changed to short-range weapons.
The changes were approved by the commission over the objections of commissioners Randall Budge of the Southeast Region and Wayne Wright of the Magic Valley Region. Budge and Wright resisted the change, saying it essentially sidestepped the new muzzleloader rules without any discussion of the issue.
McDermott agreed it was a band-aid solution, but he suggested the commissioners re-examine the evidence on which they had based their January decision to restrict muzzleloader hunts to more traditional weapons.
The commissioners agreed.
Well this is what came out of the final commissioners meeting inBoise, still have not seen any mapping a printed hunts yet. But, what it did was change the some ML hunts into Short Range hunts. I am not sure if you can claim a clear winner here or not, but I believe the Inline ml shooters came out ahead. Remember Idaho had healthy restrictions on inline ML's, well in a SR season those restrictions are gone.
It was in a lot of ways a move forward as the"Short Range" season offers no restrictions on the type of ML or the equipment on the ML...
Q. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission recently created several new short-range weapon hunts. What weapons does that include?
A. The rule book says: "In big game seasons restricted to short-range weapons, it is unlawful for hunters to use any weapon other than a muzzleloader, archery equipment, crossbow, or a shotgun using slugs or shot of size #00 buck or larger." The book further states that a muzzleloader must be at least .45 caliber for deer, pronghorn, or mountain lion, and at least .50 caliber for elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, or black bear.
Handguns are not included as short-range weapons.
Looking back at the whole thing I am not sure if anything changed other than now you can use modern ML's - scopes -209's - closed ignitions...
The key statement in the whole thing is Mr. McDermott's sentence...
McDermott agreed it was a band-aid solution, but he suggested the commissioners re-examine the evidence on which they had based their January decision to restrict muzzleloader hunts to more traditional weapons.
I hope we, those that use inlines, will take an active part in helping form these new regualtions in the months to come.
This web address will take you to another summary of the meeting...
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/releases/view.cfm?NewsID=3743
This sentence in the above article - explains a lot
The decision to reexamine the muzzleloader issue was not in response to complaints, McDermott said. But if that decision was based on inaccurate or incomplete information, perhaps it should be changed.